Past Award Winners - NMU Alumni Relations

Steve Nystrom ’82 BS, ’86 MA

Nystrom earned master of arts in defense administration from Northern Michigan University in 1986, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Armor Branch, U.S. Army. For 31 years, he successfully used the knowledge, skills, and leadership abilities he had acquired from NMU to make positive contributions to national security while serving in the U.S. Army during the Cold War, as a senior analyst in the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and later as the division chief and program manager with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Nystrom has earned numerous accolades during his career for his many contributions to national security. In 2014, he became the first civilian from NGA to graduate from the U.S. Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS). Nystrom’s experience also includes two deployments to Iraq. Retired from the NGA since 2017, Nystrom remains active in community affairs. He serves on the board of directors of the YMCA of Marquette County, is a “Big” to four local children, and has assisted Northern Michigan University in providing guidance on the Upper Peninsula’s Cybersecurity Institute.

Mary Jo Mulligan-Kehoe, Ph.D. ’68 BS

Mulligan-Kehoe retired from Dartmouth Medical School in 2014 following a long career in academia focused on vascular biology research funded by the National Institutes of Health. Though retired, Mulligan-Kehoe continues her contribution to society as a scientific review officer for the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, chairing the North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO) Education Committee. 

Steve Mariucci '77 BS, '83 MAE

Mariucci is an analyst with the NFL Network and former NFL head coach, spending six years with the San Francisco 49ers and three with the Detroit Lions. The Iron Mountain native led the 1975 football Wildcats to the NCAA Division II Championship before earning bachelor's and master's degrees in education. He has been a strong supporter of his hometown, NMU Athletics and the Steve Mariucci Family Beacon House in Marquette.

Per Utnegaard '82 BS

Utnegaard was a member of the Nordic ski team and a business major at NMU. After more than three decades as an international business executive, he now serves on four boards, including two listed companies with a presence in London, United Kingdom and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and one private equity-owned company based in Paris, France with 12 factories worldwide. Utnegaard also serves on the Swiss University Foundation, which fosters top sports in Switzerland.

Joseph Evans '81, '83

Dr. Joseph A. Evans is an executive with a record of success in developing and executing strategies in the global defense markets. Joe is currently the Executive Vice President and Head of Strategy for SAAB Middle East and Africa headquartered in Washington, DC & Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Most recently, he served as SAAB's Executive Vice President and Head of Strategy and Business Development responsible for strategic development and industrial partnerships for the company in North America. Previously, Joe served as SAAB North America's Vice President of Sales and Marketing.  Prior to joining SAAB Technologies in 2004, he spent 18 years with General Dynamics Corporation in the areas of engineering design and development, supply chain management, procurement, manufacturing, finance, international sales and marketing, international program management, international business development, strategic planning and international alliances, international offset, and corporate development.  Joe is also an adjunct assistant professor of the business strategy capstone course in the MBA program at the University of Maryland Global Campus. 

Joe earned a master's degree in political science and a bachelor of science in engineering technology from Northern Michigan University.  Additionally, he holds a master's degree in international politics and economics from the University of Detroit and earned his doctorate degree in management at the University of Maryland with a dissertation focused on international mergers and acquisitions. He is a graduate of the International Operations Program in cooperation with the Stockholm School of Economics and also the Global Business Executive Leadership Program at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He has been involved with a number of groups and associations including the Association of the United States Army and the National Defense Industrial Association.

Joe currently serves on the NMU Foundation Board of Trustees, the College of Business Dean's Advisory Council and the Academic Advisory Board for the Engineering Technology Department. He is a past president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Kristine Poole '92

Kristine Poole '92 BFA is an internationally recognized artist who has completed many public art commissions, won accolades in numerous exhibitions and been recognized in numerous publications including The Wall Street Journal, The ARC International Art Salon Catalogue, Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art, Ceramics Monthly, Ceramics Ireland 500 Figures in Clay and Masters of Contemporary Fine Art.  She holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from NMU and continues her artistic development through professional apprenticeships and several artist residencies. Her works are included in notable public and private collections around the country. She frequently donates her time to give lectures, demonstrations, workshops and panel talks on art and business.

Keith J. Nelsen '86

Keith J. Nelsen '86 BS is executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Best Buy Co., Inc. In this role, Nelsen has multi-channel accountability for worldwide legal operations and for identifying, managing and mitigating material risks to Best Buy. Keith graduated with a degree in finance and received his juris doctor from the University of Wisconsin. Active in his community, he serves on the Board of the Children’s Cancer Research Fund, the Chad Greenway Lead the Way Foundation, the Dean’s Advisory Board at Mitchell Hamline Law School and is active as a law student mentor and youth sports coach. Keith is also the Executive Sponsor of Best Buy’s Black Employee Resource Group (BERG) and is very active in the company’s diversity and inclusion strategy and initiatives.

Scott Schloegel '90

Scott Schloegel '90 BS is retired after 25 years of service in the federal government. He graduated with a communications degree and went to work for Michigan state representatives Bart Stupak and Ken DeBeaussaert.  After Stupak was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992, Scott became the Congressman’s district administrator and then chief of staff. He was chief of staff until 2011. From 2007 through 2011, Scott also served as an investigator and professional staff member on the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee which Congressman Stupak chaired. From 2011 through retirement, he worked at the Export-Import Bank of the United States, initially as chief of staff and then as first vice president and vice chairman of the Board and ultimately, as acting president and chairman in December of 2017.

Paul Blemberg ’72

Paul Blemberg ’72 was born and raised in south Marquette and holds a psychology degree from NMU. He is in his 34th year of federal service, first with the U.S. Marine Corps and more recently with the Department of Homeland Security. His military deployments included Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, the Mediterranean aboard the USS Saratoga and the Persian Gulf aboard the MidEast Force flagship. Blemberg was selected to serve as an instructor at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, specializing in flying while using night-vision goggles, extreme low-level flying and helicopter air-to-air tactics. After retiring from the Marine Corps, he returned to the Persian Gulf for two years, flying and developing a tactics program for the Royal Saudi Navy. He joined the Department of Homeland Security after the 9-11 attacks and has traveled to six continents to work with government security and military personnel in support of DHS security programs.

Todd Holmstrom '90

Todd Holmstrom is Director of Israel and Palestinian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. His previous roles included U.S. Consul General in Jeddah and Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) in N’Djamena, Chad. Holmstrom spent three years in Damascus, Syria, where he served as an economic counselor, counselor for political and economic affairs, and an acting DCM in his final year at the Embassy. Other overseas postings included a political/economic counselor in Tunis, a consular officer in Ottawa, and a political/economic officer in Paramaribo, Suriname. Holmstrom is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service in the Department of State. Prior to joining the Foreign Service in November 1995, he served in the U.S. Army. He speaks Arabic and French. In addition to his history degree from NMU, he holds a master’s degree from the National War College.

Lynnea Ruttledge '71

Lynnae Ruttledge has been appointed to multiple leadership positions throughout her career and most notably by President Obama to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities. Ruttledge has worked at the state, national and international levels promoting the employment rights of persons with disabilities. With Senate confirmation, President Obama first appointed Ruttledge to serve as Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration under the US Department of Education, providing vocational rehabilitation services to 1 million individuals with significant disabilities each year. Next she served as a member of the Senate Commission on Long Term Care. Finally, she served on the National Council on Disability for more than three years. In addition to her nationally appointed positions, Ruttledge has been affiliated with Mobility International USA since 1988, was co-chair of the Global Symposium on Assistive Technology for the European Parliament, and serves as a policy advisor to an Irish-led international research institute that funds post-doctoral research fellowships in the field of disability and assistive technology. She has been recognized as the 2000 Disabled Oregonian of the Year, a National Rehabilitation Association Mary Switzer Scholar, and the 2007 Washington Governor's Award for Leadership in Management.

Jana Simmons '93

Jana Simmons is Of-Counsel in the Michigan office of national law firm Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP. She focuses her practice in Federal Indian Law / Tribal Law and complex civil litigation. As a civil litigator, among Jana's many accomplishments is a case she defended in 2014 involving a federal Superfund site on which she ultimately prevailed before the United States Supreme Court. She also represented the Michigan Association of Counties in a case of first impression before the Michigan Court of Appeals with an argument that led to the establishment of a favorable law for Michigan counties. A former board member of Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, in 2011, Jana was honored with the organization's Distinguished Service Award, and in 2006, she was its Golden Gavel recipient.  In 2009, she was recognized as a Super Lawyers - Rising Star. In 2014, she was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder to a 4-year term serving the Michigan Board of Counseling on which she also serves the Disciplinary Sub-Committee.

Frederick Stonehouse '70, '77

From frederickstonehouse.com

Frederick Stonehouse  has authored over thirty books on maritime history, many of them focusing on the Great Lakes and contributed to several others. The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgeraldand Great Lakes Lighthouse Talesare regional best sellers. Wreck Ashore, the U.S. Life-Saving Service on the Great Lakes, won a national publishing award and is the predominant work on the subject. Another book, Haunted Lakes, Great Lakes Maritime Ghost Stories, Superstitions and Sea Serpents, has opened an entirely new genre in Great Lakes study. His book, Final Passage, is the first Great Lakes shipwreck book for children.

He has been a consultant for both the U.S. National Park Service and Parks Canada and has been an “on-air” expert for National Geographic, History Channel and Fox Family, as well as many regional media productions. Awards for contributions to Great Lakes maritime history have been received from Underwater Canada, Our World Underwater, Marquette Maritime Museum and Marquette County Historical Society. He is also the recipient of the 2006 Association For Great Lakes Maritime History Award for Historic Interpretation. The Award is presented annually in recognition of an individual making a major contribution over many years to the interpretation of Great Lakes maritime history in furtherance of the goals of the Association. In addition he was named the Marine Historical Society of Detroit’s “2007 Historian of the Year.”  The award is the result of election by past MHSD Historians and recognizes persons who have actively contributed to the study of Great Lakes history.  

Fred teaches maritime history at Northern Michigan University and is an active consultant for numerous maritime oriented projects and programs. In April 2000, he began teaching two Internet based courses on Great Lakes maritime history: Great Lakes Lighthouses and Great Lakes Maritime History. This is the first time such instruction has been offered on the web. He holds a Master of Arts degree in History from Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan.

Major presentations have been given at: the National Maritime Conferences, Great Lakes Aquarium (Duluth), Erie Maritime Museum (Erie), Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival (Alpena), , Gales of November, (Duluth), Ghost Ships Festival (Milwaukee),Keeper of the Light Festival (Bayfield) Underwater Canada

His articles have been published in  Lake Superior Magazine and Wreck and Rescue Journal  as well as other publications. He is President of the Board of the Marquette Maritime Museum, member of the National Board of Directors of the U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association and a former member of the Michigan Iron Industry Museum Advisory Board (gubernatorial appointment). In 2014 he was appointed to the Advisory Board for the Sustainable Harbor Management Investigation (Michigan). Fred makes his home in Marquette, Michigan with his wife Lois and son Brandon.

Fred is also active in the Marquette Community and was elected in November 2008 to the position of City Commissioner and served as  Mayor Pro Tem until term limited out in November 2014. In addition he is or  has served on numerous boards and committees, including: Northern Michigan University Alumni Board, President of the Marquette County Economic Club, Marquette Harbor Advisory Committee (past chair), the Northern Michigan University DeVos Art Museum Advisory Board and chaired the Mayor’s Ad Hoc Task Force to develop the Marquette Harbor Master Plan. On December 16, 2006 Fred delivered the alumni welcome at Northern Michigan University’s graduation.

Bruce Remington ‘75

Distinguished physicist, Bruce Remington, has been a pioneer in the fields of laboratory astrophysics, high pressure materials science and inertial confinement fusion for over 20 years. As a physicist for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Bruce is a world leader in the study of high energy density experimental science applied to astrophysics, planetary science, and applied physics, using high energy, high power lasers.

A native of Bay City, Michigan, Bruce earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Michigan University in 1975 and his Ph. D. from Michigan State University in 1986.

In 2011 Bruce was awarded the prestigious, Edward Teller Medal, by the American Nuclear Society for “pioneering scientific work in the fields of inertial confinement fusion (ICF), laboratory astrophysics and high-pressure material science and leadership in the development of an international effort in high energy density laboratory astrophysics.”

In 1995 Bruce received the John Dawson Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics and was named a Fellow of the American Physical Society for his outstanding work leading to a quantitative and predictive understanding of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in high-energy-density plasmas.

Bruce has published over 350 articles on plasma physics, hydrodynamics, astrophysics, solid-state materials science and lattice dynamics, fluid dynamics, nuclear physics, and high energy-density physics.

At LLNL he has been a leader in the experimentation of matter under ultra-high pressure conditions, led experiments in ICF implosion physics, hydrodynamic instabilities, ablation-front dynamics, radiative hydrodynamics, turbulent hydrodynamics, laboratory astrophysics and solid-state material dynamics.

Bruce founded and is the chair of the executive committee for the bi-annual International Conference on High Energy Density Laboratory Astrophysics. In addition, Bruce has given over 100 invited talks at international conferences, universities and workshops.

Currently, Bruce is group leader of the Material Dynamics Group and acting program leader for Discovery Science in the National Ignition Facility (NIF) Directorate of LLNL. It is with pride and admiration that his Alma Mater accords him this honor for extraordinary achievements and exemplary contributions to the study of physics and science.

Diane Husic '81

Diane Husic, a Marquette native, received a Bachelor's of Science in Biochemistry from Northern Michigan University and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Michigan State University. Her thesis examined photorespiration and evolutionary relationships between bacteria, algae and higher plants, an interest first sparked after taking a plant physiology course at NMU. Diane currently serves as chairperson and professor of the Department of Biological Sciences at Moravian College, Pennsylvania.

Prior to Moravian College, Diane performed cancer research as a national Reserve Service Fellow and serves as Chemistry Department Chair at East Stroudsburg University, helping launch a new Biotechnology degree program.

She has taught courses on climate change, environmental science, biochemistry, and sustainability to students of all levels. For 25 years her research has included undergraduate students as collaborators. Her strong interest in providing undergraduate research opportunities grew from her own experience at NMU. Her work in sustainability — she serves as Moravian College Co-Chair for the Sustainability Center of Investigation — is a reflection of her belief in the strong link between campus and its surrounding community and a deep respect and love for nature.

Diane has a particular interest in making science accessible to the public and to policymakers, actively engaging them in research through citizen science projects. Working with a group of citizens, Diane helped convert several hundred acres of a Superfund site into a wildlife refuge, nature center and place for environmental education and passive recreation. The former wasteland is now home to a thriving habitat, enjoyed by wildlife and visitors alike.  She remains involved with the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, Lehigh Gap Nature Center and Wildlife Refuge.

Along with a colleague, Diane led a delegation of students, alumni, and faculty to serve as official observers at the international climate change negotiations in Copenhagen and Cancun. Moravian College was one of only seven small colleges to earn this civil society status. As a result, she was invited to serve on Pennsylvania's Climate Change Adaptation Working Group on Natural Resources.

With over 40 publications, close to 80 published abstracts, numerous symposium presentations, awards and accolades to her name, Diane has furthered the study of nature, wildlife, conservation and climate change and made invaluable contributions to science at a local, state, federal, and international level.

Diane has made a lasting mark both in and outside of the classroom through consistent efforts to improve the education of students and connect people to nature through citizen science.

Dr. William Bowerman ‘91

A world-renowned expert on studying environmental change through its impact on eagle populations, Bill is a highly-regarded researcher, teacher, and leader in the scientific community.

A native of Munising, Mich., Bill currently serves as Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Toxicology and Chair of the Department of Environmental Science and Toxicology at the University of Maryland, College Park.

For over 25 years Bill has been studying the correlation between Bald Eagle ecology and environmental pollutants in the Great Lakes region and has served as a member of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northern States Bald Eagle Recovery Team since 1984.

His work in ecological and ornithological research is extensive and has provided foundations, strategies, and leadership for scientific study across the globe. He currently leads SEA EAGLE, a consortium of scientists and other experts monitoring environmental pollution by studying indigenous eagle species in 19 countries spread across 4 continents. In addition, he has trained over 300 wildlife professionals who have gone on to provide their own invaluable research.

Despite the wide range of his influence, Bill’s primary focus has long been on the environmental health of the Great Lakes and the diverse flora and fauna that live in and around them. His commitment, knowledge, and experience in this area led to a prestigious appointment as co-chair of the International Joint Commission’s Great Lakes Science Advisory Board. The IJC is widely regarded as a leading authority on international water quality issues and is responsible for implementing the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the U.S.

Bill is a member of numerous organizations dedicated to ecological and ornithological research and preservation and he has published extensively on these topics, but his dedication and engagement have reached well beyond the scientific community. An eagle scout himself, he is especially proud of his 40 years of volunteering and support for the Boy Scouts of America.

Bill’s passion for eagles, the environment and the Great Lakes have advanced ornithology and ecology to an invaluable degree and have helped ensure the natural treasures we cherish today will continue to provide insight and inspiration for generations to come. For this, and all his accomplishments, his alma mater honors him.

Robert (Bob Chase) Wallenstein '53

Better known by his fans as Bob Chase, Robert Wallenstein is a titan in the world of sports broadcasting. The 90-year-old spends many of his winter nights calling games for the Ft. Wayne Komets of the East Coast Hockey League and has done so for the past 63 years. His tenure as the voice of the Komets is the second-longest in professional sports history, trailing only Dodger legend Vin Scully.

Wallenstein began his broadcasting career with WDMJ-AM in Marquette. In 1950, while attending NMU, he married Muriel (Murph) Chase and the couple celebrated their 65th anniversary on April 6th, 2015. After graduating from NMU in 1953, Wallenstein accepted a job with WOWO-AM to be a staff announcer. The station manager insisted his name was too long for broadcasting, so, while on the air, Robert Wallenstein took Muriel’s maiden name, and the legend of Bob Chase began.

Four months after his hire, Wallenstein was promoted to sports director of WOWO-AM. During his tenure, he called Big Ten football and basketball games, the Indianapolis 500, and a plethora of high school sporting events, along with his regular Komets announcing. He was also the first radio DJ to be aired on the Westinghouse System at WOWO-AM, a revolutionary radio format for the time that introduced DJ’s to the airwaves in an attempt to boost the medium’s popularity during the popularization of television. In 1954, Wallenstein had the call for the Indiana high school state basketball championships in which the Milan Indians, a high school of only 162 students, defeated the heavily favored Muncie Central Bearcats. Milan’s victory was the inspiration for the 1986 film Hoosiers.

Over the course of his tenure, Wallenstein gradually took on more responsibilities with WOWO-AM, including time as the station’s Public Service Director, Assistant Programs Director, and Sales and Marketing Director.

Though he retired from his full-time position in 2009, Wallenstein continues to call Komets games. He is a member of the Indiana Sportswriters and Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame, and Indiana Co-celebrity of the year alongside Indiana University’s Men’s Basketball Coach Tom Crean. In 2012, he was awarded the Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States—one of the most prestigious awards in professional sports.

Brian Majewski '76

A career member of the U.S. Foreign Service, Brian Majewski holds one of the most senior positions at the Department of State and his visionary leadership has a global impact. At any given time, a challenge can arise due to unfolding developments in a country in the Western Hemisphere. U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad function effectively and efficiently, with a myriad of diplomatic responsibilities, due to the diligent work of his office. 

A native of Hartford, CT., Brian Majewski earned a bachelor's in philosophy from Northern Michigan University in 2976. He served in the U.S. Air Force and spent a brief time as a teacher before embarking on a diplomatic career. He holds one of the most senior positions at the State Department as Executive Director for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. 

The top management/budgeting officer for all U.S. embassies and consulates throughout the Western hemisphere, Brian's responsibilities include delivery of all management services, guidance, planning, budget, human resources, information technology, and regional support, for 28 Embassies and 22 Consulates from Canada to Argentina. This involves approximately 4,700 American officers and staff as well as 7,700 foreign national employees. 

A highly valued source for logistical analysis and operational strategies, Brian was one of three State Department officers to serve on a Pentagon fact-finding commission immediately following the fall of Baghdad. 

In times of crisis, leaders are born. Briand Majewski exemplified this following the devastating earthquake in Haiti. He coordinated three major operations at once: staffing the State Department's round-the-clock Haiti task force, supporting the highly stressed embassy in Port-Au-Price, and setting up a logistics hub in Santo Domingo. 

Brian led the effort to ensure the embassy in Haiti had transportation for relief efforts, food and water for staff, and temporary shelter for U.S. and Haitian employees. As relief efforts increased, demands on the embassy there skyrocketed yet his operational strengths and management skills were more than equal to the challenges of providing critical support to this devastated nation and its people. 

Entrance into the Foreign Service is not easy and it is even more difficult to achieve the level of a stature that Brian has reached. He has received a number of awards during his 30-year career, including the prestigious State Department's Superior Honor Award.

Stephen DesJardins '83

A noted expert in the field of higher education administration, Dr. Deslardin 's research has influenced institutional, state, and national educational policy in an effort to improve the life-chances of our citizenry. 

A Marquette native, Stephen DesJardins received his BS in economics at Northern Michigan University in 1983. Following his undergraduate degree, while working as a policy analyst and institutional researcher in Minneapolis, Steve completed his master's and Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota. 

In 1998 he joined the faculty at the University of Iowa. After only three years, Dr. Desjardins was promoted to associate professor with tenure. In 2002, a position opened at the University of Michigan and Steve was able to return to his home state to further his academic career. Last year, he was promoted to full professor at the University of Michigan, the highest faculty rank one can receive from one's institution. 

His areas of expertise include how students make their college choice decisions, student departure from college, the economics of higher education, and quantitative research and evaluation methods used to study higher education issues. 

Although Dr. DesJardins advocates never underestimating the capabilities of students, his research demonstrates that it is possible to use rather simple concepts from the social sciences to help better understand how and why students choose whether to go to college and whether they will be successful if they do attend. 

He was honored by his academic peers when selected to chair the University of Michigan's Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education (CSHPE). For more than five decades, the center has been the nation's premier preparation program for higher education leadership and has been consistently ranked No. 1 or 2 by-polls within and outside of education. 

The research methods Dr. DesJardins has developed and applied have changed the way student choice and departure from college research is conducted, thereby leading to interventions that can improve student chances of succeeding in the attainment of a college degree. This research has been widely published and has influenced policymaking at the international, federal, state and institutional levels. 

Professor DesJardins is the rare scholar who has managed to traverse the border between education and economics, to the betterment of both professions. For that accomplishment, his alma mater honors him. 

James "Brig" Sorber '86

One of the original "two men" of Two Men And A Truck, James "Brig" Sorber started a company with his brother, Jon, a homemade stick figure advertisement and a 1967 pickup truck. The family business has become the nation's largest franchised moving company with over 1,200 trucks. 

Two Men And A Tmck started in the early 1980s as a way for two brothers in high school to earn extra money. With a stick figure logo designed by their mother, Mary Ellen Sheets, the boys began moving customers in the Lansing, Mich. area, never imagining where their after-school business would take them. 

