ARIZONA
Arizona Golf
The 2005 Arizona Shocker Open teed off March 14 at the Marriott Camelback Golf Club and Resort in Scottsdale. A pre-tournament dinner was held March 13 at Buster’s, also in Scottsdale. Watch for the event wrap-up in the next issue of The Shocker.
Shocker Watch Party
Arizona Shockers gathered Jan. 29 at McDuffy’s Sports Bar in Tempe to watch the Shocker men defeat Illinois State 78-72 in Missouri Valley Conference basketball action. Hosted by Vic Heckart ’62, the watch party was attended by more than 30 alumni and friends, including Pam Bobbitt ’71, Allen Boydston ’90, Matt ’93 and Stefanie Dick, Earl Edwards fs ’67, Rex ’60 and Ellie Higgins, Brian fs ’97 and Melinda ’98 Hill, Dana Houdashelt ’00, Jane Niemann ’90, Dick ’65 and Earlene fs ’63 Nelson, Bill Osmun ’90, Max Steinbuchel ’70 and Tammy Zobel, sister of Mark Turgeon, WSU men’s basketball coach.
CHICAGO
Shocker Watch Party
Chicago-area WSU basketball fans came together Feb. 26 at Goose Island Brewery to cheer on the Shockers as they took the court against Southern Illinois in a nationally televised game. Among those joining host Jennifer Morrow ’01 were former Shocker basketball player Brian Ewell ’95, David Payne ’74 and Erica Russell ’03 and her dad Eric Russell ’69/69/71.
KANSAS CITY
Jazzin’ It Up
WSU’s Jazz Arts Ensemble jazzed up alumni in the KC metro area and in Topeka with performances Feb. 15, Feb. 16 and Feb. 17 at B.B.’s Lawnside Bar-B-Q, Johnson County Community College and Bullfrogs II. Among event attendees were Dennis Coleman ’63, Hal Miller ’71 and Barney ’62 and Mary Lou Nossaman.
TOPEKA
Shocker Watch Parties
Marlee Carpenter ’96 and Holly ’91 and Alan ’88 Cobb played hosts for a series of Shocker watch parties held Jan. 15, Feb. 12 and Feb. 26 at Hatfield’s Sports Bar in Topeka.
WICHITA
Bands Blowout
WSU Alumni Bands Club President Alan Lazarus ’69/70 welcomed nearly 50 alumni and friends to campus for the club’s annual Bands Blowout. Among those showing their Shocker spirit Feb. 5 by playing with the pep band or cheering on the Shocks in Koch Arena were Brad Bone ’76/79, Denny Dusek ’66/71, Dana Hamant ’78/83, Tim ’86/92 and Wendy ’86/87/99 Johnson, Carol Neighbor ’60/83, Kirk Postier ’69, Anthony “Torch” Pressnell ’90 and Jeff Yearout ’91/91.
Blackwell Reception
Bob Blackwell ’66, president and CEO of Blackwell Consulting Services in Chicago, was special guest at a March 10 VIP reception hosted by the alumni association and held during Business Week 2005. Watch for the wrap-up in the next The Shocker.
Carney Breakfast & Future Speakers
Greg Carney ’70, CEO of Carney & Associates Consulting, Olympia Fields, Ill., and a Shocker Sports Hall of Famer who is one of the best guards ever to play at WSU, spoke March 24 in Wichita to a crowd of some 70 attendees at the fifth event of the 2004-05 WSU Distinguished Alumni Speaker Breakfast Series. Recalling his Shocker playing days, Carney commented, “I never saw a shot I didn’t like!” Among breakfast-goers were Dorothy Harmon ’46, Arnold Hudspeth ’79, Art Louvar ’73/79, David Nygaard ’73/74, Dave Strohm, Antoinette Tejeda, who taught Carney Spanish at WSU, and Jackie Williams ’67.
