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FOUNDATIONNEWSFOUNDATIONNEWS

About the cover...Cache River Valley Seed LLC Chief Executive Officer RandyWoodard, (left), and founder Joe McAlister look out from a soybeanfield near Cash. Read more on page 2. (Photo by MichaelDeJarnette)

Development Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1Seeds of Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Hope for a Healthier Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Seeds of Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Proudly Waving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Flying Higher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10ASU-Newport Benefits From Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Legislators Honored . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Defense $$$ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13Wetherspoon Scholarship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Honored Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Gettin’ Grubby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Bumpers Visits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Pumping Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Distinguished Alumni Named . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19A Shot in the Arm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Arkansas Rural Sourcing, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Board of DirectorsArkansas State University

Foundation, Inc.Marilyn Hummelstein, Board ChairDarrell Cooper, Board Vice Chair

Sherland Hamilton, Immediate Past ChairDonna AngelJim BrewerJim Brown

Bobby CaldwellJames W. Callaway

Todd CooperDoug Coy

Niel CrowsonRonnie DedmanMarcus DevineBob EarwoodSteve Edwards

Cathy Eoff-TirattoBill Fisher

Danny FordWallace Fowler

Michael FullingtonJim S. Gowen Sr.

Stacy GreeneWayne Hartsfield

Dick HergetGregory HopkinsDariel JohnsonJohn Kitterman

Michael LewellenJudious LewisAaron LubinCharles Luter

Martha Jean McHaneyGarry MeadowsHarold PerrinRandall Pope

Velmar Singleton RichmondNess Sechrest

Richard SheidLindley Smith Jr.Amelia Stuckey

John TrouttDon Winton

John A. WoodsideDr. Les Wyatt, President of the University

Steve Owens, President/CEOPhilip Jackson, Board TreasurerSteve Watkins, Board Secretary

Ed Kremers, Chief Financial OfficerNick Livers, Attorney

University Advancement StaffVirginia Adams, University Communications Secretary

Sandy Benesh, Administrative AssistantSusan Briner, Alumni Membership Secretary

Peggy Britt, Coordinator, Privately Funded ScholarshipsDiana Corder, Advancement Secretary

Danna Evans, Accountant, Advancement ServicesFrances Hart, Coordinator, University Communications

Nancy Hendricks, Alumni EditorMendy Hendrix, Development Secretary

Markham Howe, Director, University RelationsPhilip Jackson, Controller, ASU Foundation

Heath Kelly, Graphic ArtistRon Looney, Director, Publications & Creative Services

Diana Monroe, Coordinator, DevelopmentCommunications

Tom Moore, Director, University CommunicationsSteve Owens, Vice President

Molly Phillips, Coordinator, Alumni AffairsElaine Poynter, Coordinator, Annual Giving

Mark Reeves, Art DirectorCarol Roberts, Alumni Secretary

Beth Smith, Director, Alumni RelationsDana Stroud, Development OfficerGeorgia Summitt, Graphic Artist

Tori Thompson, Development OfficerDawn Tucker, Coordinator, Advancement Services

Deborah Turner, Director, Planned GivingHolly Van Wagener, Associate Director,

Development ServicesSteve Watkins, Director, University Development

M.A. Wheeler, University Relations Secretary

FoundationNews

Page 2 Page 4 Page 6

Volume 5 • Number 2 Fall 2004

Features

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When we published the first issue ofFoundation News back in the Fall of1999, we did so because we thought itwould be a beneficial service for ASUFoundation donors and volunteers tohave a publication in which they couldtake ownership - one that conveyed thethoughtful and creative ways peoplechose to support ASU in a philanthropicway.

As we look back on our first five years,and the milestones we've been able tochronicle, no doubt it was the rightthing to do.

It all started on a hot July 4th, 1999,when we dedicated the historicHemingway-Pfeiffer Center in Piggott.This was the very place where literarygiant Ernest Hemingway penned por-tions of his classic, “A Farewell to Arms.”Many people worked diligently to makethe day a success, but substantial thankswas owed to Clay County nativesSherland and Barbara Hamilton whogave so generously in support of the mas-sive restoration effort.