After the brothers headed north to pursue degrees at Northern Michigan University, Mary Ellen Sheets picked up where her boys left off, purchasing a larger truck and hiring two employees. In 1988, Mary Ellen franchised her business and the first Two Men And A Tmck franchise was awarded to her daughter, Melanie Bergeron. 

After graduation, Brig and his wife, Francine, whom he met at Northern, operated their own franchise in the U.P., while also selling insurance. In 1996, growth of the family business lured Brig back home to Lansing and he began helping with the first restructuring and franchise development plan. 

The success of Two Men and A Truck is due in large part to the company's family foundation of honesty, trust and hard work. The company's long track record of aggressive growth continues under the family's progressive leadership and keen business strategies. 

Brig played a key role in bringing on 152 franchises in 33 states and Canada, as well as Ireland and the United Kingdom. This expansion brought more than $60 million back into the state of Michigan and employed more than 3,500 people nationwide. 

In 2009, Brig became CEO and undertook an aggressive restructuring plan when it became evident that Michigan's recession meant change was needed, successfully turning the company into a smarter, tougher competitor in the moving industry. 

With a strong belief in giving back to the community, Two Men And A Truck has generated nearly $1 million for charities around Lansing, with 10 cents of every move given to the American Cancer Society. 

He holds the 2008 Distinguished Alumnus Award from Okemos Public Schools, an honor he is very proud of having received, being a second-generation graduate of the school district. He also serves on the board of the Michigan Freedom Academy. 

Like the company he and his brother founded, Brig is known in the business and the moving industry to be fair, honest and hard working, but as a leader unafraid of change and focused on the future health and welfare of his family's company and its employees, franchise members and customers. 

Ronald Stump '69, '71

A respected and admired higher education administrator, Ron has spent more than 40 years dedicated to student development and preparing students to be responsible citizens in society. 

A Lansing native, Ron is a 1969 graduate of Northern Michigan University where he majored in social science with a minor in math. He was a letter winner on the Wildcat football team and voted "most valuable player" his senior year. 

Ron began his professional career as a residence hall director at NMU, followed by appointments as Assistant Dean of Students as well as Director of Student Activities. While working at NMU, he completed a master's degree in guidance and counseling. 

He continued his formal education and professional development, first at Michigan State University, earning his doctorate in higher education administration in 1985 and advancing to the position of Director of Student Activities. At MSU he expanded and improved opportunities for students in fraternities and sororities, student government, leadership development and other areas of student programming. He continued his commitment to the enrichment of campus life at the University of Virginia, where he accepted a position in 1985. 

Ron's talents as an administrator, teacher and counselor brought him to the University of Colorado at Boulder in I 996 as Associate Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. As he has throughout his career, Ron demonstrated dynamic leadership and extraordinary dedication to supporting and guiding students, and to fostering a welcoming, engaged and inclusive campus community. 

ln 2008 with the transition of the University of Colorado Alumni Association into the Student Affairs division, Ron stepped in as interim executive director of the Alumni Association, a position he holds today where he continues his commitment to the success and welfare of alumni, students, employees and community members. 

Ron's accomplishments in the area of student development and leadership make him a deserving recipient of the highest honor awarded to an NMU alumnus. It is with pride and admiration that his alma mater accords him this recognition for his dedication to preparing students to be responsible global citizens. 

Michael Roesner '74

During a 39-year career in the U.S. Navy that spanned a broad range of missions from actual control of aircraft to command of the Navy's largest logistics and procurement center, Rear Admiral Michael Roesner led with humility, purpose and the ethical standards U. S. citizens expect Ji-om their armed forces. 

Over the course of his nearly four-decade naval career, Michael Roesner, through his dynamic leadership, wise judgment, and deep devotion to duty, set the highest standards for both military and civilian performance. 

A Flint, Michigan native, Michael Roesner enlisted in the United States Navy in 1969. After receiving a bachelor's degree from Northern Michigan University in 1974, he was commissioned via the Aviation Officer Candidate School in August 1975. He earned his master of science degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1982 and completed the Executive Training Curriculum at the University of Michigan in 1997. He retired from the Navy in 2008 with the rank of Rear Admiral. 

Michael has seen combat in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan and has received the Legion of Merit three times, the Meritorious Service Medal four times, the Secretary of Defense Excellence in Procurement Award, the Admiral Stan Arthur Excellence in Logistics award, and multiple other personal, unit and expeditionary awards. His personal accomplishments culminated with the awarding of the Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy's highest peacetime honor. 

A results-driven professional, Michael has focused his teams to employ "best-business" practices, achieving the highest levels of performance in direct support of the on-going global war on ten-or. As a visionary leader and the Department of Defense's foremost supply chain expert, he led his command on the most aggressive transformation in Naval logistical history. 
His ardent support of humanitarian relief efforts drove unparalleled logistics support for Naval ships and aircraft throughout the 2005 Hurricane Katrina clean-up effort and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. 

With innovative thinking, extraordinary vision, and strong leadership, Michael Roesner has revitalized the Department of Defense supply chain, developed and implemented unprecedented cost-effective measures, supported and advanced U. S. National strategy, and played a key role in ensuring the continuing strength and readiness of the United States military. 
lt is with pride and admiration that his Alma Mater accords him this honor for extraordinary achievements and exceptional leadership upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. 

Larry Inman '76

Focused on public service, Larry Inman has served his alma mater and his community for nearly thirty years, Few individuals approach these responsibilities with such enthusiasm and dedication. He understands the importance of giving back and has used the skills he learned at NMU to make a significant impact on the university, the Traverse City region, and the state of Michigan. 

Larry graduated from Northwestern Michigan College in 1974 and further pursued his education at Northern Michigan University where he received a bachelor's of science degree in 1976. A lifetime career in banking began in 1979 when he accepted a position as loan adjuster for Empire National Bank. He was quickly and repeatedly promoted and, by 1987, he was a vice president. 

He continued his education on a variety of important banking issues at the Universities of Delaware, Maryland, Oklahoma and Central Michigan. In 2000, Empire National Bank was purchased by Huntington National Bank, and the new owners quickly recognized the value in Lan-y's experience and commitment. He continued with various responsibilities at a high level until retirement in 2007. He retired from Huntington National Bank as Vice President of Commercial Lending, 

Larry was not content to limit his success to the banking industry. Since 1993, he has been an elected commissioner for Grand Traverse County. Two Michigan governors have appointed him to boards. He has been Chairman of the state's Community Corrections Board and served as a Northern Michigan University Trustee for five years. Additionally, he has been chairman of the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, served on the Association of Counties Service Corporation, the Counties Judiciary Committee, the Counties Board of Directors, and the Committee on Juvenile Justice. 

On a national level, he has been chairman of the National Association of Counties Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, worked on the Counties Homeland Security Task Force, the Counties Justice and Public Safety Committee and the National Association of Counties Board of Directors. 

Larry has also been involved with organizations such as United Way, Junior Achievement, the YMCA, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Country Conservation District Board, Area Agency on Aging, the Veteran's Affairs Board, and his local church, Christ the King. 

Larry Inman takes great pride in advocating for his friends, his community, his county, his state, his schools and his profession. And most importantly, as an alumnus ofN01ihern Michigan University, he reflects the values that his alma mater tries to instill in all of its graduates with energy, pride and dedication.

Duane VanDenbusche '59

The leader of one of the most successful track and cross country programs in the nation, Duane Vandenbusche has distinguished himself as an outstanding and popular history professor, author and conch. 

A 1959 graduate of Northern Michigan University, Duane earned his masters and doctorate degrees from Oklahoma State University. In 1962 he accepted a teaching position in the history department at Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado, a position he still holds. 

A dedicated coaching career began in 1971 when he became the head coach of the Western track and cross country teams. What that program evolved into is nothing short of remarkable. 

During a 25-year tenure with the women's cross country team, WSC won one NAJA and three consecutive NCAA National Championships. His women's teams have consistently finished in the top ten in the country at national finals. 

Under his leadership, the Western State men's cross country teams have won seven NCAA National Championships, a national record for most NCAA titles by one school in cross country. 

The list of accolades this coach has garnered is long. His cross country teams-men and women combined-have won 12 national championships; IO competing in the NCAA Division II, two while members of the NCAA. He's coached 51 individual national champions in track and cross country and more than 300 All-Americans. 

Seven times he's been named the NCAA-II National Coach of the Year. 

A man with three rules for his runners: be a good person, a good student and a good athlete-in that order. A man who's greatest lasting legacy will be the lessons he instilled in young people-lessons that are every bit as relevant outside of the field of competition. 

During his 40 years of teaching he has found time to author six books and two historical videos. His area of expertise focuses on the history of the West and Colorado. He is a sought-after speaker, making more than 25 presentations a year. 

It is undeniable that he put Western and Gunnison on the map, nationally and internationally, as a mecca for distance runners. A native of Rock, Mich., he was inducted to the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. 

It is clear that Duane's accomplishments in the academic, literary and athletic fields make him a deserving recipient of the highest honor awarded to NMU alumni. It is with pride and admiration that his alma mater accords him this honor for his dedication to history and student athletes. 

Frederick E. Nelson ’73

What started as a love of geography in a class at NMU in the early 70s has grown into a globe-spanning scientific career during which Frederick Nelson has come to be recognized as one of the premier permafrost researchers in the world and a vital contributor to the advancement of exploration and science.

Demonstrating a life-long commitment to education and instruction, he has taught more than 1,000 undergraduates and supervised graduate students who have won national awards under his mentorship and have continued on to pursue their doctorates.

To impact the lives of Northern students, he established the Fillmore C. F. Earney Endowment in 2003, which provides opportunities for the geographical scholarship at NMU.

In his own career, he went on from NMU to obtain a master’s in geography from Michigan State University in 1979 and a Ph.D. in geography from the University of Michigan in 1982. He has held positions at Rutgers University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, among others, and has been teaching in the University of Delaware Geography Department since 1997.

His high-profile work has spanned both academic and geographic terrain. He has published four monographs and over 100 peer-reviewed articles on wide-ranging topics in academic journals, books, conference proceedings and the world’s foremost scientific publications. His research has taken him to the furthermost reaches of the globe, including Siberia, Tibet, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Arctic Canada.

Since the mid-1980s he has been in the vanguard of permafrost science, generating critical research regarding the effects of global climate warming on permafrost and the ways in which changes in permafrost can affect humans and natural systems. He helped to create, and currently supervises, the Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring (CALM) program, a global change monitoring network comprised of 130 permafrost observatories. He has secured and stewarded millions in domestic and international research funds.

His dedication and innovation have garnered many honors from his peers. He currently serves as President of the U.S. Permafrost Association and he has been elected or appointed to the boards of several leading scientific journals and organizations. He has been named a Fellow of the Explorer’s Club of New York City, a status reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to exploration and science.

Paul Goldman '63

As a spirited student and now alumnus, his enthusiasm for NMU is remarkable. This award recognizes his continued support of Northern, its students, and the NMU community.

A promising collegiate football career brought Paul from Arizona State University to NMU in 1961. Then NMU football coach Rollie Dotsch sought Paul out and encouraged him to play for the Wildcats - a decision that would change Paul's life, and would benefit the NMU community for years to come. Immediately feeling at home, he played varsity football for two years and was a regular participant in campus theatre projects.

After graduating in 1963, Paul taught English for three years at Detroit Southeastern High School, where he also coached football, leading his team to victory in the Detroit Public School championship, and sending 22 of his players from this team to colleges around the country.

While teaching, Paul began selling insurance part-time and soon thereafter, entered into the field full-time. In 1968, after just one year of selling insurance, he was selected Man of the Year for Mutual of New York, and in 1969 made the Million Dollar Round Table. After his success in the insurance industry, he became part of Professional Budget Plan, a real estate investment partnership where he became one of its top salesmen.

From there, he became a licensed broker and CEO of the Goldman Group, a consulting firm that works specifically with dental and medical practices. He is also a certified real estate appraiser and valuation consultant.

He has taught at the University of Detroit and University of Toronto dental schools and is a frequent guest lecturer at the University of Michigan on practice management and valuation. He has also been approved by the State of Michigan as an expert witness in practice valuations for divorce and estate matters, and is a charter member of the National Society of Management Consultants.

Despite a busy professional career, Paul continues to make NMU a major part of his life. He is a past member of the NMU Alunmi Association Board and a current member of the NMU Foundation Board of Trustees.

A loyal and spirited alumnus, he has missed only one NMU Homecoming in the past 20 years. And for as many times as Paul has made the trip back to NMU, his wife, Dolores, has been by his side, equally sharing his affection for Northern. With his infectious spirit, Paul is an alumnus who has truly embraced the traditions and values of Northern. 

Dr. Karen Reese ’63, ’66, ‘76

In recognition of her strong belief in the importance of student development and for creating an educational environment where all students have the opportunity for success both inside and outside the classroom.

The fifth of seven children, Dr. Reese was born and raised in Manistique, Michigan. She was blessed with parents who were hard-working, caring, and family-centered. She always felt that the gentle guidance and solid values of her parents served her well in her profession and as a parent herself.

Karen initially did not consider attending college and probably would not have enrolled were it not for the scholarships she received. She completed her undergraduate studies with high honors and depended upon her own financial resources to fund her education. She graduated in 1963 with a degree in Secondary Education.

She taught in the Marquette Public Schools for two and a half years but resigned when she and her husband Duncan decided to start a family. While she was awaiting the arrival of her first child, she was offered a Resident Director position at NMU. That position launched a professional career that continued at Northern Michigan University without interruption for another 35 years.

Always one to stretch her capabilities and challenge herself, by 1986, Dean of Students, Karen Reese was revisiting her goal of returning to the classroom to pursue a doctoral degree. A promotion early the next year to Associate Vice President of Student Life, nearly derailed her plans. It was only through a collaboration between Northern and Western Michigan University that she was able to continue to work full time and also realize her educational dream. She earned her doctorate from WMU in 1992.

In 1993, she became interim Vice President for Student Affairs and was named to the position permanently in 1995. She served in this capacity until her retirement in 2000. As a Student Affairs administrator, one program she is extremely proud to have had a role in creating is the Student Leader Fellowship Program that began with a Kellogg grant that she co-authored more than twenty years ago.

Retirement did not slow Karen down. In 2001 she was honored locally as the recipient of the ATHENA award, for her leadership and volunteerism in the community. She is very active in her church and community, serving on the Bay Cliff Board and on the NMU Foundation Board of Trustees. With her sisters, she shares in the care of her mother, who still lives in the southern Upper Peninsula.

For a woman who always said that her professional life was not her highest priority – her relationship with her husband and her family came first – Dr. Reese has had remarkable professional achievements. Dr. Karen Reese is a fine example of an alumna who took advantage of opportunities to excel and who made a difference in the lives of many young people.

Steven Mitchell '67

In recognition of an outstanding career in political consulting, public relations counseling and marketing research that spans more than 25 years and reaches across more than 40 states. 

As an incoming freshman, in the fall of 1963, Steve Mitchell became active on the campus of Northern Michigan University almost immediately. A member of the college debate team, he also served on the Student Activities Committee. He was president of his fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi, for two years, and president of the Intra-Fraternity Council. He led the Senior Class Cabinet and was treasurer of the Student Government Association. 

A life-long interest in politics began the summer before his senior year of college when he worked as a research director for Congressional candidate Phil Ruppe. 

Following graduation from Northern, he taught high school history and government in Escanaba. He left teaching to open a restaurant which he ran for several years, but in 1978 he returned to his first love, politics. A job with U.S. Senator Bob Griffin led to work for the House Republican Staff and following that, the Ruppe for Senate campaign. 

In 1985, he formed Mitchell Research & Communications, Inc. What started as a one-man operation has evolved into a Michigan-based company that is a national full-service public relations, public affairs, market research, political consulting and political polling firm. Mitchell Research has offices in East Lansing and West Bloomfield, Mich. 

He has met the public relations needs of clients in a variety of fields, including banking, real estate, data information, automotive, environmental, manufacturing, advertising, as well as professional and trade associations. 

One of Michigan's most quoted pollsters, he provides on-air analysis to a host. of television stations throughout the country. He is a nationally recognized speaker on trends in politics and polling. Mitchell Research has been the most accurate media pollster in every election in every state in which they have polled since 1986. 

Mr. Mitchell is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America. 

An active member of his community, his volunteer work includes Common Ground Sanctuary, Albion College, the Jewish Community Council, Jewish Resettlement Center and Jewish Association for Residential Care. 

A strong believer in family time, Steve enjoys taking vacations, entertaining and dotes on the family dog. His wife Suzie is not only his partner in life but also in business, serving as President and CFO of Mitchell Research & Communications. 

An advocate for student involvement, Steve credits his Northern professors and NMU experience in extracurricular activities for much of the success he has enjoyed since graduation. 

Highly accomplished and widely respected in his field, Steve Mitchell is a fine example of a graduate who exemplifies Northern's mission to produce students who strive to become outstanding citizens and leaders. It is with great pride that we bestow this honor upon a truly distinguished alumnus. 

Mark Lovell, '77

In honor of an impressive career as a nationally renowned sports concussion researcher whose work involving the study of neurocognitive effects of sports concussion injuries has earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues and nationwide professional recognition. 

Mark Lovell came to Northern Michigan University from Grand Rapids, where he was born and raised. His family often camped in the Upper Peninsula while he was young and it was from those experiences that he developed a love for the area. He was also an avid skier and liked the long winters the U.P. offers. 

He initially began his college career as a music major, but soon became interested in psychology and medicine. He changed his major and earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1977. He credits Dr. Renfrew as the person who encouraged him to continue his education and he went on to earn his doctorate in clinical psychology from Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School with an emphasis in neuropsychology and behavioral medicine. 

He did both a Clinical Psychology internship and a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Nebraska Medical School and more recently he participated in a Leadership Development program at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. 

Mark has co-authored seven textbooks and 26 textbook chapters and is a prolific writer of scientific journal articles as well as a frequent presenter at professional meetings around the world. 

He currently works at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System, serving as the Director of the Sports Medicine Concussion Program. Under his direction, the program focuses on the diagnosis and management of sports-related concussions in all types of athletes. 

Dr. Lovell oversees the neuropsychological testing programs for the National Football League, the National Hockey League and various auto racing leagues. His work involves the development of improved methods of post-injury evaluation to determine when it is safe for an athlete to return to sports following a concussion. 

Mark lives in Mt. Lebanon, near Pittsburgh, with his wife Eileen. They have two grown children. 

Through a lifetime of study and research, as a dedicated professional who has created a national reputation for himself in his chosen area of expertise, Dr. Mark Lovell truly represents Northern Michigan University as a distinguished alumnus. 

Albert Milford, '66

In recognition of his dedication and lifelong commitment to the healthcare profession, as an active member of many professional organizations and for his focus on creating a learning environment for new osteopathic students as a professor of surgery with tenure, director of the residency training program, and as a university mentor. 

Born in Ann Arbor and raised in Ypsilanti, Albert Milford came to Northern Michigan University as a swimmer, recruited by Burt Gustafson. In addition to swimming, Albert was actively involved in Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. He graduated with a pre-professional degree in 1966. He went on to earn his master's at Eastern Michigan University in 1968. He continued his academic pursuits by attending Midwestern University-Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine where he was awarded his doctorate of osteopathic medicine in 1972. 

Albert completed his internship and residency in general surgery at the Detroit Osteopathic Hospital and became board certified by the American Osteopathic Association board in general surgery in 1984. 

Dr. Milford began his career as an attending surgeon at the Chicago Osteopathic Medical Center and the Olympia Fields Osteopathic Medical Center. He has served both facilities as senior attending and consulting surgeon, secretary-treasurer of the medical staff and associate chair of the Department of Surgery. 

He also directed the general surgery residency training program at Midwestern University and was active in the University's mentoring program. He is licensed to practice in four states. 

He has numerous memberships in professional organizations which include, the American Osteopathic Association, the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons, the Illinois State Medical Association, the American Medical Association. Albert also serves on the board of trustees for the Illinois Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons.

This year, Dr. Milford will be sworn in as President of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. 

In his personal life, Albert enjoys bird watching and golf. He has served as the official doctor for the 1997 U.S. Senior Open. He and his wife, Lisa, live in Flossmoor, Illinois and are the parents of two children, Amy and Albert. 

For a school that prides itself on educating educators, Dr. Albert Milford is a fine example of an alumnus who has excelled in his profession and readily shares his expertise and knowledge with others. It is with great pride that we bestow this honor upon him. 

Kathryn Davis Messerich, '79

In honor of an impressive career as a tough, smart and winning trial lawyer representing health care professionals which earned her the distinction of being recognized as one of Minnesota's top ten attorneys. 

Kathryn was born in San Francisco and spent most of her childhood in Honolulu, Hawaii. She attended high school and two years of college in Madison, Wisconsin where the U.P. was a favorite destination spot. When she decided that she wanted to attend a smaller college, she was immediately attracted to NMU. Kathryn came to Northern in the mid-1970' s and earned her bachelor's degree in nursing in 1979. She is the true definition of a lifelong learner. 

She stayed in the U.P. for one year after graduation and worked as a registered nurse in the intensive ciµ-e unit at Bell Memorial Hospital in Ishpeming. The desire to continue her education led her to the University of Wisconsin - Madison where she again worked in the medical intensive care unit while taking graduate coursework in nursing. 

In 1982, she moved to Minneapolis and continued her graduate studies at the University of Minnesota. Her focus was on maternal-child nursing. While attending classes and beginning her pursuit of a law degree as well, she worked as a senior staff nurse at the University hospitals and Clinic in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and was a member of the Pediatric Transport Team. 

She received her Master of Science in Nursing, between her first and second year of law school. She completed her law degree in January of 1987 and began private practice with a 30-member law firm. 

Over the years she has focused her litigation practice on the defense of medical malpractice cases. She represents hospitals in medical staff disputes and physicians and nurses before their licensing boards. She is a frequent lecturer, speaking to lawyers and health care professionals on health law and risk management issues. 

Kathryn is currently the president of the 700 member Minnesota Defense Lawyer's Association and is co­-chair of the Hennepin County Bar Association District Ethics Committee. She is certified through the Minnesota State Bar Association as a Civil Trial Specialist. She is a member of the Defense Research Institute, the American Association of Health Lawyers, the Minnesota and Wisconsin Bar Associations and Minnesota Women Lawyers. 

When she isn't working, which she says isn't often enough, she is a "binge" gardener. She and her husband enjoy getting outdoors to mountain bike, hike, ski and canoe as often as they can. 

For an institution that promotes the ideals of lifelong learning, Kathryn Davis Messerich is a fine example of an alumna who continues to grow and excel in her profession. It is with great pride that we bestow this honor upon her. 

Irma J. Hamilton '71

In recognition of her strong belief in the importance of education and for creating a learning environment where teachers are truly concerned about the emotional and psychological well-being of our youth. 