Tue., April 26; 7:30am — Stan Schaefer ’87 Breakfast, Olive Tree Banquet Hall. Aeronautical engineer Schaefer, a 21-year NASA veteran, is chief of the Systems Division, Mission Operations Directorate.
Coleman Hill Cookout
Sun., April 24; 12pm — Coleman Hill Baseball Cookout, Eck Stadium Home of Tyler Field. Sponsored by Pepsi Bottling Group and the House of Schwan, this event features food, fun, drinks and the excitement of Shocker baseball with WSU taking the field against Creighton. The cost per person covers lunch and a game ticket.
Jones Breakfast
Having crafted a stellar reputation in the wide world of business, Larry Jones ’53 addressed some 90 breakfast-goers, including Dale ’51 and Collette ’52 Cooper, Fran Jabara, Nolan Luke ’67 and Duane ’53 and Pat ’53 Smith, who’ve been friends with Jones and his wife Anita ’53 for more than 60 years.
Rumble in the Jungle
Sat., June 11; 11am — Spring Fling at the Sedgwick County Zoo, featuring educational presentations starring some of the zoo’s most special residents. The cost per person covers lunch and admission to the zoo.
Senior Breakfast
Tue., April 19; 8-9am — Sixth Annual WSU Senior Breakfast, Rhatigan Student Center Ballroom. Join alumni and friends in congratulating WSU’s graduating class of 2005. Hosted by the alumni association and student affairs, the breakfast is sponsored by Capitol Federal Savings.
Weiss Breakfast
Emily Weiss ’99/00, an animal behaviorist, spoke Jan. 20 to a crowd of some 80 breakfast-goers at the Olive Tree Banquet Hall. Weiss, who works to improve the welfare of animals in shelters, companion animals and zoo animals, was a hit with event attendees, including Jennifer Borry ’04, Patricia Dermid ’93, John ’65/92 and Carolyn Duvall and Rick Gaskill ’75/79.
Wichita University Class of 1955
Thu.-Sat., May 12-14 — WU Class of 1955 50-Year Reunion, Woodman Alumni Center, host site. Making this reunion a not-to-be-missed happening are planning committee members: Jeanette (Farha) Bayouth, Joe Childs, Ben Grisamore, Eldon Hamm, Ed and Sara (Goeller) Lomax, Betty (Kellum) Partridge and Emily (Henderson) Rude. Reunion highlights include golf, guided tours of campus and campus museums, brunch, a welcome reception, Shocker baseball, a tea hosted by the university’s First Lady, walking in the 2005 commencement ceremony and, perhaps the reunion’s keynote event, the 50-Year Club Luncheon.
Choosing from so many goings-on will be a challenge for attendees, commented Bayouth during one planning session. For instance, slated for the same time slot on Thursday are the Shocker Open Golf Tournament, in which reunion attendees are invited to play, and High Tea with WSU First Lady Shirley Beggs. How to decide? “Well, I plan to be on the golf course,” Lomax reported, while Partridge asked, “Is the tea for men, too?” Yes, indeed, was the consensus of committee members, who noted that all reunion activities are planned to be decidedly “coed.”
WSU Kansas Chapter Leaders Gather
Julie Herren-Barnes ’91, Joe Palacioz ’71/76 and Rudy Rodriguez ’87/87/96 were among the Kansas-based alumni chapter leaders who came together Jan. 29 at the Woodman Alumni Center to share ideas and re-connect with one another. Debbie Kennedy ’94, association executive director, and Jim Rhatigan, dean emeritus of students, greeted attendees.
Your Shocker Watch Parties
Wichita’s Fox and Hound Pub & Grille served as home to 14 Shocker basketball watch parties this season. Each event catered to about 45 fans, including Blake Bennett ’04, Jeff and Dena ’96 Hollinger, Lainie Mazzullo ’00, Bruce Reed ’79 and Drew ’98 and Kristy ’00 Woodworth.