We've seen an entirely new campusevolve in Mountain Home. What startedout as a briar patch has become one ofthe most picturesque settings for highereducation anywhere in Arkansas. Therealization of the Mountain Home cam-pus is the result of Chancellor EdCoulter's driven nature, and the generos-ity of many supporters who believedsuch a dream was possible.

In the midst of the massive construc-tion project, Coulter described his feel-ings most days as falling somewhere inbetween exhilarating and overwhelming.In our view, it's just outright impressive.

In the Fall of 2000, we celebrated 90years of teaching, research and service tothe region, and reflected on what ninedecades of Arkansas State University'spresence had meant to us all. Dr. LesWyatt celebrated his first five years ofservice to ASU, and university officialsbroke ground on a student union com-plex that, today, is the centerpiece of agrowing Jonesboro campus.

It was a thrill for us all in Spring of2001 to feature the long-anticipatedopening of Fowler Center as a true com-munity showplace and regional centerfor the arts. The lead gift made byWallace and Jama Fowler, is, to date, themost significant ever made to ASU, andthe project was further supported byRiceland Foods, the Geoffrey Pugh fam-ily and the Curt Bradbury family inhonor of Chucki Bradbury's long serviceto the university. Fowler Center has livedup to every expectation we had for it. Forall those who made it possible, we can'tthank them enough.

Our next issue celebrated a successfulfund drive among ASU alumni andfriends that resulted in new uniforms forthe Marching Indian Band and gave noteto the important work being done inASU's environmental science programthrough the establishment of the JuddHill chair in environmental biology. Theimpact of the Judd Hill Foundation'sconsistent support of ASU Foundationefforts cannot be overstated with regardto the opportunities it has provided forstudents and faculty.

In Spring of 2002, Foundation Newsfeatured the support and direction givenby Dr. Kathy Brittain White, who hassupported entrepreneurial efforts andunique exposure opportunities for ASUstudents in the business world. Dr.White's leadership in these efforts hasbeen exemplary and we are honored tobe the beneficiary of her experience.

Later that year, we celebrated thebeginning of another milestone projectwhen Cleburne County's SugarloafMountain was purchased for the purposeof constructing a new ASU campus inHeber Springs. It is one of the mostbeautiful settings anyone can imagine fora university campus. Local communityleadership has a vision for the campusand is working together to realize itsachievement.

Arkansas State played host to theworld premier of a major made-for-tele-vision event in April 2003 when native

Arkansan andb e s t - s e l l i n gauthor JohnG r i s h a munveiled theHallmark Hall ofFame version ofhis novel, “APainted House,”in FowlerCenter's RicelandHall. It was aonce-in-a-lifetime event for many of us,and a sold-out house helped raise a sub-stantial sum for the university's newestdoctoral program in heritage studies.

Also in that issue, we celebrated theeducational career and retirement of Dr.Mildred Vance who served our Collegeof Education for more than 54 years. Dr.Vance's impact on education across theregion is immeasurable. Because she hadsuch an impact on so many teachers whoare leading their own classrooms today,Dr. Vance's legacy continues to grow.

In Fall of 2003, we featured 1936alumnus John A. Woodside on ourcover. Woodside and his family havehelped dozens of deserving ASU stu-dents receive an education through theestablishment of the Mable SymonsWoodside Memorial ScholarshipEndowment, one of the most significantscholarships in the ASU Foundationendowment. We are so privileged toknow Mr. Woodside and his family, andit was our pleasure that year to be able torecognize him as one of ASU's most dis-tinguished alumni.

In our last issue earlier this year, wehighlighted the significant historicalwork of Dr. Calvin Smith, who has beenone of the leading educators on theJonesboro campus since 1970. And wemarked the milestone of the completionof a new student health center that servesthe campus community and our com-munity at-large.

It's been a good five-year run for goodnews in the ASU Foundation.

Steve Watkins

The first five years - a fond look back

Seeds of LearningCache River Valley Seed honors its founder with a scholarship

It might surprise some folks thatwhen Joe McAlister entered ArkansasState College in the fall of 1948, hestarted as a freshman music major,minoring in art.

“I'd taken music lessons since Iwas five years old,” McAlister saidrecently. “I thought music might besomething I'd continue to enjoy, but Iknew I would have a career in agricul-ture.”