Born and raised in Detroit, Dr. Hamilton came to Northern because of the small, close environment and the interaction between the students and the staff. After her graduation in 1971, Irma took a teaching job in New York at Vesta Junior High School. 

After two years, she returned to Detroit and taught at various high schools. While teaching, she completed a master's degree in learning disabilities and reading and an additional master's in guidance and counseling. 

Dr. Hamilton continued to advance in her career evolving from teacher to coordinator, to the department head, to assistant principal and finally to principal. While in her current position as principal at Renaissance High School, she received her doctorate in secondary Administration. 

Striving to create a family-like atmosphere where students know their teachers care, Irma set high expectations and high standards for her students and staff. For two years running, all the seniors at RHS were accepted to a college or university. RHS was the recipient of the Governor's Gold Cup for having high MEAP Scores, and Irma was featured in the ACT magazine for having the highest ACT scores of any predominately African American urban high school in the nation. 

Her professional recognition has been exemplary. She has been a keynote speaker at numerous professional conferences. She has served as a resource both to other school districts across the country and also to local government on education-related issues. She has been interviewed on many television shows and is the recipient of numerous awards. 

Always one to give others credit for her successes, Irma quickly recognizes mentors and supportive peers and the impression they have made on her and the ways in which they have helped her to become a better educator. 

In her personal life, Irma finds joy in her two granddaughters, Alexia and Kayla. She enjoys singing in her church choir and spending time with her mother, daughter and sisters. She says her faith in God is what sustains her during the many challenges we face today. 

For a school that prides itself on educating educators, Dr. Irma Hamilton is one of its finest examples of an alumna who has excelled in her profession and has made a difference in the lives of many young people. It is with great pride that we bestow this honor upon her.

William H. Keskey '62

In honor of a11 impressive career as a results-oriented research chemist who earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues and as a dedicated volunteer in his community. 

A native of the Upper Peninsula, who was born in Ishpeming and attended National Mine School, William Keskey worked his way through college, graduating in 1962 with a bachelor's degree in Chemistry. 

Following graduation, Bill taught math and science in Warren Consolidated Schools for two years. In 1964, he left teaching to begin a new career as a chemist for the Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan. His career with Dow would span 33 years. 

During his career, Bill became an expert in the field of emulsion polymers, which most of us know as latex. He developed latex products used as binders in composite flooring used by the top three flooring manufacturers in the country. He developed a latex product used in masking tape. Dow currently provides three million pounds of this product per year to manufacturers. Additionally, he developed latex products for the shoe, paint, coatings, paper and ceiling tile industries. 

His significant contributions to chemical research and development are best illustrated by the thirteen U.S. patents Lo his name. He published an a11icle on "Redispersible Styrene/Butadiene Latex" and has written and submitted numerous premanufacturing notices of new products to the Environmental Protection Agency as required by the Toxic Substance Control Act. 

He is very involved in his church and has served for 25 years as an usher captain. He is a member of the water quality committee at Mid-Forest Lodge and is responsible for lake protection and chemical pollution issues. He also volunteers his time as a driver for Cancer Services of Midland County for patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation in the tri-city area. 

Bill is an avid hunter and fisherman, his favorite fishing companions are his grandchildren. He is also an accomplished woodcarver and has produced many fine examples of relief carving for family, friends and commission clients. He has competed for the national level in curling, retiring from the sport only six years ago. He and his wife, Kennylou, enjoy traveling. Bill is the father of two sons and one daughter. 

An intuitive, creative and inventive professional whose devotion to his family, his church and his community is clearly admirable, William

Jay W. Johnson '65

While establishing a respected career in media and government, Jay Johnson has continued to show a deep commitment to community service. 

A native of Bessemer, Jay graduated from Bessemer High School, earning a scholarship to Gogebic Community College, where his pursuit of a speech degree would have a lasting impact on his career. After graduating from GCC and landing a job at his hometown radio station, Jay completed his bachelor's degree in speech at Northern Michigan University in 1965. 

After completing a tour of duty with the U.S. Army, serving as a reporter for an Army newspaper, he obtained a master's degree in radio and television arts from Michigan State University. What followed was a 25-year career in media and communications as an award-winning television news anchor.

Jay maintained an active interest in politics throughout his journalism career, covering national political conventions beginning in 1972. A familiar face to those in the Green Bay, Wisconsin, area, Jay worked at WFRV-TV and WLUK-TV as a news anchor, leaving in 1995 to run for political office. In 1996 his love of politics took center stage as he was elected to the 105th United States Congress from the 8th Congressional district in Northeast Wisconsin. 

Jay has shown a deep commitment to community service, working with young people and helping victims of domestic abuse. During his years in Green Bay, Jay actively supported several local charities. He spent five years as president of the board of directors of the Family Violence Center, was involved in fundraising for Big Brothers and Big Sisters and served on the board of directors of Easter Seals of Wisconsin. 

After leaving Congress in 1998, he served as deputy assistant secretary for congressional affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and as deputy executive director for special programs at the Savings Bond Marketing Office of the Department of Treasury. 

Most recently, Jay became the Director of the U.S. Mint. He is CEO of a Fortune 500-sized manufacturing and international marketing enterprise with $4 billion in revenue, $2.7 billion in profits and 2,200 employees. In 2000, the U.S. Mint will strike 29 billion coins and sell $1 billion in collector and investment quality coins worldwide through mail order, Internet, wholesale and retail channels. Johnson also directs the U.S. Mint Police, who protect $100 billion in assets at Fort Knox, Kentucky. 

From Green Bay to Washington, Jay Johnson has retained his strong ties to the Upper Peninsula. For all he has accomplished, his alma mater is proud to recognize him with this honor. 

Michael Nelsen '63

While striving for success in international markets, Mike Nelsen never let go of the belief that all people, 110 matter what nationality, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. 

After graduating from Northern Michigan University in 1963 and following subsequent service in the U.S. Navy, Mike began his career in marketing and sales with Amoco Oil in 1966. II was a fortuitous transfer to the international side of Amoco's business in 1980 where he found his true calling and became a successful oil trader. 

As one of fewer than 400 oil traders worldwide and a man of integrity and morals, Mike often confirmed million-dollar deals with only a handshake and his reputation. He spent five years in London developing new business relationships in Europe and new markets in the Far East and Africa. He retired in 1999 after 34 highly productive years with Amoco, serving most recently as a company vice president. 

An extremely successful communicator, he has traveled to more than 75 countries where his skills and knowledge are held in high esteem. 

Deeply committed to the plight of refugees, he and his wife became actively involved in the Cambodian community in New York and sponsored a family of refugees as they adapted to life in America. For 15 years, he has been a leader in short-term mission trips to Latin America to assist missionaries. 

He was a founding member of Men's International Mission. a non-profit Christian organization dedicated to building schools and children's homes in developing countries. He serves as president of MIM, and today that organization has members from eight states and 30 different churches. MIM has undertaken projects in nine different countries. 

A past president of the board of directors of the NMU Alumni Association, his commitment to Northern Michigan University has been unwavering. He has served on the Walker L. Cisler School of Business Advisory Board for the past 12 years, most recently taking on the responsibilities of board chairperson. He has shown his dedication to Northern by becoming a Lifetime Member of the NMU Alumni Association. He currently serves on the board of trustees of the NMU Development Fund. 

For his professional success as well as his deep commitment to the plight of refugees, Northern Michigan University is fortunate to call Michael Nelson one of its own. 

Stephanie Nelsen '72

Stephanie Nelsen is a highly respected and admired educator whose success and visionary thinking cause her to stand out from her peers. 

Born in Iron Mountain, she graduated magna cum laude from Northern Michigan University in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in secondary education, majoring in business education. Following graduation, she joined the business education department at Midland High School, where she began a long and notable career dedicated to the success of her students. In 1974, she earned her master's degree in business education from Central Michigan University. 

She is a leader and forward thinker, bringing the marvels of technology to the classroom for teachers and students. She brought to fruition her vision of linking retirees and students through a writing project called Retirees Online, where short stories were published on the students' Web site. 

In addition to her regular teaching duties at Midland High School, she serves as Webmaster for the school's Web site and as an adviser for Business Professionals of America. The rewards for her dedication are illustrated in the achievements of her students. They consistently place near the top in national business competitions, twice winning national titles for Web site design. 

Her list of awards is lengthy: 1998 Saginaw Valley Teacher of the Year; Outstanding Professionalism Award from Northwood University in 1996 and 1998; 1996 State and North Central Regional Teacher of the Year; Delta College High School Business Educator of the Year and Ameritech Teacher Excellence Award in 1993. 

She has been a member of the Faculty Concerns Committee and the Academic Excellence Committee for North Central Accreditation for Midland High School and a member of the Technology Advisory Committee for Midland Public Schools since 1995. She has served on the Department of Education Selection Committee for State Technology Grants and as a member of the State Department's Educational Technology Advisory Group. 

Stephanie Nelsen models scholarly behavior, has an insatiable desire for learning and brings cutting edge technology to her school system. It is because of this dedication Northern Michigan University is proud to honor her with this award befitting such an outstanding alumna. 

David E. Lahti '62

June M. Schaefer '67, '68

Dr. Robert R. Archibald '70

Viewing history as a vital dimension of the human experience, he is recognized as a national leader who encourages the involvement of the community in the preservation and understanding of historical heritage.

During the past decade, as president and chief executive officer of the Missouri Historical Society in St. Louis, he has restored the organization to its position as one of the nation's most outstanding historical societies and museums. This pre-eminence and exemplary community service were recognized by the Institute of Museums Services in Washington, D. C. when First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton presented the Missouri Historical Society with the National Award for Museum Service at ceremonies in the White House-the first time the prestigious award was given to a historical society. 

As past-president of the American Association for State and Local History, he led a national discussion of fundamental issues in the field of history; as a member of the Board of the American Association of Museums, he continues to contribute to the development of museums nationwide. Being called upon as a reviewer for the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute for Museum and Library Services attests to the high esteem in which his expertise is held. His services are sought nationwide as a consultant in areas of mission definition, community analysis, long-range planning, and administration. 

He is frequently in demand as a speaker, lecturer, and presenter at conferences, and he is widely recognized through his many articles, columns, radio and television broadcasts, and several books. In addition to history and museums, his topics include humanities, memory, sustainable communities, environmental responsibility, and community core values. His leadership and fund-raising abilities led to the construction of an $11.5 million library, research and conservation facility to house the Society's internationally known library and archives-adding to its major museum, community programs and publications. 

His career has included a number of significant positions, including Director of the Montana Historical Society at Helena, Director of the Western Heritage Center at Billings, and Curator of the Albuquerque Museum in New Mexico. Beginning when he was a graduate student at Northern Michigan University, he has always found time to instill an appreciation of history as adjunct professor at colleges and universities in states where his career has led him. 

It is with much pride and admiration that his Alma Mater accords him this honor for achievements and leadership that have earned him the highest respect of colleagues throughout the nation. 

John W. Berry, Jr. '71

A highly successful business executive, he has generously shared his time, talents, and resources with a variety of organizations and causes in the Greater Dayton area, and with his alma mater, Northern Michigan University. 

For many years he has been a loyal and supportive alumnus. His recent gift of $2 million to help build NMU's Events Center is providing a facility that will not only serve the University in a variety of ways but will greatly benefit the Northern students and residents of the region. 

This generous gift is allowing Northern to fulfill decades of plans and aspirations. In giving to the University, he is helping build for the future by expressing his gratitude for what he believes his alma mater has given him in the past. A vital part of the Northern community, he is helping to ensure that it will enter a second century as a strong and growing institution and that its young men and women will be prepared to meet the challenges of the new millennium. 

As president and chief executive officer of The Berry Company for over two decades until 1994, he helped make it a vital and prosperous subsidiary of the Bell South Corporation, one of the world's largest publishers of telephone directories. More recently, as chief executive officer of Berry Investments, Inc., a holding company, he has expanded his business activities to include AcuSport, a $180 million distributor, and two manufacturing enterprises, Microwave Sensors, and Berry Braiding, each doing a $5 million annual business. 

His commitment to community service in Dayton is apparent. He is a member of the Boards of the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges, the Miami Valley Hospital Foundation, YMCA, and Dayton-Montgomery County Public Education Fund. He also serves on the Boards of the Dayton Performing Arts Fund, the Dayton Business Committee, the Camping & Education Foundation, the Air Force Museum, the Loren M. Berry Foundation, and the Society Bank. 

His continued commitment to the University has been an inspiration to alumni and the faculty, staff, and students at NMU. For many years he has been a member of the NMU President's Club, a charter member of the Edgar L. Harden Century Club, whose members have given at least $100,000 to the NMU Development Fund, and recently, served as Executive-in-Residence for the Walker Cisler School of Business.

Just as he did during his undergraduate days at NMU when he provided leadership for the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and student government, he has made a difference in his community and state, at Northern Michigan University, and throughout the region it serves. His commitment will be an enduring legacy that will continue to give for many years to come. 

Margaret A. Coughlin, J.D. '73

An attorney who has become highly respected as one of the Midwest's most knowledgeable authorities on environmental law and its applications, she has worked diligently to help bring about equitable and effective solutions to matters of widespread public concern. 

Director of the Environmental Practice Group at Dickinson Wright, one of Michigan's oldest and largest law firms, she has served as common counsel to groups of Fortune 500 companies involving federal and state superfund matters, including several of the largest cleanups of historical contamination in Michigan and the region. She has also represented lumber and paper mills and the auto industry on environmental matters in the Upper Peninsula. Clients she has served nationally include the Ford Motor Company and the Ashland Oil Company. 

Her experience in legal matters has been as varied as it has been extensive. Beginning her career as a law clerk for the Michigan State Court of Appeals, she later joined the legal staff of Detroit Edison's General Litigation Department where she assisted in the resolution of a major antitrust class action. She had major involvement in environmental litigation after she became a member of the Ford Motor Company's Office of the General Counsel, where she also assisted in the Pinto fuel tank litigation and consumer class actions. She joined Dickinson Wright in 1988. 

Active in a number of professional organizations, she holds membership in federal, state and local bar associations, the Society of Environmental Professionals, and the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan. She has provided leadership to the Michigan Great Lakes Technology Advisory Committee and the Greater Detroit Area Chamber of Commerce's Environmental and Energy Advisory Committee serving as chairperson of both groups. 

Her charitable involvements include a deep interest in the Roeper School Community and a sponsor of its International Night Program, and raising funds to establish a nature center at the YWC/'\s Camp Cavell on Lake Huron near Lexington. 

Graduating from Northern Michigan University with highest honors, and also receiving a degree with honors from Wayne State University's School of Law, she has gone on to build an outstanding career that exemplifies the achievements of many Northern alumni who have brought much pride and distinction to their Alma Mater and makes her a model of excellence for future generations of NMU students. 

Janet A. Haynes, J.D. '69

In the years that have elapsed since receiving baccalaureate degrees from Northern Michigan University, first in English and then in nursing, Janet Haynes has become a near legend in Kent County legal and social service circles for going the "extra mile" to keep children and families together. 

Her commitment to helping others began with her nursing career at the Veterans' Administration Hospital in Brooklyn, New York where she was the chief nurse in a variety of clinical areas including cardiology and gerontology. 

From caring for others to teaching others, she took on the role of nursing instructor. At Lansing Community College, she helped colleagues in the medical and psychiatric units understand the needs of the sick. 

Her special interest in the welfare of children and young adults served her well when she joined St. Lawrence Hospital in Lansing as a staff nurse in adolescent and adult psychiatric units. This was one of the many places where she was exposed to the needs of children in today's society. 

The lessons she learned as a nurse, including her experiences with adolescents, were applied by Janet when she began her studies at Thomas M. Cooley Law School which awarded her a Juris Doctorate in 1981. Her newly-earned credentials led to new opportunities as a strong advocate of child welfare. As a staff attorney with the Kent County Friend of the Court, she was involved in hearings and domestic relations mediation. In private practice, she specialized in family and juvenile law. 

In her present post as Kent County Probate Judge, she handles juvenile delinquent and child abuse cases, mental commitments, wills and estates. Through her work, and that of others, Kent County has received national recognition for its 90 percent adoption rate. 

The esteem in which she is held by her colleagues and peers led to her selection as President of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, the second woman in the history of the organization to be elected to the post. In addition, she has been a member of the Boards of the Grand Rapids Foundation, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Family Services Association and serves on a multitude of committees affecting the welfare of children. 

Her commitment and service to children and families in Kent County have won her accolades from the Grand Rapids civic organizations and news media, and made her an alumna of distinction. 

Howard D. Schultz '75

In recognition of his remarkable business success, his leadership as a humanitarian, his sense of values, and his belief in the American Dream. 

Since 1987, Howard Schultz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Starbucks Coffee Company, has taken his company from 11 stores to over 1500 stores. Starbucks has become a household word, and he is one of our nation's most celebrated entrepreneurs. He is a strong advocate of giving back to the communities within which his stores exist. 

He has instituted programs of community service at all Starbucks store locations, such as contributions to inner city schools, Christmas food drives for the poor, fund-raisers for children's hospitals, and coffee donations to local and regional disaster shelters. Community service is a company policy. 

The highest corporate standards of environmental conservation are standard policies at all Starbucks locations. Coffee cups are made of recycled paper and used coffee grounds are given as compost to community parks, gardens, and nurseries. For these and other conservation policies, the state of Washington honored him with its "Recycler of the Year" award. 

In addition to the Starbucks Foundation, which provides grants to organizations that promote literacy, he has also con­tributed to the literacy cause by joining forces with Oprah Winfrey to market her Book Club selections in Starbucks stores, with the profits going to literacy programs. All profits from his own book, Pour Your Heart Into It, likewise go to literacy programs, as did the book's half-million dollar advance. 

Starbucks practices one of the most progressive employee benefits plans in the nation. He was the first to give full medical, dental, and optical coverage, plus options to buy company stock to part-time employees. This is only one of the many ways in which his stores are recognized as socially responsible businesses. 

In his book, he writes of arriving at NMU for his freshman year, describing a campus which " ... looked like an America I had seen only in the movies, with budding trees, laughing students, and flying frisbees." Four years later, in 1975, he graduated and went on to fulfill the American Dream. His life is an example worthy of admiration and emulation. 

David Williams, II, J.D. '69

One of the leading educational administrators in the United States, he is highly regarded by his colleagues at Ohio State University for the scholarly leadership he has given there in a variety of positions. These have included serving as an Associate Professor of Law; Vice Provost, Office of Minority Affairs; Director of the OSU-University of Oxford Summer Law Program in England; Vice President for Student Affairs; and in his expanded current post as Vice President for Student and Urban/Community Affairs which includes the largest intercollegiate athletic program in the country. 

Concurrently since 1995, he has been a Professor of Law with a joint academic appointment in the OSU College of Education's Sports Management Program. His experiences from this perspective have included serving as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Athletic Certification Peer Review Site Team at numerous major universities including the University of Miami, University of Texas and Georgetown University; Chairing the Sports Law Section of the American Association of Law Schools; and accepting numerous invitations to speak on intercollegiate athletics and the law. 

Although the professional demands placed upon him are great, his personal contributions to civic and social causes are equally as taxing but mirror his societal commitment. They have included serving as President of the Sojourner Truth/Frederick Douglass Society, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Columbus Urban League, the Martin Luther King Center for the Performing and Cultural Arts, Catholic Social Services Development Board, and the Columbus Compact. 

Since his graduation from Northern in 1969, he has been awarded graduate degrees by NMU, both the University of Detroit School of Business and School of Law, and the New York University School of Law. An acknowledged authority in the field of taxation, he has published numerous articles on various aspects of the subject in a wide variety of commercial and professional publications, including the Virginia Tax Review and Business Law Today. He also serves on the American Bar Association's Sections of Taxation, International Law, and Legal Education. 

Although it has been more than 30 years since David left Detroit to begin his formal education at Northern, he is today what he was then-a hard-working, dedicated, determined, educator who is helping to make America a better place for us all. 

Larry J. Sell, M.D. '62

Recognized for decades as a leader among Michigan's medical profession, Dr. Larry J. Sell is an alumnus in whom Northern Michigan University has a great deal of pride. He has not only earned an outstanding record of professional achievement, but he has served his Alma Mater with dedication and distinction for many years.

A Manistique area native, Dr. Sell graduated with honors from Northern's Pre-Medical Program in 1962, going on to earn a degree in medicine at the University of Michigan where he was in the top 20 percent of his class. 

He began his many-faceted career in medicine as director of the Emergency Room and Industrial Medicine at the Redford Medical Center in Detroit, and in 1968 he returned to Manistique where he established what soon became a flourishing family practice. An inspiring community leader, he founded the Manistique Medical-Dental Center and became director of Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital's education, satellite center, and medical student programs. He also served as the county's medical examiner. 

His special interest in Northern Michigan University was made particularly manifest in 1975 when he was appointed to the Board of Control, where he served until 1982, including a term as its chair, and provided leadership during a time of difficult challenges and adjustments for the University. 

Dr. Sell's growing stature within the state's medical community led to new professional opportunities in 1980 when he was named president of Ambulatory Care at Detroit Receiving Hospital and the Detroit Medical Center's University Health Center--the largest single-campus medical center in the country. At the same time, he joined the faculty in the Department of Family Medicine at Wayne State University's School of Medicine. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan tapped his expertise in 1983 and he became vice president and medical director, and later senior vice president. Medical Management Associates, an international consulting firm serving healthcare providers, institutions, and health care vendors, was founded by Dr. Sell in 1989, and he continues to serve as its president. 

Nationally recognized for his medical research on snow machine accidents, Dr. Sell also served as chair of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on AIDS and was a member of the Governor's Task Force on Health Care Costs. 

Dr. Sell and his wife, Nancy, have continued the Northern tradition through their son, Jeff, and daughter, Shelly, both NMU graduates. The achievements of Dr. Sell in medicine as well as in education are a source of inspiration to students and a cause of much pride and admiration among all who know him. 

Dennis P. Callahan '70

A highly respected business leader who is deeply involved in community advancement and the welfare of Michigan children, Dennis P. Callahan has maintained close ties to his Alma Mater and his native Upper Peninsula through the years. 

An outstanding student at Northern Michigan University, he was included in Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges, and served as an instructor in political science classes. Majoring in mathematics, political science, and psychology, he graduated with honors in 1969. 

His outstanding career in merchandising began when he joined Prange' s in Green Bay (now Younkers) following graduation, becoming divisional merchandise manager. His skills were soon recognized by others in the field and in 1975 he was chosen vice president of merchandising for the 22 stores in Virginia owned by Miller & Rhoads of Richmond. 

He moved on to greater responsibilities two years later by accepting the senior vice-presidency of merchandising for Hecht's stores in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland--a division of Mays Department Stores. His accomplishments here caught the notice of others in merchandising, and in 1985 he was tapped to be president of the Bon Ton's 20 stores in Pennsylvania and Maryland, where he guided the company's annual volume growth from $97 million to $155 million in just three years, and also enhanced profits. 

