CONTENTS

A sturdy log cabin and a stately white two-story are tucked in a secluded grove ringed by wheat fields on this sleepy summer morning in southern Sedgwick County. For months, it has been a hands-on training station for dozens of county firefighters. Today, it burns to the ground.

Tatted from nine disparate threads,the knotty collective called famous dead artists has enlivened Wichita’s art scene for a decade now.

The fabled Doctor Dolittle has nothing on Emily Weiss. The conversations this animal behaviorist has with beasts in every shape and size at the Sedgwick County Zoo enrich their lives, and hers.

Readers write in to comment on The Shocker and its contents.

Shockers everywhere, at events long ago to happenings just the other day, always have something interesting to say.

Nineteen hundred fifty-three was the year that President Truman announced the development of the hydrogen bomb — and the year members of the University of Wichita’s senior class earned their college degrees.

Brad S. Beets ’87, WSU Alumni Association executive director, looks forward to the year ahead.

Jeff Degraffenreid ’88 sums up his year as association president.

It is a truth universally accepted that what Shockers want is a good time.

Shockers of every age — including Dee Anne and Haley Fahnestock — were out in style April 11 at the Olive Tree Banquet Hall.

WSUAA News and Events

The 2003 Shocker Open — sponsored by the WSU Alumni Association and better known as “Be the Ball” Caddyshock III — invaded the links at Wichita’s Willowbend Golf Course April 28 and challenged golfers to some steep alumni competition.

The association salutes these generous individuals and couples who contributed to the 2003 Heritage Fund.

Old legends take a long time to die, and some never do.

These Gleanings entries survey the current university scene.

A gallery of both literary and visual art, Shock Art showcases work by Wichita State University alumni, faculty and students.

Although his work plate is more than full, Dharma deSilva still finds times to enjoy the tastes of his native Sri Lanka.

Jim Ziegler ’79 looks for the upside in every down situation, enjoys riding his motorcycle and singin’ the blues, and, as vice president and general manager of Bombardier in Wichita, he knows when he has to make that tough business decision.

Joe Stone walked across the stage at the Kansas Coliseum to pick up his long-awaited bachelor’s degree — and received a standing ovation from fellow graduates, faculty and those attending Wichita State’s commencement ceremonies for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

James Merriman, who died in 1995, had a special knack for teaching — and entertaining. One of his former students takes a Look Back at this formidable English professor.

Wichita State coach Gordon Vadakin ’82 insists he didn’t hear any whispers, but surely there were some floating throughout the collegiate bowling community.

The image should remain a memorable one for Wichita State baseball fans: Moments after pitching the Shockers into the NCAA tournament, David Sanders, the unlikeliest of heroes, stood near the mound and pointed to the heavens in appreciation and triumph.

The Wichita State men’s golf team captured its fourth Missouri Valley Conference Championship in the past five years during tournament play April 28-29 in Silvis, Ill.

Shocker Sports News and Notes

Comings, goings, appointments, retirements, honors, accolades and other personal alumni news.

Leaving lasting legacies are these Wichita State University alumni and friends.

Most of us experienced him first in high school, where we were force-fed Julius Caesar because, like some variety of intellectual spinach, it was good for us.

He has the quirky ability, the high voice and the debonair manners to pull it off.

Julie (Stallard) Acosta ’80/84 never thought of herself as a minority while studying electrical engineering at WSU.

Douglas Ladnier ’92 says he’s living his dream.

Newsworthy info about alumni and university personalities and happenings — all packaged up in bite-size reads, with illustrations by Wade Hampton.