WSU Class of 1967 Returns to Campus

Special tours, get-togethers, attendance at the 61st WSU Alumni Awards banquet and ceremony, and induction into Wichita State’s 50 Year Club, the latter held at Wichita’s venerable Candle Club, were all on the activity-queue for the Class of 1967’s return to campus.

After Courtney M. Marshall, WSU Alumni Association president and CEO, James J. Rhatigan, WSU vice president emeritus for student affairs, and Lou Heldman, vice president for strategic communication, gave remarks at Friday’s 50 Year Club luncheon, 10 Class of 1967 members were inducted into the honorary group:

Marsha (Wilson) Allen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. As a student, she was involved with Alpha Chi Omega, Collegiate Young Republicans, Shocker SPURS, YWCA, Pep Council, Associated Women’s Students council, the Alpha Delta Pi educational sorority and was a WSU Senate member. After graduation, she taught in Wichita public schools for seven years before earning her real estate license. She has been a full-time professional Realtor since 1979. She and her husband Robert live in Derby, Kan.

Phyllis (Pace) Bradburn earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. As a student, she says she particularly enjoyed taking education classes and watching stand-out athlete Dave Stallworth and her Wessel cousins play Shocker basketball. Later on, she enjoyed watching her daughters Beth and Teresa participate in Shocker softball and rowing. After graduating from Wichita State, she taught fifth and sixth grades in Rhode Island and in Haysville, Kan. She and her husband Wayne live in Eagle, Idaho.

Bill Brittain earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from Wichita State. He also studied at Bethel College, NYU, Cornell and Syracuse – and earned a PhD in psychology from TCU. As a Wichita State student, he was involved with the psychology club, the student advisory committee, SGA, Lambda Alpha and the philosophy club. Throughout his varied career as a psychology professional, he taught at several universities, was a partner at a New York City consulting firm and founded his own consulting firm Brittain Klein in 1983. He and his wife Ardis live in Chesapeake, Va.

John Hageman earned a bachelor’s degree in history. During his time as a student, he was a member of Delta Upsilon and the Interfraternity Council, and served as vice president of his senior class. Hageman worked for Farmers Insurance from 1969 until his retirement in 2007. He spent 17 years in claims and 21 years working in executive management. He has served as a member of the board of regents for the University of Farmers, which is the insurance company’s employee training program. He and his wife Karen live in Wichita.

Karen (Carmichael) Hageman earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. As a student, she was involved with Delta Gamma, the Panhellenic council, Shocker SPURS and Mortar Board. She is retired after teaching elementary and pre-school students at public schools in Wichita, Overland Park, Kan., Elk City, Okla., and Portland, Ore. She says she enjoys gardening and spending time at art museums. She and her husband John live in Wichita.

Kathleen (Epps) Hankins majored in history and minored in French and education. On campus, she especially enjoyed history, French and art – and was active with Alpha Chi Omega, the Association of Women Students and Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society. She is retired after teaching history and French at Truesdell Junior High School in Wichita, where she and her husband Thomas live.

Barbara (Bunting) McCalla earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in instrumental music. As a student, she was a member of Delta Delta Delta, Mu Phi Epsilon, Shocker SPURS and Mortar Board. During her career as an educator, she taught at public schools in Wichita, in Sedgwick, Kan., and in Augusta, Kan., before retiring in 2013. She and her husband Robert live in Augusta.

Robert McCalla earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision. As a student, he lettered in baseball for three years. A member of Delta Theta and the Interfraternity  Council, he enjoyed watching football and basketball games and Hippodrome skits, and participating in Homecoming and Greek activities. He retired in 2002 after a career in education, serving as an administrator in Augusta public schools. He and his wife Barbara live in Augusta.

Larry Wetta earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. As a student, he was a member of the Newman Club and the honorary business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi. Now retired, he held various management and sales positions in the United States, Central America and South America. His most recent position was as western regional sales manager for Cleveland, Ohio-based Parker Hannifin. He and his wife Vilma live in Yorba Linda, Calif.

Pat (Thomison) Whitney earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education. As a student, she was a member of the Association for Childhood Education International. Now retired, she was a teacher, reading specialist, literacy coach and instructional coach at Wichita public schools. She and her husband Tom live in Wichita.

Also inducted into the 50 Year Club were Bruce ’68 and Carol ’66 Harris of Wichita, he a year early and she one year after becoming eligible. Members of the 50 Year Club who welcomed the organization’s newest members included Jo Brown ’51, who helped close the luncheon ceremony on a high note by leading the singing of the Alma Mater.