After a term as senior vice president of merchandising for Hess's stores, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, which had an annual volume of$242 million, he took his current post as chairman, president, and CEO of Crowley, Milner & Company in 1992, which has nine stores in the Detroit metropolitan area. Last year, Crowley's acquired the sixteen Steinbach Department Stores located in five Eastern Seaboard states. Crowley's, which has experienced a major financial tum-around under his leadership, employs more than 3,500 with annual sales exceeding $150 million. 

Dedicated to civic improvement, Dennis Callahan has invested much time and energy as a member of the board of the New Center Area Council, a non-profit business organization dedicated to development of a northern anchor for Detroit's greater downtown area. As a member and President of the board of a private, non-profit child welfare agency known as Spaulding for Children, he has provided valuable guidance and support in its mission to help find adoptive families for Michigan children with special needs. 

The responsibilities of leadership in business and the community, accompanied by a high degree of success, have never caused Dennis Callahan to forget his Rapid River roots, or to slacken his long-standing and ardent support of Northern Michigan University. A devoted husband and father, a leading business executive whose accomplishments have been built not only on only merchandising skills, but on his genuine concern for people, Dennis Callahan is highly deserving of this tribute of recognition by a proud and honored Alma Mater. 

Dr. Pak-Wing "Steve" Chum '74

In recognition of his prominent career as a research scientist and for the contributions he is making through his research to his adopted country and people in all lands. 

A native of China whose early education took place on the Island of Macao, he has gained an international reputation for the research on polymer materials he is doing in the United States. 

After earning a diploma at Hong Kong Baptist College and serving as a teaching assistant there, Dr. Chum came to Northern Michigan University where he earned a master's degree in chemistry. This was followed by a Ph.D. at Oregon State University. 

In his relatively brief eighteen-year career, sixteen of which have been with The Dow Chemical Company where he has become the firm's leading researcher on polyethylene plastics, he has attracted worldwide attention for his work. 

In the past three years, he has authored thirteen technical publications, all of which have been published in scientific journals or proceedings of organizations, and has accepted invitations to give speeches at sixteen institutions and professional meetings, ranging from the California Institute of Technology to The Japan Society of Polymer Science. 

His other accomplishments include his selection to serve on the Board of Directors of the Society of Plastic Engineers, the Technical Advisory Board of Case Western Reserve University, and the Dow Chemical Company's Technology Advisory Board. 

Dr. Chmn's significant contributions to the body of scientific knowledge are best underscored by the fourteen patents he has been granted, for being named as one of"50 Research and Development Stars" by the U.S. Industry Weekly magazine and for his selection by the same publication as "U.S. National Inventor of the Year" in 1994 for his work with polyethylene. 

The severe demands on his time have not prevented him from returning to Northern to give a seminar or from recalling his studies at Northern and establishing a fellowship named in honor of his late father to support research by NMU's graduate students in chemistry. 

A highly professional and dedicated man, Dr. Pak Wing Steve Cluun has brought honor and prestige to Northern Michigan University through his pioneering efforts in polyethylene plastics and through his efforts to help others. 

James A. Surrell, M.D. '63

In recognition of his outstanding career in medicine and medical education and for his leadership. 

James A Surrell is a noted surgeon who has become recognized nationally as a leader in his field. He has been widely published, much sought after as a speaker, and is actively engaged in a variety of educational activities. 

Carrying on a tradition begun by his late father who practiced medicine in Newberry for half a century, Dr. Surrell entered the medical profession after a highly-successful twelve-year career with the IBM Corporation where he held various technical, marketing, and executive positions. 

A colon and rectal surgeon practicing at the prestigious Ferguson Clinic in Grand Rapids, Dr. Surrell is also certified as a general surgeon. He has earned a reputation as a specialist in treatment of colon and rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel and diverticular diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, and common anorectal diseases. He also maintains a colon and rectal surgical clinic in Newberry. 

Dr. Surrell has made many and significant contributions to medicine in his home state. Within the past half-dozen years, he has served as president of the Kent Medical Foundation, a benevolent organization that provides low-cost loans to medical students and others pursuing careers in health care professions; he has had a term as president of the 900-member Kent County Medical Society, and has been president of the Michigan State Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. 

Vitally interested in medical education, he continues to publish in various textbooks and journals. In 1994-95, he wrote a chapter in the prestigious Surgical Clinics of North America, a chapter in the textbook Surgery of the Colon, Rectum and Anus, and six chapters in the textbook, Procedures of Primary Care Physicians. He also is active in education as an assistant professor of surgery in the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University, where he obtained his medical degree. 

A continuing interest in Northern, where Dr. Surrell earned his pre-medical degree, has led him to maintain ties as a lifetime member of the NMU Alumni Association. During his surgical residency training, he returned to speak to NMU's pre-medical students on his experiences as a medical student and resident in surgery. While a student here, he served as president of the student government during his senior year. 

His outstanding career as a surgeon, author and educator is an inspiration to all who aspire to join the medical profession. His exceptional abilities, his professional leadership, and his continuing commitment to education are a source of great pride and honor to his alma mater, and deserving of its highest tribute of recognition. 

T. Dennis George '60

In recognition of his outstanding career as a lawyer and for his dedication to values. 

A leader in his profession, highly respected for his community involvement, a dedicated husband and father, Dennis George has based his life on solid principles that give people and their welfare the highest priority. 

After a youth spent in Ironwood, he came to Northern where he served as president of the student body and completed his undergraduate degree with the highest honors. Following service in the U. S. Marine Corps as an infantry officer, he was admitted to the University of Wisconsin Law School where he again graduated with honors and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. 

Admitted to the bar in Wisconsin and Washington State, he selected to settle in Seattle where he joined one of the city's largest and most prestigious law firms. Here he soon built a reputation as a man of his word, one who personally cared for his clients. 

Since 1977, he has headed his own law firm where his foremost goal has been quality of service. So substantial has his reputation become in the Pacific Northwest, that he has won the respect of both the bar and the judiciary, and is often called upon to represent others in his profession in litigation. As a Lawyer Representative for the nation's largest Federal Court District-which includes nine states stretching from Alaska to California-he meets regularly with federal judges to discuss and plan policy decisions affecting the federal legal system. Although a skilled courtroom attorney, he is a leader in Washington in Alternative Dispute Resolution where disputes are settled outside of the courtroom, and litigants are aided to reach more amicable and less costly resolutions of their disputes. During his term as president of the Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington, he founded the task forces on Professionalism and Alternative Dispute Resolution. 

Strongly committed to his community, he is director of Bridge Ministries for Disabilities Concerns, an organization devoted to assisting persons with physical and developmental disabilities and their families who are "falling through the cracks" of other social service networks. He has been active with the King County United Way, the Citizen's Advisory Council of the Lake Washington School District, and Toastmasters International. 

As a concerned father wanting to be directly involved in his two sons' development, he developed an early interest in soccer. He has been active in youth soccer administration and coaching for more than 20 years, becoming a mentor for many of the boys and young men he coached. During this time he has held a national soccer coaching license, was designated an Olympic Development Program coach, and was a premier league coach. 

Loyal to Northern, he has helped organize alumni gatherings in Seattle, has hosted alumni and staff, and has assisted the University at every opportunity. 

Highly accomplished and widely respected as a professional, a community leader, and a devoted husband and father, Dennis George is truly a distinguished citizen who has greatly honored his alma mater. It is with much pride and appreciation that this recognition is accorded to him.

Patti L. Peterson, M.D. '75

John C. Fleming '64

In recognition of his remarkable achievements as a result-oriented leader in various professional areas and his global entrepreneurship. 

For 25 years, he has made extensive use of vision, strategy development and implementation, marketing, and cross-cultural management techniques and bridging, to help attain personal goals and professional objectives in Southeast Asia. 

As Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka National Airline, Air Lanka, he guided the ailing business to a 40% increase in direct revenue, a 60% increase in productivity and a 15% increase in passengers, which enabled the firm to achieve profits for the first time in its 10-year history. His leadership in restructuring the firm meant the recovering of $250 million in lost capital. 

As managing director of RCI Asia-Pacific Pte. Ltd., he established the regional headquarters of the world's largest leisure travel and exchange company, successfully influencing favorable legislative action and trade favorable to the industry in the Asian Pacific. 

He currently is the managing director of Country (Thailand) Co., Ltd. of Bangkok, a regional property development firm listed on Thailand's Stock Exchange. Property being developed includes a Country Marina and Hilton Hotel, a Country Village, a 22-story office block, and two high rise condominium blocks, all in Bangkok. Similar projects are in progress or planned, in other parts of Thailand and China. In addition, he is Chairman of the 

Dale M. Larson, M.D. '76

In recognition of his outstanding career as a physician, administrator, author and educator in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. 

In the eighteen years since receiving his baccalaureate degree, Summa Cum Laude from Northern Michigan University with majors in physics, chemistry and biochemistry, Dale Larson has developed a reputation · among his patients and peers as a thorough, caring and gifted doctor of medicine.

His undergraduate degree was followed by completion of medical school at the University of Michigan. a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Washington University's Barnes Hospital in St Louis, Missouri, and a four-year fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, University of Texas Medical Center, Houston. 

He then served as an assistant professor on the staff of the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. In 1987 he joined the staff of the noted Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, Wisconsin, where he became the first gynecologic oncologist within the Marshfield system, and now serves as the director. 

Dedicating his career to the medical specialty of gynecologic oncology, he is one of only 400 board-certified gyneco­logic oncologists in the world, of which only 250 are in actual practice. As one of the smallest medical sub­ specialties, it is also one of the most sought-after. 

Although it is not required, he has continued to stay involved academically and publishes and presents manuscripts at state, national and international levels. He also serves as an editorial consultant for four major journals in his field. 

His career and academic achievements are highly commendable, but it is his genuine care, enthusiasm and confidence that make him an exemplary figure among gynecologic oncologists the world over, who have dedicated their lives to assisting women through this highly-specialized field of medicine. 

A model for future generations of students at Northern Michigan University, he has brought honor and prestige to his Alma Mater and his native Upper Peninsula. Dr. Dale Larson is an alumnus who deserves the highest esteem and recognition. 

Dr. David A. Hart '64

In recognition of his outstanding scientific career as a medical researcher, educator, author, and his an effort to pioneer advancements in the field of immunology and microbiology. 

Beginning with his work as an undergraduate researcher with Dr. Thomas Griffith at NMU and continuing in the laboratories of Dr. Paul Kindel at Michigan State University and Dr. Alfred Nisonoff at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago, Dr. David Hart has always sought answers to questions which will help mankind. 

His early years, following his selection for fellowships by both the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), were spent at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He was an assistant and then associate professor of microbiology, and then became Associate Director of the Graduate Program in Immunology at the University's Health Science Center in Dallas. 

In 1983, he joined the University of Calgary, concurrently holding positions as professor of medicine and professor of microbiology and infectious diseases. His research interests and his administrative capabilities first led to his appointment to research groups dealing with immunology and oncology. Within the last two years, his responsibilities have expanded to include his membership on the Julia McFarlane Diabetes Research Center; a member of the Joint Injury and Arthritis Research Group; and, since 1992, Chairman of the McCaig Centre for Joint Injury and Arthritis Research. This facility is designed to provide basic and clinical research in areas ranging from ligaments and hip replacements to lupus and scleroderma.

In addition to being the author or co-author of over 150 publications, papers and reports in the areas of joint and tumor disease, Dr. Hart's expertise has led to the founding of two University-based biotechnology research and development companies; BRM-Biotech, Ltd., founded in 1987, and Calbiotronix, Inc. founded in 1989. These and other similar endeavors only serve to reinforce the true complexity of his many endeavors. 

An icon of success for medical students and practitioners alike, David Hart is an alumnus of Northern Michigan University who deserves only the highest accolades and recognition. 

Michael P. Hocking, M.D. '73

In recognition of his outstanding career as a surgeon and medical educator. 

After completing his undergraduate degree at Northern Michigan University with highest honors and earning his medical degree at the University of Michigan, he quickly established himself at one of the country's, and the South's, leading academic institutions, the University of Florida in Gainesville. He began his highly successful career at the University's College of Medicine as a resident and then Chief Resident for six years in the Department of Surgery. This was followed by a year as a Research Fellow at the internationally acclaimed Mayo Clinic. 

His dedication to his profession and his growing experience led to his promotion and his current dual responsibilities as an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University and Chief of General Surgery and Assistant Chief of Surgical Service, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center. 

His commitment to excellence in his profession, particularly in the field of gastrointestinal diseases, is reflected, in part, by the more than 50 publications to his credit, the research grants he has won, his active membership in more than a dozen medical or surgical organizations, his election to the Society of University Surgeons and his selection by his peers for the Outstanding Faculty Award in General Surgery. 

A proud native son of the Upper Peninsula community of Ishpeming, he has never forgotten his roots and has been untiring in his classroom efforts to share his knowledge with future medical students who, in tum, might be better servants of all mankind. 

A model for future generations of students at Northern Michigan University to emulate, he has brought honor and prestige to his alma mater and his hometown through his distinguished achievements and performance.

Dr. Mary E. Nash '74

In recognition of her outstanding career in nursing administration. 

Beginning her career in 1974 at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, she was promoted to bead nurse of a 22-bed medical-surgical unit just three years after receiving her bachelor's degree from Northern Michigan University. Two years later, she was named the hospital's Supervisor of Nursing.

In 1980 when she graduated from the University of Detroit with a Master of Science Degree in Human Services and Nursing, it marked a new era in her career. She was appointed to Director of Nursing Practice at Sinai Hospital in Detroit. She successively served as Assistant Administrator of Nursing Services and Associate Administrator of Nursing Services until 1988 when she was promoted to Vice President of Patient Care Services. 

In 1991, she was named Vice President of Patient Care Services at Detroit's Grace Hospital, a 551-bed teaching hospital that is affiliated with the Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University. Her duties are vast, as she is responsible for the operations of all nursing departments as well as the departments of Infection Control, Anesthesia, and Emergency. 

Her leadership though extends far beyond the physical boundaries of the hospital. In addition to being active in many civic and professional associations, she is past president of both the Greater Detroit Organization of Nurse Executives and the Michigan Organization of Nurse Executives and was a member of the State of Michigan Task Force on Nursing Shortage. Her leadership was further recognized when she was admitted by the Wharton School of Business to its management program, when the University of Michigan accepted her in its doctoral program, and when she was selected by the Michigan Nurses Association for its coveted Outstanding Nurse Administrator Award. 

Her caring ways, coupled with commitment and dedication in her chosen career have brought honor to her alma mater and better medical care to countless patients. 

Ruben Franco '70

In recognition of his distinguished career as an Attorney and Civil Rights Leader. 

After living his boyhood days in New York City's "Hell's Kitchen," he had the strength and courage to break through the social and economic barriers common to inner cities, further his education and later return to his community to help others. 

He was a very successful and hardworking student, first graduating with honors from Northern Michigan University in 1970, and in 1974 becoming a Cum Laude graduate of Howard University Law School in Washington, D.C.

Partly responsible for his opportunity to further his education are family friends who recognized and believed in his potential and sent him to pursue his undergraduate and law degrees. He later returned to the Bronx to help others reach their goals. 

Dedicating much of his life to helping others, he has served the legal needs of New York City's poor and especially Puerto Rkan and other Latino peoples through his work at The Legal Aid Society of the City of New York, The Bronx Legal Services, and in his private practice of law. 

His long time commitment to, and fight for, civil rights led to his selection in 1988 as President and General Counsel of The Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, a national civil rights organization founded just 20 years ago to protect the civil rights of Puerto Ricans and other Latinos and to ensure their equal protection under the law. 

1n his fight for Human and Civil Rights, Mr. Franco has helped bring hundreds of cases to trial in the effort to combat discrimination and social injustices in education, employment, housing, health and the electoral process. 

In private practice, he has argued many serious felony cases and developed a reputation as a skilled trial attorney. 

Mr. Franco's leadership and expertise have been recognized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology which designated him a Fellow in Urban Studies and by the various organizations which count him among their Boards of Directors The Osborne Association, The New York City Civil Rights Coalition, The New York City Correctional Association, and The Center for American Culture Studies at Columbia University. 

His commitment to helping others in his community and his devotion to protecting the rights of others, especially Puerto Rican and Latino peoples, make Mr. Franco a Northern Michigan University alumnus of whom we are all proud. 

Rear Adm. Leonard F. Picotte '63

In recognition of his lifetime commitment to the United States Navy and distinguished service to his country. 

A Native of Calumet in the Upper Peninsula's Copper Country, he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1957, serving his first tour of duty on the destroyer USS Sarsfield. 

After completing his Navy enlistment, he graduated from Northern Michigan University in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics and continued his military education at Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, where he was commissioned as an ensign. He later completed his master's degree in political science degree at San Diego State University and a second master's degree, this one in strategic studies, from the Naval War College. In addition, he graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College. 

His sea duty assignments have included serving as a weapons officer and gunnery officer aboard a variety of ships. His first command was when he returned to combat action for the third time in Vietnam to take command of the USS Marathon. He later served as executive officer aboard the USS Defiance, and again saw action in Vietnam. 

His meritorious service and superb leadership subsequently earned him the command of the USS WASP, the Navy's lead ship of a new class of ambitious assault ships. 

In July 1990, he assumed duties as Inspector General of the Atlantic Fleet for Commander in Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Command and U.S. Atlantic Fleet. On May 1, 1991, he was promoted to Rear Admiral, becoming only the second graduate of Northern Michigan University to ever achieve the grade of flag or general officer in the Armed Forces of the United States. 

As commander of Amphibious Group TWO/Amphibious Striking Force, he leads 47 individual commands which include six amphibious squadrons, 30 ships, and over 15,000 personnel, and is responsible for operational planning and execution of amphibious operations and participates in exercises at the Joint, NATO, or national levels. 

His military honors include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation. 

Admiral Picotte's professionalism and accomplishments in serving the United States Navy have set him apart as a prominent officer who has made significant contributions to m.rnation 's security and whose dedication to career and country have brought honor to his alma mater. 

Gerald M. Glanville '64

Stephen P. Klinker, D.D.S. '78

In recognition of his tireless dedication to improving the health and welfare of Third World citizens.

Choosing to devote his life to providing dental service and improving the well-being of all people, he has worked diligently to fulfill that commitment in his Texas practice. 

In 1988, he and an associate founded the Central America Medical and Dental Foundation, which provides medical, dental, optometric and chiropractic care for needy Central Americans. Through their efforts, they have defied the myth that one person's voice cannot be heard. More than 50,000 residents of Honduras alone have been treated for medical and dental disorders as a result of more than a dozen trips to that area. 

With no budget, but with donated medicine, supplies and equipment and a dedicated volunteer corps, the Central America Medical and Dental Foundation provides treatment for between 7,000 and 10,000 men, women and children in each of the week-long trips. Dr. Klinker's endeavors have been noticed on a national level. In 1989, he was the recipient of the American Institute for Public Service Gold Jefferson Award, which is given annually by the U.S. Department of State to the five outstanding volunteers in the United States. In December of that year, he was selected by Esquire magazine to be included among the handful of 1989 additions to its annual Register of the nation's leaders. 

Dr. Klinker's humanitarian accomplishments reflect a commitment to a deeper cause than most people can fathom. He serves as an inspiration to us all, and his exemplary performance is most deserving of this honor and praise. 

Thomas L. Baldini '65

In recognition of his significant contributions to the people of Michigan and, in particular, to the residents of the Upper Peninsula, as a master teacher, dedicated public servant, and leader. 

As a high school teacher for 18 of his 25 professional years, he provided his students with thorough information, always in a timely and meaningful manner. His ability to thoroughly articulate issues and concepts have become a hallmark of his presentations on a multitude of matters outside of the classroom as well, ranging from his seemingly depthless knowledge of Michigan's educational system, and its economy, to mental health and telecommunications. 

He has played a key role in, and has been an eloquent representative for, the Democratic Party where his positions have ranged from serving as a field coordinator for numerous campaigns to being selected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City in 1988. 

Since 1983, when he was appointed Special Assistant to the Governor of Michigan for Upper Peninsula Affairs, he has served the people of his native state with distinction. He has provided valuable guidance to Governor Blanchard and the Michigan Legislature in a wide range of areas including the formulation of the budget and legislation affecting education, air service, economic development of the Great Lakes, the needs of the Mackinac Bridge, and a strategy for Michigan's future through telecommunications. 

His abilities to work effectively with people from many walks of life and the breadth and depth of his knowledge are mirrored, in part, by titles reflecting his professional experiences and activities: Instructor, Department of Political Science, Northern Michigan University; Chairperson, Social Studies Department, Marquette Senior High School; Delegate, Michigan Education Association Representative Assembly; President, Marquette City Education Association; Co-Chair, Governor's Telecommunications Task Force; Special Assistant to the Governor of Michigan for Upper Peninsula Affairs; and Education Adviser to the Governor of Michigan. 

The many demands placed upon him have not prevented him from making additional contributions to his fellow citizens as Chairperson of the Alger-Marquette Community Mental Health Board, Member of the Board of Directors of the Marquette County Economic Club, and Member of the Board of Trustees of the Marquette Area Community Foundation. 

An exemplary citizen whose deep concern for the welfare of the country and his fellow man is reflected in his daily personal and professional activities, Northern Michigan University is proud to recognize him as an alumnus who has brought honor and recognition to his alma mater. 

Dr. Thomas R. Klei '64

In recognition of his distinguished career as an educator and for his invaluable humanitarian contributions as a researcher in the field of parasitology.

For more than 20 years, he has devoted his professional life to the study and control of parasitic diseases, gaining him the honor and respect of the national and international scientific community. 

After earning his Bachelor's Degree at Northern Michigan University and his Ph.D. at Wayne State University, he was the recipient of a National Institutes of Health Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Georgia. 

As the author or co-author of more than 50 scientific journal articles as well as contributing to numerous other publications, including several textbooks, he has been selected as the invited speaker and participant for many world-wide conferences on parasitic diseases. 

He has been the principal investigator of 33 projects which have received more than $2 million in support from the National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and many pharmaceutical firms. As a research scientist, his attention to the finest detail and commitment to excellence in all that he does has brought him several honors, including the 1990 First Mississippi Corporation Award of Excellence for outstanding work in the Louisiana Agriculture Experiment Station. 

His studies concerning filaria worms have made significant strides of progress against human filariasis, a disease that affects approximately 13 percent of the entire world population and is considered as one of the half dozen or so most important types of disease in the world. In addition, his studies on horse parasites have had a major impact on equine health throughout the world. 

A dedicated educator, he lectures in many undergraduate and graduate courses and serves as an adviser and mentor to numerous graduate students who themselves have earned awards for their research efforts. 

Respected researcher and devoted educator, his humanitarian and scientific accomplishments have brought honor to his alma mater and have helped to make the world a better place in which to live.

Dr. Roy E. Peterson '64

In recognition of his prominent career in the field of children's health and his tireless efforts to advance this worthwhile cause. 

Beginning in 1966 as an Administrative Assistant at the Mott Children's Health Center in Flint, he then proceeded to serve 16 years as Vice President of this prestigious organization, before being elevated to its Presidency in 1985. 

He has augmented his professional life with a variety of activities, including serving on the Boards of the following organizations: Michigan Health Council, Michigan Council of Maternal and Child Health, Urban Coalition of Greater Flint, and the Salvation Army. He has served as President or Chairman of the Michigan School Health Association, the Michigan Health Council, Michigan Coordinated Community Child Care Center, and Michigan Project Find Advisory Board. 

He has been recognized for many of his endeavors with awards. He has been cited by the Michigan Health Council, and Michigan Community Coordinated Child Care. He has also earned a Service Appreciation Award from the Michigan State Board of Education and a Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan School Health Association. 

As the Chief Executive Officer of Mott Children's Health Center, he has the responsibility of negotiating and administering contracts with the Michigan Department of Education, Michigan Department of Mental Health, and Michigan Department of Social Services, dealing with vital issues such as special education, dentistry, pediatrics, child abuse, adolescent pregnancy, maternal and infant health, and community organization. He has proposed and received grants from such associations as the Kellogg Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and United Way. In addition, he is the author of many publications and has delivered many presentations at professional conferences and seminars. 

His dedication to the children of America is manifest in his many attempts to give them a better quality of life. He has truly been an exemplary figure and a distinguished alumnus - most deserving of this honor and praise from Northern Michigan University. 

Scott L. Holman '63

Scott Holman is an Ishpeming native and 1965 graduate of the School of Business and Management. His passion for diving led him to open the Lake Superior Skin Diving Company as a student, and he would regularly teach diving courses and lead expeditions to shipwrecks and Granite Island, several miles off the coast of Marquette. His work was pivotal in establishing NMU’s Scuba program, which remains one of the most popular course offerings at the university.

After graduating, Holman found continued success in entrepreneurship, particularly in the case of Bay City Foundry. Hired in 1974, his work as Vice-President led to the development of mechanical devices for which he has been awarded both U.S. and foreign patents.

In 1987, he purchased Bay City Foundry, now known as Bay Cast Inc., and transformed the struggling business into a multi-million dollar success in less than two years. Aside from steel castings for the automotive industry, the company was tasked by NASA with developing the crawler shoes used by the Space Shuttle Transporter at Cape Kennedy. The turnaround of Bay Cast Inc. led to Holman’s selection as a Michigan “Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist” for 1989 by Inc. Magazine.

Holman has devoted himself to the university in his post-graduate years as well, serving on the Nation Alumni Board of Directors, the Commission for the Future of NMU, as Vice Chairman of the School of Business Advisory Council, and on the Board of Trustees—including as chairman of the board. In 1987, he was named an “Executive in Residence” at the Walker Crisler School of Business.

Today, Holman owns and manages King Lake Wilderness in Covington Township of the U.P. and a director of the United States Chamber of Commerce. He also owns and restored Granite Island Light Station which hosts several NMU projects, along with government and private events.

Dr. Malcolm R. McNeil '69

In recognition of his prominent career in the field of neurological research and his significant contributions to education. 

Having worked for nearly 20 years in speech pathology, beginning as a part-time speech pathologist at the former St. Mary's Hospital of Marquette, he is now a highly respected and internationally known scientist in the area of neurological communication disorders. 

After earning his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees at Northern Michigan University and his Ph.D. at the University of Denver, he was named a Pre-Doctoral Fellow in the Mayo Clinic's Department of Neurology. 

After serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Denver and as an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado-Boulder, he joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he is presently a Professor in the Department of Communicative Disorders and the Principal Investigator of the Waisman Center. 

His prolific contributions to his area of specialization include co-authoring or editing three books and tests dealing with aphasiology and communication disorders and the authoring of more than a score of book chapters. He has written more than 60 peer-reviewed published articles and has presented over 100 scientific papers at national and international meetings. Recently, he was appointed Associate Editor of the Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders. 

He has been active in the community through his generous and dedicated work with the Veteran's Administration Hospitals in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Denver, Colorado; and currently at the V.A. Medical Center in Madison, Wisconsin. 

His dedication to education, continuous pursuit of knowledge in aphasiology and communication disorders and his international reputation in his chosen career have brought honor to his alma mater and healing to those afflicted with neurological disorders.

James H. Wills '67

In recognition of his distinguished career in law and his support of his alma mater. 

A noted attorney, he has been a highly respected member of the legal community in the State of 
Minnesota since his graduation from the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. 

He has been a patent attorney, a Vice President, and General Counsel for Dart Transit Co., a large national trucking company based in St. Paul, and several other large trucking firms. Currently, he is the Senior Partner of the firm of Kalina, Wills, and Wood. 

Regard for his leadership in the profession of law is evidenced by his selection as Chairman of the General Liability section of the Minnesota Tort Reform Committee; his membership on the Executive Commit­tee of the Tort Reform Action Group; his service as a member of the Board of Directors of the Ad­visory Board for Minnesota Worker's Compensation Assigned Risk Plan, and the numerous invitations he receives from trade associations to conduct seminars on labor-related problems and worker's compensation. 

He has provided distinguished leadership to our country's transportation efforts as a member of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association, the Minnesota Trucking Association, and the Transportation Lawyers Association. 

Although the demands of his professions are great, he has found the time to establish a highly successful firm, Cap Concepts, Inc., which develops and markets boat accessory products, some of which he has designed. 

His professional accomplishments, his pride in his undergraduate education and in his Upper Peninsula roots, and the significant financial contributions he has made to the future well being of his alma mater make him an alumnus of whom Northern Michigan University is proud. 

John H. Beaumier, M.D. '53

In recognition of his distinguished career in medicine and his manifold contributions to the human family and society. 

For more than thirty years, he has led a life filled with public service, leadership, and devotion to being a practitioner of the art and science of medicine as a specialist in orthopedic surgery. 

Following undergraduate work at what was then Northern Michigan College of Education, he earned his doctor of medicine degree from Marquette University Medical School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1957. This was followed by an internship at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Great Lakes, Illinois and continued service with the U.S. Navy including duty aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid. He subsequently completed a four-year residency program in orthopedic surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, before accepting an appointment at the Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, Wisconsin. 

In 1968, he became associated with The Orthopaedic Clinic, P.C., in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The heavy demands of his professional practice have not prevented him from serving as ortho­paedic representative for the State of North Dakota Emergency Medical Services for fifteen years, as an associate professor of surgery at the University of North Dakota Medical School, as team physician for the university's "Fighting Sioux" football team for ten years, as presi­dent of the Orthopaedic Clinic for two terms, as a trustee of his parish church for twelve years, and as President of the North Dakota Orthopaedic Society. 

His deep concern for his fellow man is also mirrored by his involvement with Orthopaedics Overseas. In this capacity he has twice traveled to Bangladesh, one of the world's most chronic destitute nations, to provide medical services to people of that country for extended periods of time. 

A devoted husband and proud father, the contributions of time, talent and energy by this proud native son of the Upper Peninsula community of Escanaba, have brought honor and prestige to his alma mater and have helped make the world a much better place in which to live. 

Robert M. Bordeau '59

David S. Haynes '72

n recognition of a man whose multi-faceted career has touched the lives of many people, who has worked tirelessly for the benefit of older citizens, for a more responsive government, for a healthier business community, and for the advancement of education at all levels. 

Demonstrating outstanding leadership during his undergraduate years at his alma mater, he was an effective ombudsman for the student body and was a capable and resourceful editor of the student newspaper, the Northern News. As an alumnus, he has assisted the University in many ways. 

In serving his home area of Brooklyn, New York, he provided dynamic leadership for the aging in a large community medical center and managed an affiliated housing and health complex for older people. He developed the first nutrition centers in the community, and he established an advocacy­-counseling project that is being used as a model by the New York Department for the Aging. 

For more than a decade, he has made major contributions to legislative efforts in Michigan. As a senatorial assistant, he played key roles in the development of legislation in a wide range of areas including education, wetlands protection, campaign finance reform, open meetings, mental health, and economic development. As director of federal and state relations for the Grand Rapids Public Schools and Junior College, he provided valuable guidance, working closely and effectively with lawmakers. 

Serving with distinction as Governor Blanchard's director of the statewide Job Training Council, his abilities to work effectively with the business community were later tapped by the Governor when he was named Michigan's first Business Ombudsman. 

As a member of the Public Affairs Associates, prominent lobbying and public policy management firm, he brings his outstanding experience and knowledge to bear on insurance, health care, cor­porate environmental and educational issues for a variety of client interests. 

A busy and public-spirited citizen, he nevertheless finds time for service to his state and community through the Mercy Respite Center in Grand Rapids, the Hugh Michael Beahan Foundation and the Western Michigan Venture Capital Corporation. His outstanding work has earned him numerous tributes from the Michigan Legislature, the Governor, business groups, and senior citizen organizations. 

A man deeply concerned with the welfare of others, and a mover and shaper in government, he is an exemplary citizen, husband and father who has brought honor and recognition to his alma mater. 

Paul N. Suomi '62

Dr. L. Sandy MacLean '56

In recognition of his outstanding professional career as an educational administrator and community leader. 

A noted administrator and educator, he has been a highly respected member of the academic communities in Ypsilanti, Michigan and St. Louis, Missouri. His contributions to his profession include frequent contributions to professional journals, presentations at national and regional conferences, and the develop­ment of innovative programs and techniques to assist universities and the students they serve. 

He initiated and served as the first chair of the Student Affairs Management Information project, a nation-wide database storing detailed budget information in student affairs for nearly a thousand colleges and univer­sities, enabling student affairs officers to have immediate and comparable information on areas such as admissions, financial aids, counseling and placement and career planning. 

Although the demands of his profession are great, his contributions to his community are equally as im­pressive. The leadership he has given to the National Kidney Foundation and the United Way of Greater St. Louis has earned him their Outstanding Achievement awards. Additional service includes President, Ypsilanti Rotary Club; Board of Directors, United Way of Washtenaw County; President's Advisory Committee, Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity; and Fundraising and Policy Committee, National Kidney Foundation. 

The miles which separate him from his alma mater have not prevented him from continuing to help her in any way he can. He is a member of the Varsity ''N'' Club, a dues-paying member of the NMU Alum­ni Association, a contributor to scholarship programs, and a member of the Commission on the Future of the University's Young Adult Students Task Force. 

Since his graduation from Northern in 1956, he has made numerous contributions to the educational system of our country. This includes service to collegians as Director of Men's Residence Halls at the Universi­ty of Northern Iowa; Head Counselor, Indiana University; Assistant Dean of Students, University of Missouri-Columbia; Dean of Students and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs at Eastern Michigan University; Dean of Students, University of Missouri-St. Louis; and since 1984, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, University of Missouri-St. Louis. 

He is a respected leader whose dedication to his community and profession have brought dignity and honor to his family and to his alma mater.

Dr, Charles T. Mangrum II '61

Charles T. Mangrum II was born in Chicago, Illinois on January 17, 1938, to Frances and Avery Mangrum, and received his early education in Chicago and L’Asne, Michigan. In 1956 he graduated from Lane Technical School in Chicago. After a tour in the U.S. Army, he began his college studies as a student at the University of Illinois in Chicago. During the summer of 1957, at the urging of Mary Lou Dudo, a cousin and student at Northern Michigan University, he visited the NMU campus where he met Dean Bottum, whose helpful guidance and friendliness convinced Mangrum to attend NMU.

He attended NMU from 1957 to 1963, receiving a B.S. in Sociology in January 1961, followed by an M.A. in Teacher Education in January 1963. The head of the economics department at the time, Professor Jean Pearman, piqued his curiosity in sociology and introduced him to college teaching. Mangrum taught undergraduate sociology courses at NMU while studying for his master's degree. Professor Pat Farrell taught him a love of geography as well as how to instill interest in the subject matter before burdening students with facts, Sylvia Kinnenan sparked his interest in teaching reading, and a nonreader at Graveret Junior High School turned that interest into a mission.

While at Northern, Mangrum was a member of the Tri Mu fraternity, now known as TKE. Although he was active in a number of clubs and organizations, he spent most of his time taking pictures. He developed an interest in photography during his high school years. At NMU he was a newspaper, yearbook and commercial photographer, winning several awards for his photographs. At times he also took pictures for NMU Public Relations and the Peninsulan. When the Dallas Cowboys held their summer camp on the NMU campus, he was one of their photographers.

From 1961-63, he taught in the Michigamme and Gwynn school systems in Michigan, then attended Southern Illinois University where he studied reading education, and in 1964 he earned the Specialist in Education degree with a major in reading education. While at SIU, he met Jane Rocconi, whom he married in September, 1964 in Iron Mountain, Michigan. Both he and Jane moved to northern Illinois where Mangrum became a Reading Specialist for the Woodcock School System. In 1966, they moved again to Bloomington, Indiana, where Mangrum entered the doctoral program at Indiana University and graduated in 1968. While a doctoral student, he was actively involved in research and publication.

After graduating, Mangrum joined the faculty at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida where he continued his research and publication activities. He was chairman of the Graduate Program in Reading and Learning Disabilities, one of the largest of its kind in the United States at the time. He was one of the first to recognize the importance of combining reading disorders with learning disabilities and developed one of the first programs to train advanced professionals in the areas of reading and learning disabilities. His research made him the national authority on learning disabilities among college students. His textbook, college and the Learning Disabled Student, was used by colleges and universities throughout the world to establish appropriate support services for learning disabled college students. His second book, Peterson’s Guide to College Programs for the Learning Disabled, is used by parents, learning disabled students, counselors and advocates for learning disabled students to locate appropriate colleges for bright and capable learning disabled students who desire the right to a college education. He was also written college-level textbooks used for teacher training at 350 colleges and universities.

Mangrum has also published instructional materials used by more than 5 million grade school students. He is co-author of a multimedia program for the primary grades that teaches the alphabet and the sounds that each letter represents. The program was published by Economy Publishing company and is titled Letter Sounds all Around. He is the author of Comprehension we Use, a reading comprehension skills development program published by Riverside Publishing Company, among a myriad of other learning resources.

Mangrum was an active member of many professional organizations in the state of Florida. He is past president of the Florida Reading Association and was instrumental in obtaining legislation that provides for reading resource specialists in Florida schools. He has been involved with helping youth improve their education through Boys Town of Florida, the Archdiocese of Miami schools, the juvenile courts and many other local, state and federal programs.

In 1997, he partnered with Dr. Stephen S. Strichart to form Mangrum-Strichart Learning Resources, a popular provider of curriculum and study resources for children of all ages. Their products are currently used in over 4,500 schools worldwide.

Dr. John R. Ogren '55

Dr. John Ogren was a scientist with an international reputation in the fields of chemistry and metallurgy.

He was born September 29, 1933 in Calumet, Michigan, the eldest son of John and Linda Ogren. His family moved to Big Bay in 1939, where his father worked in logging camps and at the Big Bay Saw Mill. In 1940, they moved to Marquette, where Ogren attended the Old North Marquette School for two years, then switched to the John D. Pierce School on NMU’s campus, graduating with a high school diploma in 1951.

Ogren went on to enroll at Northern, graduating as a science teacher in 1955 and launching his teaching career at the university in 1957 as an assistant professor of physics. From 1960-65 he taught physics at California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo while doing graduate work for Iowa State University. He received a Ph.D in Physical Metallurgy in 1965 and promptly joined TRW, a now-defunct corporation with focuses in aerospace, automotive, and credit reporting, as a member of their technical staff, and later became the Chief Materials Scientist for Chemical Technology Operations.

Ogren spent ten years in high-temperature oxidation materials research at TRW Space Park, involving himself in the development of alloys for the containment of nuclear materials. Some of the work he developed provided the basis for the design of a generator that powered the spacecraft Pioneer-10, which for the time was the only man-made object that left our solar system and made it into intergalactic space. His space studies also allowed him to conduct microscopic chemical analyses on the first moon rock that was brought to earth by Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong.

A distinguished author, Ogren wrote numerous publications and technical reports. One of his achievements includes Project Independence Blueprint—Vol. 17, “Synthetic fuels from coal”, for President Richard Nixon. Provoking controversy and discussion, this document was intended to be a national plan for achieving energy independence by 1980. He was also an editor of the Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance for several years.

At the time of winning his award, Ogren was also a member of the Task Force of Applied Research on the Commission of the Future of NMU, and held seven patents pertaining to breakthroughs in high-temperature thermodynamics and reaction kinetics. Another dozen of his patents were either pending or classified.

J. Walter Carlson '30

In recognition of his illustrious career in the semiconductor equipment and materials industry. 

As a pioneer in the semiconductor industry during his 25-year career with Monsanto ElectronicsCorp., he laid the foundation for silicon materials standards upon which today's material manufacturers function. Through his innovation and perseverance, quality specifications became visible and definable. 

Among his greatest contributions to the industry was his initiation of an industry-wide campaign for high-quality silicon used to manufacture semiconductors. This led to the establishment of worldwide quality standards for silicon wafers. 

Known as the "Father of Silicon Wafer Quality" throughout California's Silicon Valley, he produced and issued a manual of standards for silicon wafer processing and gave the industry its first meaningful publication, Monsanto's Evaluation Standards Manual, with distribution throughout the world. 

As the motivating force behind dimensional standardization as it is known today, he has trained hundreds of young engineers and stimulated a strong ongoing commitment to quality as he con­tinues to find time to share his electronics expertise with those who will benefit. 

For his outstanding contributions to the semiconductor equipment and materials industry, and in recognition of his innovation and excellence in the industry, he was awarded the electronic indus­try's prestigious SEMMY Award. 

The demands on his time have not prevented him from his personal commitment to enriching the lives of others by his service to numerous civic organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America, the Knights of Columbus, Lions International, and Rotary International. 

A highly professional and dedicated man, he has brought honor and prestige to his alma mater through his pioneering career in the semiconductor industry and through his efforts to help others. 

Ira L. Griffin, Jr. '41

In recognition of his outstanding career with the United States Air Force, his significant contribution to American business, and his extensive community service. 

A 26-year veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps and Air Force, he served his country valiantly and with pride from 1941 until 1967 when he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. His duties took him to numerous foreign assignments, including Germany, England, North Africa, and South Vietnam. His personal efforts to help preserve our American heritage have earned him numerous awards and decorations, including the Presidential Unit Citation, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star Medal. 

As an executive for more than 18 years with the firm of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., he has provided financial planning and investment service to over 500 clients with a combined portfolio of more than $50 million. 

In addition to his outstanding military and business careers, he has had many years of dedicated community service, helping to provide badly needed support services for terminally ill patients as a member Of the board of directors of "Hospice Hawaii" and "Make Today Count," and by entertaining and amusing crippled children as a clown on a monthly basis for 10 years at the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children. 

His desire to help others also has been reflected in his efforts to teach English as a second language to Vietnamese nationals through the auspices of the Vietnamese-American Association. 

A loyal alumnus who supports his alma mater in every way he can, he has spent countless hours contacting Northern alumni on the Hawaiian Islands in his personal efforts to host several reunions over the years. 

He is a respected gentleman whose dedication to his family, career, and country have brought dignity and honor to his alma mater.

Dr. Melvin G. Holli '57

Melvin G. Holli was a professor, award-winning author, and Director of the Urban Historical Collection at the University of Chicago.

Holli was born February 22, 1933, in Ishpeming, Michigan, where he attended public schools. After graduating high school, he enrolled at Suomi College (now Finlandia University) before transferring to Northern in 1954. He received his B. A. degree February 1957.

After leaving NMU, he taught at Rock River Township High School while simultaneously working towards his master's degree from the University of Michigan, which he received in 1958. After teaching high school for two more years, he returned to the University of Michigan to pursue a doctorate in American History while working as a Teaching Assistant. He was also employed part-time as a research associate and then curator of manuscripts at the Bentley Library, and completed his doctorate in 1966.

Holli was the first NMU graduate to be awarded the National Woodrow Wilson Fellowship for graduate study, which he was awarded in 1957.

Holli began teaching at the University of Chicago as an Assistant Professor of History in 1965. From there, he worked his way to Associate Professor in 1969, and Professor in 1975. Apart from teaching, he created an urban history collection focused on the work of politicians and activists in the Chicago area. It’s now housed in the university’s archives.

In 1991, Holli was made the chair of the History Department at UIC, and served until 1994. He was a Fulbright research professor in 1989.

Holli wrote and edited 18 books on American history and politics, the first entitled Reform in Detroit—published in 1969 by Oxford University Press in its Urban Life in America series. It received critical acclaim and was reprinted in 1981. Thereafter followed a second book entitled Detroit, published in 1975. In 1977, in collaboration with Peter d’A Jones came The Ethnic Frontier; Essays in the History of Group Survival. His 1981 novel Ethnic Chicago was reprinted in 1984 and earned and the Best Book prize from the Illinois Political Science Association for 1980-81 and the Best Book Award from the Society of Midland Authors in 1982.

Apart from academics, Holli kept close ties with his Finnish and Upper Peninsula Heritage. He was a patron of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in Ishpeming and owned a cabin in the U.P., where he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also skied for the majority of his life, stopping a few years short of his 70th birthday.

He passed away January 7, 2016 at the age of 82.

Dr. Thomas L. Knauss '54

In recognition of his significant contributions to his profession, alma mater, church and community. 

Influential teacher, lecturer and advisor for 30 years, bringing wisdom, high purpose and integrity to his profession. 

Wise and understanding advisor, who has always been as concerned about the confused freshman as about the assured graduate student, and who has given to each his best 

Exemplary professor whose litany of service to his alma mater is impressive: for 22 years a member of the University Athletic Council, including 10 years as its chairman; originator and coordinator of the Department of Mathematics place­ment testing program for 20 years which has led to appropriate math courses for thousands of Northern's students; and significant service on a wide range of committees including the Faculty Senate, Academic Senate and the Task Force on Academic Governance. 

Contributions to his profession have been no less impressive, including service as a member of the Board of Directors of the Michigan Council of Teachers ofMathe­matics, as a consultant to numerous public schools, and as a referee of manu­scripts for Mathematics Teacher, the official publication of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 

He has shared his time and talents with his church and his community, serving as an Elder and as a Member of the Board of Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church of Marquette, and as Chairman and as a Member of the City of Marquette's Harbor Committee. 

He is a respected gentleman whose dedication and devotion to his family, church, profession and community have brought honor and dignity to his alma mater. 

Cpt. Claudius G. Pendill '11

In recognition of his outstanding career with the United States Navy, his significant con­tributions to American business, and his extensive community service, all of which have brought honor to his alma mater. 

Scion of a pioneer Marquette family whose ranks ranged from fur trader and county judge to governor of Michigan and United States senator, Captain Claudius G. Pendill, United States Naval Reserve (Retired), built on and bolstered their record.

He served for 22 years as President of Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport, Massachusetts. With Pendill at the helm from 19 5 5 to 1977, the hospital doubled its size, expanding from a facility with few workers and no volunteers to a modern health care unit of 1,000 employees and 400 volunteers. 

He took an active role in supporting both the Boy Scouts and the American Legion. He served as Scoutmaster in Racine, Wisconsin, and council vice president in Newburyport where, since 1927, he has lived in a seaside mansion dating to 1797. He established American Legion community service programs in Wisconsin and Massachusetts, commanded the Legion's 1,000-member Kenosha post, and served as Wisconsin state commander and national vice commander of the Legion in 1920-21. 

His Navy career started in 1917, when he enlisted as an apprentice seaman at Great Lakes, Illinois. He spent World War I as a signal officer aboard the USS Oklahoma; helped operate bases in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany during World War II and the Korean Conflict, and worked to rebuild the U.S. Naval Reserve after 1945. He later became a special-civilian consultant - - with the equivalent rating of admiral - - to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Materiel.

As a businessman, he held sales and executive positions with leading national companies, includ­ing 13 years as vice president of Towle Silversmiths. A financial, mutual fund and business consultant, he also served for a half-century as managing trustee of various trusts. 

Over the years, he took time to pursue a love of music. At Northern, in addition to football and basketball, he played piano and organ for special events, wrote the words for the school song and sang in the college quartet and chorus. Later, he founded and became president of the Newburyport Choral Society. 

As president of his 1911 graduating class at Northern, Claudius G. Pendill has maintained his dedication to colleagues, community and country over a long and exemplary life. His alma mater salutes him for the honor and prestige he has brought to her. 

Roger B. Tompkins '60

In recognition of his distinguished career in education and service to his alma mater.

As a dedicated educator, Mr. Tompkins has been a highly respected counselor, teacher and coach for nearly a quarter of a century, including the last 18 years in the Frankenmuth School System. As a football coach of the highest caliber, he has produced outstanding teams and helped mold many of yesterday's athletes into today's civic, business and educational leaders. His unselfish contributions to our educational system have earned him numerous honors and the respect and gratitude of those who know him and his accomplishments. 

Those accolades include being selected as President of the Frankenmuth Teachers' Organization, Regional Football Coach of the Year, and as The Detroit News Football Coach of the Year. 

His unabashed enthusiasm for Northern Michigan University led him to provide leadership for the Alumni Association, including organizing the first Mid­ Michigan Alumni Chapter and serving as its first president As an Alumni Ambassador he has been personally responsible for encouraging many students to attend Northern Michigan University, often times at his own personal sacrifice and expense. 

A highly motivated and dedicated alumnus, he has brought honor and prestige to his alma mater by his daily lifestyle which mirrors the Christian principles to which he religiously adheres. 

John D. Voelker '24

Edward F. Havlik '67

Edward Havlik was a businessman and homebuilding specialist who oversaw the construction of housing developments using modular homes.

Havlik attended Northern Michigan University from 1962-67, was Student Government president his sophomore year and developed a strong working relationship with president Edgar Harden. He was also active in numerous activities on campus.

After graduating with a degree in Business Administration, he went to work for a national retail chain and served as a training manager, merchandise manager and operations manager in three locations. In 1970, he became the divisional director of sales for an international builder in Chicago. In his first year, his division sold 1,800 homes.

In 1971, Havlik joined with a partner to start Commercial Marketing and Management Consultants (COMCO), specializing in the development management and sale of new housing developments. Over the next nine years the company grew and became a building company for five real estate service businesses.

In 1981, Havlik was the catalyst of a private/public company merger and became a member of the board of directors and a major stockholder of the Benchmark Companies, manufacturers of modular housing with plants in Grand Junction, Colorado, Dayton, Ohio and Crossville, Tennessee. The same year, he teamed with a partner to acquire the United Development Company from Aetna Life and Urban Investment and Development in a $31 million transaction. He served as the President of United Development, which developed properties in over fifteen chicagoland locations. He was also Chairman of United Management Company, a holding company that held properties in several western states.

Havlik served as national Vice Chairman of the Marketing Department of Homebuilders Association, and on the boards of both the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago and Northern Illinois Homebuilders; and Chairman of the Land Use Committee and Housing Services Divisions of the Chicago Association of Commerce and Industry; and served on the board of directors for the Illinois Service Corporation.

Kathleen E. Weston, M.D. '29

Gilbert L. Ziegler '60

George R. Cavender '41

From George Cavender’s biography, 1982:

George Cavender was the Director of Development and School Relations for the School of Music at the University of Michigan. For 26 years he was associated with the Michigan Marching, Symphony, Concert, Varsity, Basketball and Hockey Bands and in this capacity added much to the fame and prestige of these internationally famous bands both on the gridiron and concert stage. He was the recipient of his Bachelor’s Degree from Northern Michigan University and his Masters Degree from the University of Michigan.

Cavender’s versatility of experience and ability are unusual among band conductors, for he has forged a nationally acknowledged foremost reputation both as a conductor on the concert stage and as a master showman, drillmaster and marching band technician on the gridiron. These unusual skills and abilities have been recognized throughout the nation by his fellow colleagues and high school conductors, for he is called to travel extensively from coast to coast each year as a conductor, clinician, adjudicator, teacher and drillmaster. In these capacities he works untiringly for the improvement of concert and marching bands and their music.

In 1972, his abilities received international acknowledgement as he traveled throughout Japan at the invitation of the Japanese Marching Band Association, working with students, teachers and clinicians on marching band techniques. Tours in Europe included engagements in London, Paris, Innsbruck [Austria], Lucerne [Switzerland], Brussels, Amsterdam, Salzburg [Austria], Vienna, Venice, Rome, Bolzano [Italy], as well as engagements in Bermuda, Mexico and Hawaii.

Cavender is one of the co-authors of the “BAND-O-RAMA” series, “The Daily Dozen”, the “Sound 70 Series” of marching band shows and author of the texts: Marching Fundamentalists and Techniques for the School Bandsman and Instrument Placement and Projection for the Modern Marching Band. Active in his profession, Mr. Cavender wrote extensively for professional magazines and trade journals and was a popular speaker and lecturer in the field of instrumental music.

Cavender was a member of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association, the College Band Directors National Association, was founder and president of the Big 10 Band Directors Association, a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Beta Mu, the Music Educators National Conference, the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association and a host of other musical societies. In 1969 he was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel for his services to the high school bands of Northern Kentucky and in 1972 he was made an honorary member of the University of Michigan “M” Club.

Cavender served his nation as a member of the United States Marine Corps for four years. He rose from the rank of enlisted man to Major in the Tank Corps. In the Marines Corps his service included 29 months overseas with major campaigns in Bougainville [Papua New Guinea], Guam and Iwo Jima where he was decorated several times.

Cavender brought with him not only broad musical experiences at the collegiate level, but the practical day by day mechanics so necessary for success in music education at the grade, junior high and secondary level. He spoke not only from the aspect of “theory”, but also experience. He began his career in public schools of Michigan where his bands, orchestras and marching organizations won numerous honors and attracted national attention and recognition. His marching shows have been spectated from coast to coast in places such as the Boston Gardens, the Virginia Beach Concert and Marching Festival, the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida and Superbowl VII in the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Cavender passed away March 2, 2004 at the age of 84.

Clifford E. Puckett '50

Harry A. Rajala '56

Ellen N. Brigman '36 and Roy E. Brigman '37

Dr. Gustav G. Carlson '32

Dr. Edwin C. Peterson '64

Elizabeth H. Binda '37

George E. Koskimaki '48

George Koskimaki was a, teacher, military historian and author of three books on United States military operations in the European Theatre of World War II, particularly operations carried out by the 101st Airborne Division.

Koskimaki was born in Ishpeming, MI August 21, 1922 and raised in L’Anse, where he graduated high school. Midway through obtaining his degree from NMU, he enlisted in the Army and became and joined the famous 101st Airborne Division, known as The Screaming Eagles. He was a paratrooper and radio operator for the 101st’s commander General Maxwell Taylor.

After World War II, Koskimaki returned to NMU to finish his degree, majoring in Biology and Physical Education. While at Northern, he played Fullback for the football team.

After graduating he attended Wayne State University and earned his masters degree in Education before joining the faculty of Roseville High School. For over thirty years, he taught Biology and Physical education while coaching basketball, and later becoming the athletic director for the school district.

After retiring, Koskimaki served as the Executive Secretary of the 101st Airborne Division Association.

Koskimaki’s novels primarily consist of hundreds of stories from U.S. veterans that were directly involved in the operations the each book focuses on, with Koskimaki acting as an editor and expert on the subject matter. In 1970, he published D-Day with the Screaming Eagles, which houses anecdotal accounts of 518 members of the 101st Airborne who were involved in the Allied invasion of Normandy in June, 1944 (Operation Overlord). The book has been praised as a compilation of primary source material from the D-Day invasion.

Koskimaki’s other novels, Hell’s Highway and The Battered Bastards of Bastogne are written in the same style of compilation. Hell’s Highway compiled 609 recollections of soldiers involved in Operation Market Garden, history’s largest airborne operation at the time, and The Battered Bastards of Bastogne features 530 recollections from veterans who participated in the Siege of Bastogne in December, 1944. Koskimaki donated the proceeds from each of his books to the 101st Airborne Association. As a soldier, Koskimaki was directly involved in each of the invasions his books cover.

50th Anniversary Looms Ahead

George Koskimaki, 1992

This is the time period during which the actions of World War II of 50 years ago are generating renewed interest on the part of the reading public.

The following material may be of interest to area readers.

As a native of L’Anse, Michigan (born in Ishpeming), having graduated from that high school in 1940, and having enlisted in the U.S. Army midway through my college years from northern Michigan Teachers College, I found myself assigned to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. I had my basic training with the glider troops and eventually became a radio operator in the Division Signal Company.

After the Division arrived in England in the fall of 1943, I volunteered for parachute training when the Division decided a parachute echelon was needed for headquarters for combat missions. I was then assigned as radioman to the commanding general, Maxwell D. Taylor, and parachuted with him into Normandy shortly after midnight on D-Day, June 6, 1944. (My D-Day experiences appeared in the Daily Mining Journal during July of 1944.)

My combat assignments were always to provide communications for the Division commanders and in that role I again parachuted into Holland for the Market-Garden venture in September 1944 and provided radio communications for General A.C. “Tony” McAuliffe at Bastogne.

After the war, when I had returned to Northern to complete my work on a science/physical education degree I received a letter from the writers who had been assigned to write the history of the 101st Airborne Division. They had somehow got wind of the fact that I had kept a diary throughout the war (I never carried it in combat but kept my notes on onion-skin sheets from radio message books—if in danger of capture, I would have chewed my notes and swallowed them).

Several years into my teaching career at Roseville High School, my wife reminded me that I should write of my wartime experiences before they slipped too far back into the recesses of my memories.

Thus my first-hand historical account, D-Day with the Screaming Eagles, came into being in 1970. It has now been printed three times. A total of 518 former paratroopers, gliderman, and French civilians contributed their stories which I fitted together like the pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle. Both generals, Taylor and McAuliffe sent their experiences and the division chief of staff, Gerard J. Higgins, write the foreword.

The second account, Hell’s highway, is the story of our campaign in Holland starting with Market-Garden and the two months spent a few miles south and west of Arnhem where the British lost 8,000 of its elite 1st Airborne Division. The 82nd and 101st American Airborne Divisions were assigned to the British Army for Field Marshall Sir Bernard Montgomery to use in his planned grand strategy to make an end run around the flank of the German armies to bring the war to a quick end. Thought the immediate thrust to Berlin did not materialize, the two American airborne divisions did capture key bridges and secure a 45-mile length of highway so the tanks and infantry to the British XXX Corps could move forward to relieve the airborne troops at Arnhem. The difficulties encountered by the Americans in keeping the corridor open while the enemy attacked in strength along various points of the road caused them to name the road “Hell’s Highway”.

Hell’s Highway has the stories of 612 individuals including troop carrier pilots and crew members, glider pilots, a British soldier who flew with members of my company, our paratroopers and glidermen, Dutch underground/resistance who were a great help to us, and Dutch citizens who remembered our coming. Hell’s Highway was first printed in 1989 and is now in its second edition. The Dutch translation is also in its second printing.

At the present time I am working on The Battered Bastards of Bastogne (as we were called by the media in those war years), which is the third part of my trilogy on the major campaigns of the 101st Airborne Division in World War II. Five-hundred individuals including our own “Screaming Eagles” plus supporting troops and troop carrier crew members and glider pilots who flew in with much-needed resupplies such as food, medical supplies, ammunition, and gasoline. Many of them were shot down and joined us on the ground to face a continued ordeal. We were surrounded by elements of eight German divisions for a period of six days before General George Patton and the 4th Armored Division broke through to provide relief in the late afternoon of December 26, 1944.

Research for the three books has reunited many long lost comrades.  Recently two former medics, who each thought the other had been killed in the Holland fighting, were made aware that both survived and are making up for lost time joining others at reunions.(1)

Sales of books are handled by the 101st Airborne Division Association, P.O. Box 586, Sweetwater, TN 37874.

I taught biology and ecology at Roseville High School (northeast Detroit suburb) for thirty years and served as basketball coach for twenty-three of those years. Upon retirement from teaching, I served as executive-secretary of the 101st Airborne Division Association for two years and then became an energy analyst for the Michigan Consolidated Gas Company for four years. I continue to write a column for the 101st Associations newsletter.

At the present time Eva and I are at our summer cabin near Ishpeming where I continue the task of tying together the Bastogne stories of the men. They Keep nagging me to complete their story quickly while they are still with us to read it.(2)

Koskimaki passed away February 6, 2016 in Tilden Township, MI.

1. There’s a note here in parentheses that reads “In 1993 the 101st Airborne Division will hold its annual reunion at Lansing, Michigan and in 1994, the 50th anniversary of our campaigns will witness large contingents of these men flying back to Europe to revisit their training and battle sites as their last ‘big hurrah’”.

2. An address and personal information have been redacted from this transcription.

Patricia A. Lewis '70

Transcripted and revised from a 1980 biography.

Patricia Lewis was an educator in the Marinette Public School System. She enrolled at Northern Michigan University in the fall of 1966 after holding an outstanding record of participation and achievement at her high school in Bessemer, Michigan. In college, she immediately became active in the Newman Club for Catholic Students, Delta Zeta Social and Service Sorority, which she served in as secretary and on numerous committees, and Kappa Delta Pi-Educational Fraternity of which she was president. Lewis was also elected to NMU’s Senior Cabinet.

She graduated in June of 1970 with a B.A. in Education. The college then offered her a graduate assistantship so the she could attain her M.A. Degree in Education by August 1971.

After graduating, Lewis moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin where she began her teaching career at Danz Elementary School. During her two year tenure at the school, her students were recognized by UNICEF for a major fund drive which she organized and initiated.

Following her marriage to Arthur Lewis on August 4, 1973, lewis moved to Marinette where she began teaching social studies at the Marinette Middle School and quickly became involved in all aspects of her community. The majority of her civic and educational work in the Marinette community came while she was recovering from surgery that involved removing a brain tumor in the summer of 1974.

She joined the Catholic Junior League and was a yearly chair for the city’s “Fun Night”. Lewis also chaired the Night of Recollection in 1975, the “Special Sis” project for two years and the summer picnics from 1978-79. When she had the time, Lewis also volunteered to assist with the catechism classes for mentally challenged children.

From 1974-76, she shared an active role with the local AFS (1) chapter working on dance committees and fruit sale drives. Lewis was also the family and student liaison for an AFS student from Peru. During this time she was also a chairperson for the Catholic Central High School Foundation Fund Drive in addition to chairing the yearbook committee for the Catholic Junior League.

In 1975, Lewis became a member of the Juvenile Crime Reduction Organization in Marinette and the educational organization of Green Bay and Marinette. She also contributed many volunteer hours and served on the Inservice Committee for Marinette Public Schools, and was elected a Uni-Serv Representative in 1975 and again in in 1979.

In 1979, she received the Citation Award and Recognition for Outstanding Leadership at both the Marinette and Wisconsin state levels.

1. AFS Intercultural Programs—An international youth exchange organization.

Wilbur H. Schenk '40

Dr. Kenneth R. Erfft '28

Transcribed and updated from a 1979 biography.

Kenneth R. Erfft was a financial and business consultant to Boards of Trustees and college and university administrators. Until 1978, he served as the president of the former University Center in Virginia, a consortium of 23 senior colleges and universities. He was previously vice president and treasurer of Duquesne University. A nationally recognized authority on university administration, Dr. Erfft has also served as vice president and treasurer of Rutgers, the State University, vice president of the Thomas Jefferson Medical College and Medical Center; Comptroller and treasurer of The Pennsylvania State University, Business Manager of Furman University and as a university professor.

After graduating from Marquette High School, Erfft attended Northern Michigan University and received his B.A. degree in 1932. He was a member of the Theta Omicron Rho fraternity.

He began his teaching career in Ironwood (MI) High School before moving to Petersburg, Virginia. There he continued to teach, and was later appointed as Clerk of the School Board and Business Manager for the Petersburg City School System. He attended the University of Virginia, and received his M.A. in 1936. He subsequently attended Northwestern University and Maclean in Chicago from which he received his Ph.D. degree.

During World War II, he was commissioned and served in the Navy, retiring in the rank of Commander. He was recalled to active duty and served again during the Korean War.

In June 1961, Erfft was the commencement speaker for NMU’s graduation ceremony, where he was also given a doctor of laws degree at the event. He subsequently received a doctor of commercial science degree from the University of Richmond and a doctor of literature degree from Maclean College.

In 1978, H. R. H. Prince Ferdinand de Bourbon, Duke of Castro, and Grand Master of the Ancient Constantinian Military order of St. George conferred the rank of Knight of Grace of the Order onto Erfft, inducting him into the oldest royal order in Europe.

Erfft was President of the Eastern Association of College and University Business Officers, served the Middle States and North Central Associations as a regular member of their accrediting teams and on American Council Committees. He was a member of the committee which compiled Volumes 1 and 2 of College and University Business Administration, and a member of the editorial committee which prepared the Revised Edition. Throughout his career in higher education, he taught a Basic Principles course at the annual Short Course for college and university business officers at the University of Nebraska in Omaha. More than 4,000 administrators took his course.

Outside of higher education, Erfft was chairman of the Board of Directors of the Afuture Fund, an investment mutual fund, and four other Philadelphia-based companies. He is also on numerous other boards of directors.

Erfft is listed in the 1974-75 edition of Who’s Who in America, Royal Blue Book and additional similar references. He also held a long list of professional memberships, honors, published articles and consultant credits from dozens of universities around the country.

He married Nancy Fontaine Creath in 1940—she passed away in 1977. Erfft took a step back after her death and moved to Richmond, Virginia to serve on the Board of Associates of the University of Richmond and as treasurer of the Richmond Hathaway Association. In 1982, he became chairman of Education Development Center Management, Inc..

Erfft passed away September 10, 2003 at the age of 94 after a long, travel-filled retirement, which took him across the country, and to England over 20 times.

D. Neil Nystrom '57

Louis F. Taccolini '52

Dr. Dale R. Tahtinen '67

Rodney D. Coe '58

Dr. William H. Nault '47

Richard J. Finnegan '35

Edward H. Kukuk '48

Albert I. Treado '31

William K. Jensen '63

Harriet T. Latimer '32

Earl O. Phillips '37

John E. Lautner, Jr. '33

R. Thomas Peters, Jr. '55

Dorothea J. Schlechte '29

Joseph L. DeCook '30

Dr. Jerry J. Herman '52

Aili K. Johnson '32

Milton A. Johnson '27

Norman E. Kukuk '41

Revised from “The Biographical Sketch of Norman Edward Kukuk” c. 1974

 Norman Edward Kukuk, better known as “Boots” in his hockey days, was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin on October 8, 1918. When he was one year old his mother and father moved to Marquette, Michigan.

During his junior year of high school, Kukuk was selected to play hockey with the Marquette Millionaires, the City Hockey Team, which was affiliated with the Canadian-American Semi-Professional Hockey League. He also earned three varsity letters in track and field before graduating from Marquette Public Schools in June, 1936.

At Northern State Teachers College (1), Kukuk earned freshman numerals and three varsity letters in both football and track and field. He was co-captain of the track and field team his junior and senior years, and highlighted his career by winning a gold track shoe for placing in the javelin throw at the Michigan Invitational Track and Field Relays at Michigan State University in the spring of 1940.

Kukuk played hockey for the Marquette Sentinels in the winters while pursuing his degree. He played with and against many hockey greats during this time including Clarence “Taffy” Abel, Ching Johnson, Muzzy Murray, Toney Buckovich, among others. In the early winter of 1940 Kukuk was recommended for tryouts with the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, but due to the expansion of the European Theater of World War II, the Olympics which were scheduled for Helsinki, Finland were cancelled.

Kukuk graduated from Northern State Teachers College in 1940, and in 1941 was selected for tryouts with the Cleveland Barons Professional Hockey Club and the Chicago Blackhawks. He accepted an offer from the Barons for the 1941 season, but because of a low draft number (2) he volunteered for the U.S. Navy Airforce and was sworn into the Navy on November 24, 1941 as a pilot. Before enlisting, he was employed by Marquette Schools as an Industrial Arts teacher, football coach and track coach.

As a soldier, Kukuk served two tours of duty in the South Pacific Theater. On July 21, 1943, his aircraft was shot down and made a water landing with his burning fighter place near Rendova Harbor and Munda Point on the southeast tip of the New Georgia Islands, 200 miles northwest of Guadalcanal. An American destroyer rescued him under fire from enemy aircraft.

In August, 1944, Kukuk was awarded the Navy-Marine Corps Heroism Medal for, according to Admiral W. F. Halsey, Commander of the Navy’s Third Fleet at the time:

Heroism following an operational accident at an advanced airfield in the Bismarck Archipelago area on April 4, 1944. While making a landing under adverse weather conditions, Lieutenant Kukuk observed another fighter coming towards him from the opposite direction. Swerving sharply, he felt the other aircraft strike his left wing and saw it crash into a bomber behind him, causing both to burst into flames. He rushed immediately to the scene, climbed upon the wing of the fighter place and directed four enlisted men in extracting the injured pilot from the flaming plane. His courageous conduct and devotion to duty, despite the intense heat and exploding ammunition, in attempting to save the life of a fellow officer were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

He was also awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and six Air Medals for flying fighter planes against enemy forces on his first tour of combat. He was also warded Commendation Citations from Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander of the South Pacific Fleet and Captain Wyatt who was in command of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Chenango.

After the war, Kukuk served as the Director of Recreation for the City of Marquette, and during his tenure the first artificial ice plant was installed in the Palestra, a community indoor skating and hockey arena. He oversaw all city recreational programs, including sporting events and civic carnivals. He also continued to play hockey, playing again for the Marquette Sentinels for several more years before having his jersey number (14) retired by the Marquette city team after his own retirement from the sport.

In February, 1951, Kukuk resigned from the City of Marquette and enrolled at Michigan State University. He received his Masters of Arts degree on December 16, 1952 in Educational and Municipal Administration.

Kukuk served as a public school superintendent downstate before moving back to Marquette in August, 1957 to accept a position with the Michigan Corrections Department as Recreational Director at the Marquette Branch Prison. In November of 1959 he became the first full time educational administrator at the prison after being promoted to Director of Education. Kukuk was directly responsible for establishing the Adult Basic Education Programs on the prison site, and Resident Teacher Training Programs at Northern Michigan University.

In 1972 the Michigan State Aid Program was instituted in cooperation with the Marquette Public School System. Certified teachers were hire to teach in the correctional system. This program was a forerunner of the present university program where the residents have the opportunity to work towards a degree from Northern Michigan University.

Kukuk retired from the prison in 1975, and in 1978 accepted a position as the Executive Director of the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame. He was also enshrines in the Hall of Fame the same year.

Previous title of Northern Michigan University.

Due to the nature of the civilian draft in World War II, men of lower socioeconomic status were more likely to receive lower draft numbers, which in turn made it more likely they would be drafted at some point during the war.

Rollin K. Thoren '33

Keith E. Molin '62

A native of the Upper Peninsula, Keith Molin graduated from Escanaba in 1955. Following a tour of duty with the United States Army, he enrolled at Northern Michigan University in the spring of 1959. He graduated with the B.A. in History in January of 1962. Immediately following graduation, Molin began a career in Republican politics.

He first served as Director of Organization in Southeastern Michigan for the Republican State Central Committee during former Governor Romney’s 1962 gubernatorial campaign.IN 1964 Molin moved to the national scene, serving as a Regional Vice-Chairman for the Rockefeller for President Committee in 16 states throughout the Midwest.

In 1965 Molin returned to Michigan and was instrumental in the development of Congressman Phil Ruppe’s initial, and successful, campaign for Congress from Michigan’s 11th congressional district. In May of 1966 he was assigned to the Senatorial Campaign of United States Senator Robert Griffin, for whom he directed all scheduling and organizational efforts.

In 1967 Molin’s career took him to Wisconsin, where he headed an organizational effort to reorganize the Republican party of Milwaukee County. He returned to Michigan in 1968 to serve as Executive Director of the Wayne county Republican Committee, a post he held until January of 1970, at which time he was elected Chairman of the organization.

Molin managed Governor Milliken’s successful campaign in 1970m and has served as the Governor’s Legislative Liaison since September of 1971.

In addition to his political career, Molin found time to be an active member of many local, state, national and international service organizations, including the Metropolitan Detroit Executive’s Organization of which he was an officer; the Organization Executive’s of Michigan of which he was an officer; the American Society of Association Executives and the International Downtown Executive Association of which he was director.

Molin was a member of the Detroit Economic Club and served on the group’s nominating committee.

His achievements were recognized by his professional associates with honors including 1969 Distinguished Service Award from the International Downtown Executives Association; the 1970 “Make America Beautiful Award” by the National Real estate Association; and recognition as one of the “Community Leaders in America” in 1972. He was also listed in the 1970-72 editions of “Who’s Who in Michigan politics”.

Following his career in politics, Molin accepted a position at the University of Michigan as the Associate Director of Development for Major Gifts in 1979. In 1983 he was named Assistant to the Vice-President for Government Relations before being promoted to Associate Vice President in 1990.

Molin made another shift in 1994, accepting a position as the Special Assistant to the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, later to be named the Senior Associate Athletics Director. He later held a similar position for the University of Pittsburgh beginning in 2005.

In 2008, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Board of Directors appointed Molin as the agency’s Interim Director after the former director, Michael DeVos, resigned. Molin was given a six-month contract—which was quickly extended to two years as the search committee could not find a more qualified replacement. He retired after his contract expired in September of 2010.

Dr. Bruce K. Nelson '36

Edmund F. Vandette '58

Dr. Charles C. Carpenter '43

Dr. Clyde F. Kohn '32

Dr. Clyde F. Kohn was a Professor of Geography, author and Chairman of the Department of Geography at the University of Iowa.

Kohn was born April 10, 1911 and raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, living in Mohawk, Laurium and Palmer. He graduated from Negaunee High School as valedictorian of the class of 1928.

Kohn attended Northern Michigan University during the summer of 1928 and the 1928-29 school year, at which time he received a Limited Teaching Certificate, and for the next five years he taught in a one-room rural school in Yalmer Township and in the Gwinn Township School System. In 1934 he returned to Northern, and in the summer of 1935 received his B. A. He continued his education as a University Fellow in the University of Michigan, majoring in Geography, earning his M. A. in 1936 and his doctorate in 1940.

After completing his doctorate, he moved to Mississippi to become an associate professor of social studies at the Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus, Mississippi, where he stayed until 1942.

Kohn was then appointed as a visiting lecturer and instructor at Harvard from 1942-45, before moving to Northwestern University, where he was an Assistant Professor of Geography (1945-48), Associate Professor of Geography and Education (1948-52) and an Associate Professor of Geography (1952-58). He was also appointed president of the National Council for Geographic Education from 1950-52 (1).

In 1958, Kohn was appointed Professor of Geography at the University of Iowa. In 1965, he succeeded Harold H. McCarty as the chair of the Geography Department, and held the position from 1965-78 (2). After 26 years at the university, Kohn retired in 1984.

Kohn’s areas of interest were in Urban Social geography, Population Geography and the teaching of geography at all educational levels. He co-authored a coordinated social studies series of books for elementary school published by Scott, Foresman and Co., along with a textbook in geography for secondary schooling entitled The World Today: Its Patterns and Cultures, published by McGraw-HIll. At the university level, Kohn co-authored Readings in Urban Geography, published by the University of Chicago Press and authored more than 100 articles for professional journals. In total, he wrote, co-wrote or edited 25 books. In addition, Kohn worked with the development of other teaching aids including maps and films. He was one of the founders of the High School Geography Project, sponsored by the Association of American Geographers and the National Science Foundation.

From 1961-66, Kohn was the delegate of The Association of American Geographers to the U.S. National Commision for UNESCO (3). In 1963, he represented the United States at a meeting of representatives of the Associated Schools Project in Paris, and again as a delegate to an international meeting of educators in Geneva on Environmental Education in 1968.

After retiring, Kohn continued to write and teach in reduced capacities. He was a visiting professor to the University of Hawaii for one semester before settling Florida, where he was a regular wine columnist for the Fort Lauderdale News and the Sun Sentinel, and taught a course on “Wines of the World” at the University of Miami.

Kohn passed away November 22, 1989 after a three year battle with a rare form of cancer. In his memory, the University of Iowa Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences started the Clyde Kohn Colloquium Speaker Series, which brings in lecturers to speak on the subject of Geography.

1. Kohn also served the National Council for Geographic Education as secretary (1945-51), member of the Teacher Education Committee (1968), chair (1974) and member (1977) of the Nominating Committee, chair of the Bicentennial Committee (1975), chair of the Search Committee for editor of the Journal of Geography (1975), and state coordinator of Iowa. He was also on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Geography from 1977-85.
2. While at Iowa, Kohn served on the National Council for Social Studies as a member of the Editorial Board for Social Education (1956-59), the Executive Board (1964-66), and the Board of Directors (1964).
3. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Cornelius J. Sullivan, Sr. '27

Cornelius J. Sullivan ‘27 was born in Calumet, Michigan where he attended the local schools and graduated from Sacred Heart High School. After graduating, Sullivan joined the United States Army and served during World War I.

Upon returning to the Upper Peninsula, he worked for the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company before entering Northern State Normal School (1) in the fall of 1923, where he was granted a Bachelor of Arts degree in June, 1927 with a major in English and History. Sullivan would later continue his education at the University of Michigan, where he was granted a Master of Arts degree in public school administration.

After graduating from Northern State Normal, he accepted a position in the L’Anse School System, where he remained for 36 years. Sullivan began as an instructor in the Junior-Senior High School English department. Three years later, he became principal of the Junior-Senior High School. On May 1, 1937, he became Superintendent of the L’Anse Township School System.

During World War II, Sullivan was appointed the Baraga County chairman for the sale of War Bonds (2) by the United States Treasury Department. He was awarded the Lutheran Brotherhood Liberty Bell for his volunteer service in 1966 and, in 1971, he was cited by the Treasury Department for his service.

In 1962, Alumni of L’Anse Township Schools honored him by establishing the C.J. Sullivan Scholarship, which is awarded annually to students of the school system who are interested in entering the teaching profession. Sullivan remained Superintendent until his retirement in 1963.

In addition to his position as Superintendent, Sullivan was instrumental in consolidating the elementary schools in in L’Anse Township and incorporating high school students from the nearby Arvon, Covington and Sidnaw Township into the L’Anse Township School System.

Sullivan was a lifelong member of the L’Anse Education Association and the Michigan Education Association. He held an active membership in the National Education Association of School Administrators before his retirement. He was also a member of the NMU Alumni Association. amongst his involvement in several community programs, he took interest in the athletic programs of Michigan high schools and was a charter member of the Upper Peninsula High School Athletic Committee, where he served as secretary for nearly three decades.

A new elementary school was constructed in L’Anse Township in 1965 and named the C.J. Sullivan Elementary School in his honor.

1. Original name for Northern Michigan University.
2. Savings Bonds.

Jeanette S. Bowden '36

“The decision to forego teaching, my long-time ambition, was not an easy one to make, but the president encouraged me to accept the offer by promising a two-week vacation in August and, what he said could be as interesting a career as teaching would be.”

• Jeannette Bowden

Jeannette S. Bowden was born in Bessemer, Michigan on October 9, 1914. She graduated from A. D. Johnston High School in Bessemer in 1932, and was a member of the first class of Ironwood Junior college (1).

In June 1936, Bowden graduated from Northern Michigan University, earning a Bachelor of Arts and Life Certificate (2) with a French major and English and Mathematics minors.

Bowden took shorthand and typewriting electives in high school, giving her the skills to work part-time as a student assistant in the General Office to help pay her college expenses. The General Office was housed in Kaye Hall at the time, along with the Registrar and the Offices of the President.

In May of 1936, the month before she was to receive her degree and teaching certificate, the secretary to the president left her position and recommended Bowden as a student assistant to work with President Webster Pearce until graduation in June.

Shortly before Commencement, President Pearce invited Bowden to work in the Offices of the President as his full-time secretary, which she accepted instead of searching for a teaching position elsewhere.

Bowden would remain in the position for 44 ½ years, making her the longest-tenured faculty member in the history of the university and earning her the affectionate title of “Secretary to Northern’s Presidents”. She worked under Pearce (1936-40), Henry A. Tape (1940-1956), as secretary and administrative assistant to Edgar L. Harden (1956-67), Ogden E. Johnson (1967-68) and Dr. John X. Jamrich (1968-1980). On her retirement in November 1980, Northern’s Board of Control awarded her the title of Emeritus Executive Assistant to the President.

“It didn’t take me long after I arrived at Northern to become aware of the high esteem in which you were held at this institution. I learned of an expression that went something like this: ‘Presidents may come and go, but Mrs. Bowden will always be there to maintain continuity and stability to the President’s Office.’ I have had the opportunity and the privilege of bearing witness to the truth of that statement. You will leave Northern, Jeannette, but you and I both know that part of you will always be here.”

• Former President John X. Jamrich upon accepting Bowden’s retirement request.

Bowden also contributed funding to NMU to build and install an electric organ in Reynolds Recital Hall—and underwrote a $50,000 gift to WNMU-TV and WNMU-FM for their transition to digital technology. The studio took the name “Jeannette Bowden Studios” in her honor. In 2002, Bowden gifted $10,000 to start the endowment process for the Harry A. Rajala Endowed Scholarship in Education in memory of Harry Rejala ‘56 ‘64, a former NMU registrar. The scholarship is given every year to an upperclassman with financial needs in an Education, Leadership, and Public Service program.

Bowden died September 16, 2007 at the age of 92.

1.  Now Gogebic Community College
2. A certification allowed teachers with a certain amount of experience to hold a teaching license permanently.

Dr. Frank H. Hartman '41

Francis F. Hetherington '46

Hugo E. Kilpela '27

Irene M. Finnegan '35

Dr. Henry S. Heimonen '35

Dr. Roland S. Strolle '33

From a biographical sketch of Dr. Roland S. Strolle, c. 4-21-1970
 
Dr. Roland Strolle was named Dean of Graduate Studies at Northern Michigan University during the Fall semester of 1969.

Strolle, a native of Ontonagon Mich., came to Northern from Western Michigan University. Where he had served as assistant dean in the university’s School of Education.

In addition to his duties as Dean of Graduate Studies, Strolle is also responsible for Northern’s research and development office and the summer school program.

A 1933 graduate of Northern, Strolle earned his master’s degree at the University of Minnesota and his doctorate in education at Michigan State University.

He began his educational career as a teacher in 1928 in his hometown of Ontonagon. He subsequently taught and served as superintendent at Michigamme, superintendent at Powers-Spalding and Stephenson, and high school principal at Menominee and Kingsford.

In 1949, Strolle moved to Lansing as chief of the School Organization and Plant Division of the State Department of Public Instruction. Here he frequently served as a consultant for schools throughout the state.

A published report of “Michigan’s Public School Building Needs, 1953-1960,” resulted from an intensive statewide study that was directed by Strolle. He has also written widely on the subject of school finance.

He joined Western Michigan University’s administration in 1957 as head of the education department. In 1960, he assumed the additional duties as an assistant dean of the School of Education.

Strolle was granted a leave of absence by WMU during the 1966-67 academic year to study the Turkish system of education and participate in the organization of a graduate program in the School of Education at Ankara University.

 
Transcription of Dr. Strolle’s handwritten autobiography, March 1986

 
(Biographer’s note: Some words and phrases from the original document are not legible, and have been redacted from this transcription. The remainder of the transcription has been written to reflect the original document as accurately as possible.)

 
To: Paul Suomi, Director of Alumni Relations, Northern Michigan University

From: Roland S. Strolle

Subject: Personal Record and Reflections

 
People are born, educated, work, retire, and for the most part forgotten. The more famous ones write their own biographies while some employ a ghostwriter. Some like me write their memories for their immediate families—children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren.

It occurred to me after the recent alumni gathering that maybe a record of my life should be filed somewhere. What better place than the files of his Alma Mater for such a record. It is with great reluctance that I do this as I am well aware of my intellectual shortcomings. But it has been my good fortune to have been in the right place at the right time to have some interesting and rewarding experiences.

Permit me to report them in a somewhat chronological order:

1. The personal files at Northern contain a record of my educational preparation. I graduated from Ontonagon High School, Ontonagon County Normal, Northern State Teachers College (1), the University of Minnesota, and finally Michigan State University.
2. The forty-five years of work in the public education arena reveals two years teaching in a one room rural school, six years as a secondary school teacher, five years as a superintendent of three schools (Michigamme, Spalding Township, Stephenson), five years as a high school principal (Menominee, Kingsford), and nine years with the State Department of Public Instruction.

It was while I was employed with the D.P.L. that I was given the opportunity to direct a statewide school facilities survey. I was then asked to head the Department of School District Organization. We were instrumental in reorganizing hundreds of school districts, eliminating the weak, ineffective non-high school districts and establishing administrative units that could provide sound educational programs from kindergarten through grade twelve. It was hard work, but man it was rewarding.

3. My work at the D.P.L. took me to all parts of the state. We were called upon for assistance by many districts in southwestern Michigan. In addition to school facilities surveys and reorganization studies, we conducted several community college feasibility studies. Dr. Paul Sangren, President of Western Michigan University, must have heard about our work as he asked me to head the Department of Teacher Education at Western and to organize a division of School Administration and supervision for graduate studies.

The thirteen years at W.M.U. were exciting. The growth was tremendous and we responded to the challenge by helping to develop programs for teachers of exceptional children. Guidance counselors, and educational leaders. He called upon educators such as George Counts, Paul Misner, Maurice Seay, Ronald Campbell, and Donald Weaver for advice and counsel. Masters programs and educational specialist programs came to fruition in those years. The doctoral curriculum in educational leadership was approved in 1967.

In 1966 I was granted or awarded a Fulbright Lectureship assignment at the University of Akara. We guided a committee in the development of the first graduate program in education in the country of Turkey. Turkish teachers can now enroll for graduate study leading to a master’s degree without traveling to Europe or the United States.

4. Because of my interest in school district reorganization Governor Romney asked me to be a member of his “State Committee on School District Reorganization”. I was really flattered when the committee unanimously selected me as their chairman. We established guidelines and gave directions to a statewide study of school districts. Each local study group made recommendations for strengthening local administrative units. It was a most interesting assignment.

5. At Northern Michigan University, I held the following positions:

Dean of Graduate Studies

Director of Research and Development

Director of the Summer Session

Vice President of Continuing Education

Vice President of Academic Affairs

We were able to develop a graduate program of studies for teachers at the community college level curriculum for personnel at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base.

Of even more importance, a program of studies leading to the baccalaureate degree was organized for residents of the Branch prison.

Another important curriculum in Criminal Justice had its beginning during our tenure. Since then, this program has gained national recognition. Bachelor degrees are now granted to graduates of the prescribed curriculum.

Our aim was to assist in any way we could to be of service to students on or off campus. The Vocational Center (2) is an example of service to prisons seeking to acquire skills and training. We did everything possible to give these programs priority in our planning.

6. Conclusion and summary

I have always been a very enthusiastic person. I worked hard at all times and was always loyal to the organization for which I worked. My fellow-workers rewarded me with a number of leadership positions. Permit me to list some of them:

President of the County Normal Class

President of our fraternity at N.S.T.C. (3).

Vice President of the Senior Class of N.S.T.C.

President of the Ontonagon Junior Chamber of Commerce

Chairman of the Upper Peninsula M.E.A. (4)

President of the Western Michigan Chapter of the M.E.A.

President of the Kalamazoo Lions Club

A number of honors have come my way in addition to the Fulbright Scholarship. Some of them follow:

Member and President of Phi Delta Kappa

Elected to Omicron Delta Kappa by the faculty and students of W.M.U. (honorary society for leaders at the college level)

Elected to Phi Kappa Phi by the N.M.U. Chapter

Distinguished Service Award by the Salvation Army of Phoenix, Arizona

Distinguished Service Award—Phi Delta Kappa

Lifetime Membership Award—Michigan Community Education Association

Distinguished Alumni Award—N.M.U.

It is with a great deal of hesitation that I send you this brief compilation. Many graduates of Northern have had more noteworthy and colorful lives, but few have served the public sector with more fervor and dedication than I. When one likes his job, hard work is fun, especially when you have a caring and supportive partner such as Vicky (5).

Thanks for your time,

RSS

March 1986

Dr. Strolle passed away March 17, 2008 at the age of 97.

1. The original name of Northern Michigan University.
2. It’s assumed this refers to vocational programs offered at Marquette Branch Prison.
3. Northern State Teachers College. The fraternity is believed to be Alpha Delta as Roland Strolle is documented as a member from 1931-32 in the Kawbawgam, N.S.T.C.’s yearbook. No yearbook was published in 1933, when Strolle would have been president. Though they share a name, the Alpha Delta fraternity formerly affiliated with NMU is not the same society as the current Alpha Delta fraternity.
4. Assumed to be referring to the Michigan Education Association.
5. Strolle’s wife.

Carl A. Erickson '33

Ellwood A. Mattson '50

Edwin B. Olds '42

Dr. Carl R. Anderson '30

Dr. W. Lawrence Hebbard '34

Jean K. Weston, M.D. '30

Matthew C. Bennett, M.D. '33

Dr. Taimi M. Ranta '39

Dr. Hamilton J. Robichaud '34

The revised biography of Hamilton J. Robichaud in full, from April 24, 1967(1)

Hamilton J. Robichaud, a native of the Upper Peninsula, was born in Crystal Falls, Michigan. As a child, he moved to Iron River and graduated from Iron River High School in 1927. He first attended Northern in the fall of 1928-1929. Robichaud was the captain of both the freshman football and basketball teams. With his leadership, the football team took home victories against Michigan Tech twice, and managed to defeat the upperclassmen. The freshman basketball team in 1928-29 finished with a 4-2 record.

Robichaud left Northern after his freshman year, but returned in 1931. He lettered in football during his sophomore year and played in the college band under the direction of Conway Peters. The necessity of earning his own way through school forced him to work during the remainder of his college career. It was during this time that he organized his own dance band playing the majority of the fraternity and sorority affairs and also at the various hotels and dance halls in and around Marquette and other cities in the Upper Peninsula. In addition, he was a regular custodian and painter at the college.

During his senior year, he was elected class president. He graduated in 1934 with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in history and English and minoring in biological science and geography.

Following his graduation, he assumed the superintendency of Spalding Township Schools in Powers-Spalding, Michigan and remained there until 1942. While at Powers, he taught mathematics, history, civics and general science. In addition, he coached basketball for several years. He was responsible for establishing several completely new areas of study in commercial fields, general shop, home economics, along with the establishment of the school district’s first library.

Robichaud earned his masters of arts degree in school administration at the University of Michigan in 1941. In 1942, he accepted the superintendency of District No. 8 of Dearborn Township Public Schools where he remained until 1953. At the beginning of his administrative assignment, the district operated three small schools with 22 teachers serving approximately 800 students from kindergarten to 9th grade.

During his tenure, Robichaud organized a high school program and had charge of constructing a secondary school and several elementary schools. He worked with the Federal Government to obtain funds for both construction and maintenance purposes. Overall, the district grew immensely under Robichaud, increasing enrollment from 800 to 2800 and staff from 22 to 90 teaching and 30 non-teaching positions.

Robichaud later accepted a position as the assistant superintendent of Wyandotte Public Schools where he oversaw nine million dollars in school construction and 85 non-teaching employees including skilled tradesmen, custodians and cafeteria employees. In 1955 he left Wyandotte to return to District No. 8 of Dearborn Township Schools. He retained this position until 1961 when he accepted a position as an Associate Professor of Education and Director of Student Teaching at the University of Detroit.

From 1955-61, Robichaud was responsible for $5.5 million in school construction, including the Hamilton J. Robichaud High School, which was indeed the most significant honor bestowed upon him. By 1961 the enrollment of 5,300 students in District No. 8 was accommodated in seven units, including the new high school, a junior high school and five elementary units. The instructional and administrative staff had increased to 171.The problems that accompanied such a rapid growth were numerous and difficult. In spite of circumstances, Robichaud gave the type of leadership which produced an educational program that equipped students with the knowledge and techniques needed for them to take their respective places as citizens in society at the time.

The huge task of planning the educational facilities for the increasing enrollment involved the construction of five new buildings and nine other major additions and adjacent structures. Robichaud played a prominent role in directing the design and construction of these buildings. The leadership he gave in making necessary contacts and promotion whereby the school district was able to qualify for approximately $1.3 million in Federal aid for construction and maintenance purposes was of significant importance.

In his position at the University of Detroit, he worked with young people in the field of education. As the Director of Student Teaching, he was responsible for counseling 400-600 prospective teachers and placing them in their student teaching districts each year. As the Assistant Director of the Division of Education at the university, he was involved in matters pertaining to curriculum, course requirements and changes and in the day to day operations of the department. Robichaud also taught graduate courses in school administration, finance, law and school planning and construction. He was also a consultant for an architectural firm in the greater Detroit area.

Robichaud sat on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Association for Student Teaching, and was a member of the Association for Student Teaching, American Association of School Administrators, Michigan Association for Higher Education, American Health Association, president of the Wayne County Superintendents Association, member of the Inkster Interracial Council, charter president of the Westwood Rotary Club, member of the Dearborn Rotary Club, member of Phi Delta Kappa, Omega Chapter, University of Michigan(2) and sat on the Board of Directors of the Wayne Out County Teachers Credit Union. He was also the president of the Metropolitan Detroit Alumni Association of Northern Michigan University and one of the founders of the organization.

Mr. Robichaud passed away April 11, 1986.

1. Minor elements of the original document have been changed to improve clarity.
2. A professional association for educators.

Priscilla Densmore

Carl A. Moyer, M.D. '30

Edward L. Pearce '33

Dr. Rico N. Zenti '32

Dr. Gordon H. Seger '29

Wilbert H. Treloar '21

Wilbert H. Treloar was a writer and public figure whose dedication to the Marquette and Northern Michigan community spanned a lifetime. Born and raised in Marquette, Treloar graduated from Northern State Normal (1) in 1921.

As a student he was elected class president during his senior year, and contributed heavily to the arts on campus as a member of Ygdrasil (2) and the Sons of Thor (3), whose play during the 1921 school year “lives on in the minds of the students”, according to a 1921 edition of the Northern Normal News, of which Treloar was a student editor.

Treloar pursued journalism after graduation, beginning his career as a reporter for The Mining Journal. He worked his way through the ranks, serving as a sports editor, wire editor, news editor, advertising representative and business manager before being appointed general manager in 1956.

At the time of receiving his award, Treloar was the President of the NMU Foundation and in 1964 was awarded the Citizenship of the Year Award by the Marquette Chamber of Commerce for his contributions to education.

Treloar is best-known for his 1977 biographical novel Cohodas: The Story of a Family. Published by the Northern Michigan University Press, the novel investigates the Jewish lineage and history of the Cohodas family dating back to the events of the Book of Exodus and Sam Cohodas’s rise to prominence through the Cohodas Bros. Company.

From the preface of Cohodas: The Story of a Family

Wilbert H. Treloar of Marquette has been a friend and confidant of Sam Cohodas for over forty years, and he has been a business associate and acquaintance of many in the family for decades. His biography of the family and the central figure of Sam Cohodas reflects the sympathetic pen of a friend. Yet, Mr. Treloar tells the story of this outstanding family fully, objectively, and in a highly readable style.

• JOHN X. JAMRICH, President

Northern Michigan University

1. Northern Michigan University’s original name.
2. A literary society formed on campus, disbanded in 1925 after participation in a literary society on campus was no longer mandatory to all students. Treloar served as treasurer during his senior year.
3. Secret society similar to a fraternity, formed in 1914.

Sylvester W. Trythall, M.D. '26

Transcribed from Dr. Sylvester Wayne Trythall’s autobiography for the 1965 Distinguished Alumni Award.

I was born in Wakefield, Michigan, March 15, 1901, the son of Sara and Thomas Trythall. Schooling was in the local grade school until, when I was ten, my father received a promotion as stationary engineer for the Oliver Mining Company in Ironwood. My average at Ashland grade school (1) was good, and I entered the L. L. Wright High School as a freshman September 1914.

My mother’s death that fall forced family changes: my sister went to live with friends and my father took me with him to a commercial hotel. With his consent, I enlisted in the army in 1916, but on advice of family friends my sister revealed my true age and army rejection followed. By this time my academic record was so poor that my Latin teacher, Miss Janet Goudie, advised me to accept my aunt’s invitation to live with her family in Redridge, near Houghton, Michigan.

Because of war needs the Copper Country (2) was booming — mines working around the clock. A neighbor had a “shift boss” who gave me my first formal employment at sixteen. My first mill assignment was to unload a box car of sand with a shovel. In the next two weeks I decided there must be an easier way to gain a future livelihood.

Mr. O. D. Fellows, an M. I. T. graduate and superintendent of the Copper Range Mill, befriended me in many ways. I was soon promoted to the payroll office and subsequently given a chance to learn the machinist’s trade. “O. D.”, as he was known, taught me drafting, and, at his home where I was always a welcome guest, he taught me how to beat him in lawn tennis and cards.

In this small village, self-entertainment was the order of the day. When not building camps, tramping through the woods, cutting winter’s wood, or fishing I found the time to learn to play the coronet in the local band and to study. I had decided to set my goal for master mechanic whereby one could progress to mill superintendent without a formal education.

Aside from the somewhat transient school teachers, there were only four college graduates in the town including O. D. and the mill physician, Dr. Johnson. There were, however, a great many inspiring and gifted craftsmen of foreign origin keeping the mill in proper condition. Frank Koepel and Clarence Messner (who were later to earn doctorates) were companions who stimulated me to read good books, and to study history, chemistry, engineering, and drafting. Whenever possible, I made house calls with Dr. Johnson and went home with him to play cribbage.

My machinist training for master mechanic was completed when I was twenty, and by then my horizons had broadened and I began to dream of being a school teacher first and then a doctor.

From 1916 - 1922 by saving ten dollars each month in the Northern Michigan Building and Loan Association (3), buying War Bonds, and selling silver picked from stamped rock at one dollar an ounce, I acquired about two thousand dollars. Double shifts and Sunday work were commonplace.

During 1921 I had considerable correspondence with Ferris Institute (4) and with President Kaye of Marquette Normal School (5), choosing the latter because of its beautiful location on the rocks overlooking Lake Superior.

Through misunderstanding or oversight, in the fall of 1922 I found myself admitted to the Normal School as a full freshman. Actually I had had one and a half years of poor high school credits; but I was older than the average and had learned the discipline of work and study.

I enrolled in classes in science that would lead to a teacher’s life certificate and premedical training. My first term I received 2 B’s and 2 C’s. Mr. “Pop” Lewis (6) gave me a cleaning job in the “lab” which developed in my second year into a laboratory assistantship. With various odd jobs my money was holding out and instead of going out to teach with a two-year life certificate I began to dream of going on for my degree.

School was going well. I had become a member of “Sons of Thor” (7) and was elected to Phi Epsilon Honor Society. I was completing requirements for the coveted teacher’s certificate in June 1924… Then one fine spring day Professor Lewis stormed into the lab and said to me sternly:

“Young man, you have the entire administration in an uproar. You have not fulfilled one necessary requirement for a teacher’s certificate which is graduation from high school.”

Pop, who was head of the transcript committee, then took me into his office where we discussed my life between the years of sixteen and twenty-two. For reading and supervised training elsewhere he allowed me full high school credits — with one exception. He require me to take high school physics in summer school; thus in August I was graduated from the John D. Pierce High School (8).

Extra-curricular activities consisted mainly of participation in the college glee club, male quartet, and leads in the junior and senior plays.

The summer of 1925, accompanied by Frank Koepel, I had a holiday hitch-hiking 3,000 miles through the East. My first trip outside the U. P. cost me $19.63 in cash.

Mr. Don Bottom, my chemistry critic-teacher, and President Munson helped me secure an excellent position teaching chemistry and physics on Owosso, Michigan. The summer of graduation was spent on an extensive hitch-hiking tour of the West taken with George Nelson, class of 1926 — now Dr. Nelson of Central Michigan University.

In Owosso, I was able to combine my high school work with teaching nurses’ chemistry at Memorial Hospital’s training center. This gave a an opportunity to become well acquainted with the staff and, when time was available, I drove Dr. W. T. Parker, chief surgeon, on his rounds and calls. He, together with the Gilbert Taylors whose home has become mine, encouraged me to go on to medical school in 1928.

That summer after attempting and failing to sell the “World Book” door-to-door in Chicago, Dean Ethel Carey (9) of Marquette offered me a job managing the family garage in Harbor Springs. Four summers of long weeks’ work in this beautiful Lake Michigan town enabled me to be entirely solvent when I received my M. D. from the University of Michigan June 1932. During my senior year I was awarded the Strong Memorial Scholarship; since that time it has given me great pleasure to pass the remuneration back to another medical student and to contribute annually to the scholarship funds of my two universities.

Post graduate medical school education consisted of an internship at Harper Hospital, Detroit (1932-33) and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Florence Crittenton Hospital, Detroit (1933-35). The latter service included clinical instructorship for senior medical students at Wayne State University.

In September 1934 I was married to Isabelle Rayen of Owosso. Daughters born in 1936 and 1938 and graduated from the University of Michigan: the older who was a primary teacher is married and has sons, two and four; the younger has her M. A., is married and teaching high school English.

My medical school practice started in 1935 was centered on obstetrics and gynecology, but in the beginning years included various family cases. I was rejected for military service in 1941, and after a heart attack in 1944 I began to limit my practice to gynecology. Between 1950 - 1965 my work has been concerned for the most part with the infertile couple.

1955 - 56 I was Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Crittenton General Hospital. My professional affiliations include the Detroit Surgical Society, Wayne County Medical Society, Michigan State Medical Society, American Medical Association, Fellow American College of Surgeons, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Society for the Study of Sterility, International Infertility Association.

In the practice of medicine there are many subjects for research requiring continued study and investigation: among them I have chosen three.

My early life experiences and a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology were key-stones that lead to a special study of infant salvage and the premature baby. As residents, we were responsible under supervision for the welfare of 50-100 illegitimate mothers and their children.

During depression years in our clinic, the control of fertility through planned parenthood was essential. This laid the basic foundation for my now specialized practice in the Infertile Couple.

Through thirty years of practice I became increasingly aware of the lack of premarital preparation in relation to marital disruption. This led to a five-year survey among 2,500 women in order to evaluate premarital laws, essentially their application and effectiveness in Michigan. The resulting paper published in the American Medical Association journal has prompted considerable discussion and some belated action both locally, nationally, and internationally.

My other special research interests have been presented as papers, panel discussions, and exhibits many times in the United States. It has also been my good fortune to review my work in Naples, Amsterdam, Cairo, Vienna, Prague, and Rio.

1. There’s a 37-mile distance between Ashland, WI and L. L. Wright High School in Ironwood, so it’s believed he refers to Ashland, WI public schools here.
2. Northernmost area of the Upper Peninsula where the copper boom took place from 1845 to the late 1960’s.
3. Now the Detroit & Northern Savings and Loan Association in Hancock.
4. Name of Ferris State University from 1898-1963.
5. Trythall is referring to Northern State Normal, Northern Michigan University’s title in its infancy.
6. Most likely referring to physical science instructor Walter Ferguson Lewis.
7. Secret campus society based around acting and the arts, based around Magni and Modi, the sons of Thor, the god of thunder, in Norse mythology.
8. Building built in 1925 to serve high school grades on campus.
9. Read more on Dean Ethel Carey Here (http://www.nmu.edu/archives/ethel-g-carey)

Olive G. Fox '20

Grant U. MacKenzie, D.D.S. '32

Don B. Walsworth '29

2022

James Paquette ’74 BS, Negaunee, Mich.

2021

Susan Meier ’87 BS, Riverdale, Mich.

2020

Anita Mattson '02 BS, Worcester, Mass.

2019

Thomas Fish '69, Wilmington, NC

2018

Skye Patrick '96, Downey, CA         

2017

Kevin Chandler '00, '03, New Haven

Ron Fonger '86, Flushing

2016

Luke Steinke '00, '02, Champaign, IL

2015

Jon Kukuk '76 Marinette, WI

Lisa Kelley '99 Buffalo, NY

2014

Jeannie Thoren

2013

William Stark '73, Cheboygan         

2011

Beverly Solomon '76, Rochester     

2010

Clifford Luft '61, '67, Marquette         

2009

Cynthia Peck '76, Saginaw     

2008

Mike Ross '76, Appleton, WI         

2007

Peggy Sue Barber '89, Saginaw     

2022
Stephanie Lay ’10 AS, ’11 BS, Oakland, Calif.

2021
T.J. Weber, Ph.D. ’11 BS, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

2020
Amanda Rosenburg '07 BS, Astoria, N.Y.

2019
Nicole Weber '09, Washington D.C.

2018
Beth Millner '08, Marquette

2017
Joshua Ewalt '08, Assistant Professor, Department of Communication, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Lee Francisco '02, '05, CEO, 906 Technologies, Marquette

2015
Mike Oswald '03, Richardson, TX

2013
Daryl Vizina '01, Cheboygan, MI

2011
Kyle Ortiz '04, New York, NY
Stacy Welling '00, '02, Marquette

2008
Heather Albrecht '96, Chicago, Ill.

2007
Nicole Meloche '94, San Clemente, Cal.

2006
Kristen Lucas '95 Lincoln, Neb.

2005
Jeff Vande Zande '93, Bay City

2004
Troy Huggett '92, Owner, Troy Huggett Fitness Pros. Battle Creek

2003
David Gregory '92, Attorney with Kelley-Cawthorne, Lansing

2002
Dale Samar '89, General Manager of StoneRidge Golf Course, General Manager and Director of Golf at Sedona Golf Resort, Ariz..

2001
Charles R. Nickel, '92, '96
Partner, "The O'Harrow/Nickel Group", Green Bay, Wis.

2000
Brian Franks '88, Vice President, Marketing Films Group, Bartlett, Ill.
Matthew Johnson '94, District Administrator, First Congressional District, Marquette
Susan Dagenais '87, '89, Research Fellow, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Raymond Jenson '94, Food Service Director, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Regional Hospital, Bethel, Alaska

1999
Sara L. Caudill '93, American Express Financial Advisors, Inc. Ann Arbor
Kathleen Heideman '94, Poet/Computer Learning Specialist, Minneapolis, Minn.
Dr. Marc Raslich '91, Medical Doctor, Rochester, N.Y.

1998
Dr. Anne M. Andrews '87, Researcher, Institute for Defense Analyses, Alexandria, Va.
Paul R. Bohjanen, M.D. '85, Infectious Disease Fellow, Duke University, Durham, N.C.
Cheryl L. Hill '84, Attorney, Marquette
Scott P. Schloegel '90, Chief of Staff for Congressman Bart Stupak, Washington, D.C.
John M. Stocker '91, Vice President of Engineering, Chicago White Metal, Chicago, Ill.
Paul G. Truckey '87, Broadway Actor - Les Miserables, New York, N.Y.

1997
Dr. Bronwen L. Millet '83, Psychiatric Therapist, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md
Mark Pontti '83, Manager of Public Affairs, Champion International Corp, Iron Mountain

1996
Amy L. Chown '84, Director of Development/Marketing, Central Virginia
Public Broadcasting, Richmond, Va.
Dr. James M. Skibo '82, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Illinois State University, Normal, Ill.

1995
David M. Kanigan '83, Management Associate, Citibank, Coral Gables, Fla.

1994
Dr. Gary J. Brunswick '84, Assistant Professor, Management, Marketing and Computer Information Systems, Northern Michigan University, Marquette
Kimberly S. Maki '88, Corporate Director for Public and Government Affairs, Vision Cable Communications, Inc. Charlotte, N.C.
Cathy A. Turner '91, Gold Medalist Short Track Speedskating, U.S. Olympic Team, 1992 and 1994, Rochester, N.Y.

1993
Kevin C. Boyle '81, Senior Associate, Latham and Watkins, Washington, D.C.
Donald J. Kukla '79, Artistic Director, Missoula Children's Theatre, Missoula, Mont.
Teri L. List '84, C.P.A., Senior Manager, Deloitte and Touche, St. Louis, Mo.
Carl D. Rivord '90, President and Chief Executive Officer, RSM, Incorporated, Huntsville, Ala.
Lt. Commander Scott K. Taube '81, Head, Shipboard Management, Department Training Course, Surface Warfare Officers' School, Department of the Navy, Newport, R.I.

1992
Dr. Rick E. Amidon '81, President, Baker College, Owosso
William W. Bowerman IV '91, Research Assistant and Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing
Pamela Gue' Slater '82, English/French Teacher, Iron Mountain

1991
Stephen G. Lakotish '81, General Manager, G.S. Lakotish, CPA, Troy
Robert P. Stefanski '84, Attorney, Weil, Gotshal and Manges, New York, N.Y.

1990
Robert K. Mueller '82, Assistant Professor of Music, University of Arkansas,
Fayetteville, Ark.
Sandra L. Spoelstra '81, Owner, Northern Home Nursing, Marquette
Gregory S. Zyburt '80, Chief of Police of Chocolay Township, Marquette

1989
John C. Cote '79, Senior Management Engineer, Hurley Medical Center, Flint
David C. Forsberg '82, Broadcast Coordinator, House of Representatives, Democratic Press Office, Lansing
Dr. David L. Prychikto '84, Assistant Professor of Economics, State University of New York, Oswego, N.Y.

1988
Philip G. Blake '81, Executive Vice President, Business Equipment, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz.
Robert G. Caudill, Jr. '80, Vice President, Los Angeles Realty Services, Inc., Irvine, Calif.
Thomas Huffman, M.D. '79, Internal Medicine Specialist and Chief of Medicine, Marquette General Hospital, Marquette
Patricia Slepkow '84, Account Manager, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Arlington, Va.
Dr. Claudia Orr '79, Associate Professor, Office Systems and Business Education, Northern Michigan University, Marquette

1987
Brenda Bellanger '81, Manager of Training and Development Program,
AVColo. Financial Services, Irvine, Calif.
Nicolette Nanos '78, Actress and Production Coordinator, Westwood Playhouse, Hollywood, Calif.
Donald Tucker '80, Manager, Arthur Andersen and Company, Chicago, Ill.
Mark Roggenbuck '84, National Science Foundation Fellow, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.

1986
Thomas J. Dahlin '79, Engineering Supervisor, Honeywell Defense Systems, Minnetonka, Minn.
Gary R. Hughes '76, Administrative Assistant to the Chief of the Hazardous Waste Division, Department of Natural Resources, East Lansing
Mark H. Ruge '80, Press Secretary, Office of Congressman Bob Davis, 11th Congressional
District, Washington, D.C.
Dr. Danny L. Wiedbrauk '79, Chief Research Scientist, Virology Research and Development, Gull Laboratories, Salt Lake City, Utah
Carey Yeager '78, University of California-Davis Regent's Fellowship Doctoral Candidate and Director, Proboscis Research Project, Indonesia

1985
Beverly Beauchamp '78, Development Analyst, Michigan Department of Commerce, Marquette
Michelle Butler '76, Business Manager and Co-Owner, Vango's, Marquette
Chris Jensen '76, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, Aquaterra, Inc., Easley, S.C.
Dr. Carla Narrett '76, Director, Graduate Program, School of
Psychology, Alfred University, Alfred, N.Y.
William Streib '77, Playwright, Los Angeles, Calif.

1984
Jack Chiapuzio '74, Captain, US Army, Fort Carson, Colo.
Patti Peterson, M.D. '75, Neurologist, Detroit
Gerard Molitor '74, C.P.A., Vice President and Controller, American National Holding Company, Kalamazoo
Dr. Bruce C. Peterson '76, Assistant Professor of Economics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.

2022
Chris Mosier ’03 BFA, Chicago, Ill.

2021
Lina Blair ’05 BS, ’08 MS, Grand Rapids, Mich.

2020
Greg Toutant '94 BS, Negaunee, Mich.

2019
Jon Mommaerts '91, Marquette

2017
Jim Jenkin '81, '84, Ishpeming    

2014
Curt Tucker '55, Saginaw

2011
L. Garnet Lewis '86, Freeland    

2007
Mel Vaara '55, Clarkston

2006
Thomas Ungrodt '76, Ann Arbor    

2005
Beverly Laughna '69, '83, Marquette

2004
Bobby Glenn Brown '87, Marquette    

2002
Robert "Bart" J. Bartkowiak '72, Marquette

2001
Tom Moilanen, Detroit    

2000
Jack Mauro '65, Frankenmouth

1999
Richard Peura '69, Marquette

1998
Constance Barto '61, Marquette
Connie Delbello '75, Clarkston
Walter Mcclintock '39, Marquette
Frank Wareham '63, Belfast, ME

1997
Michael Nelsen '63, Glen Ellyn, IL
Daniel Trotochaud '68, Marquette
Daune (Langstaff) Weiss '69, Gaylord

1996
Denise (McMillian) Lafferty '82, Scottsdale, AZ
Phillip Blake '81, Scottsdale, AZ
Daniel Stencil '76, Clarkston

1995
Gildo Canale '56, Marquette
Jon Kukuk '76, Marinette, WI
Robert Sibilsky, Marquette

1994
John Arger '70, Menominee
Barry Axelrod '69, Buffalo Grove, IL
Thomas Berutti '63, Florence, WI
Fritz Wilson '58, Chassell

1993
Dennis Malaney '76, Farmington Hills
Jerry Pangrazzi '54, Marquette

1992
Richard Allen '60, Iron Mountain
Dr. David Blomquist '62, Iron Mountain
Robert Mercier '62, Glen Ellyn, IL

1991
W. David Cade '64, Howard Lake, MN
Paul Roberts '56, Arcadia, CA

1990
William Brodeur '60, Leominster
Byron Johnson '68, Ada
Ivan Ryan '54, Gladstone

1989
Norbert Murphy '58, Escanaba
Robert Pecotte '64, Marquette
Carol Levine Sarvello '64, Rockford

1988
Thomas Finnerty '68, Rochester
Jay W. Johnson '65, Green Bay, WI
D. Neil Nystrom '57, Marquette

1987
Robert Bordeau '59, Marquette
Gerald Goerlitz '62, Exton, PA
Dominic Sarvello '64, Troy

1986
Gloria (Jussila) Jackson '68,  Paradise Valley, AZ
Denham Lord '59, Escanaba
Jerold Saundri '61, Marquette
Gary Silc '63, Ironwood

1985
Creta Bayee '31, Ontonagon
Charles Blossfield '63, Oak Park, IL
Barbara (Velin) Gusick '60, Oshkosh, WI
Larry Hassel '67, Bloomfield Hills
Tyne Kangas '58, Escanaba    

1984
Arthur Allen '53, Iron River
Angeline Major '23, Houghton

This award combined with the Alumni Service Award in 2019.

2018

Michele Butler '76, '78, Marquette

2016

John Gremmer '66, '74, Winneconne, WI

2013

Paul Leveck '77, Berkely    

2006

Timothy Bennett '74, Marquette

2005

Matthew Wiese, Marquette    

2002

Leonard "Bud" L. Lawry '65 '69, Midland

1997

Larry Hassel '67, Bloomfield Hills

Joe Konwinski '37, Lake Worth, FL    

1995

Joe Schmidt '73, Midland