McAlister did focus on an agricul-tural career. The Jonesboro native andhis brother went into business togeth-er in 1961. They ran a mercantilestore in Cash, and bought land asthey could for agricultural produc-tion. When the River Bran rice millreceiving station in Cash was put upfor sale, the brothers bought it, too,and started McAlister's Seed Service, alocal retail, custom seed cleaningoperation.

Over the years, the name haschanged, and so has the size of theoperation. What was McAlister's SeedService, in one small building, is nowCache River Valley Seed LLC, whichconsists of six warehouses and a state-of-the art seed plant that has thecapability to store in excess of onemillion bushels of seed.

CRVS deals in certified and regis-tered seed, along with its own brand-

ed seed. The company markets seedin more than 10 states, includingMorSoy soybeans, Dixie wheat andCRV rice. The company is also themajor producer processor forSyngenta Seeds in the South.

To honor the successful career andservice of its now-retired founder,Randy and Cindy Woodard andCRVS have made their first gifttoward a $100,000 pledge to theArkansas State University Foundation,Inc., for the Joseph E. McAlisterScholarship Endowment in theCollege of Agriculture at ASU.

Randy Woodard, CRVS chiefexecutive officer, said the endowmentwill provide scholarships for studentsseeking degrees within the collegewho have an interest in agronomy,plant science or agricultural business.

“I started working with Joe in1975, driving a fork lift, sweepingfloors, loading trucks and baggingseed,” Woodard said. “We had oneother employee along with Joe'sfather. We were pretty much a small,custom-cleaning operation. I learneda strong work ethic. With a vision forgrowth and productivity, along withgreat employees, we've had a greatdeal of success. Cindy and I are veryproud to make this gift to the Collegeof Agriculture in Joe's honor.”

While most of their business isconducted within a 250-mile radius,Cache River Valley Seed does someexport business as well. The businessemploys 30 people at its headquartersin Cash as well as additional sales staffin southern Arkansas, northernLouisiana, Mississippi and Missouri.

“We are honored by Cache RiverValley Seed Company's generositytoward student scholarships for ourCollege of Agriculture and for theopportunity to pay tribute to JoeMcAlister and his lifetime of accom-plishments,” said ASU Director ofDevelopment Steve Watkins. “TheMcAlister and Woodard families bothhave deep roots and strong ties toASU, and we are grateful for thisinvestment they have made to theiralma mater.”

Joe and his wife Alice both attend-ed Arkansas State. Their daughter,Cindy Woodard, received her associ-ate degree in nursing from ASU thesame year her husband Randy earnedhis bachelor's degree in businessadministration. The Woodard cou-ple's oldest son, Jared, earned hisbachelor's degree in marketing in2001 and is now an attorney with aJonesboro firm. Their son, Chris, iscurrently an ASU student who is alsoa member of the golf team.

“ I knew I would have a career in agriculture.”

-Joe McAlister

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Photo by Michael DeJarnette

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Hope for a Healthier ArkansasArkansas Biosciences Institute opens on ASU campus

“This is a proud day for all ofus,” said Arkansas State UniversityPresident Dr. Les Wyatt. “It is a bigday in the life of this institution.”

“The truth is,” said StateAttorney General Mike Beebe, “thisnew mission with our partners makesASU a different place.”

“ASU will be a major partner inthe future of agri-medicine and tech-nology transfer,” said Dr. HarryWard, retired chancellor of theUniversity of Arkansas for MedicalSciences.

The three men were speaking atthe opening ceremony of theArkansas Biosciences Institute, anagricultural and medical research con-

sortium dedicated to improving thehealth of Arkansans, located on theArkansas State University campus.

The vision of the ABI emergedduring a statewide planning processfor use of the state's share of the 1998nationwide tobacco settlement.Health care leaders across Arkansasspoke in favor of dedicating a portionof the tobacco settlement funds toinnovative research that could helpreduce or prevent smoking-related ill-nesses. The ABI was created as themajor research component of theTobacco Settlement Proceeds Act of2000, which was approved in the gen-eral election by 64 percent ofArkansas voters.

“I'm excited about what the state

has done with its portion of thetobacco settlement,” said Dr. CarolCramer, ABI director. “Arkansas hasdone better than other states in tar-geting dollars to affect the health andwell-being of its citizens.”

ASU, along with it partners, theArkansas Children's Hospital, theUniversity of Arkansas for MedicalSciences, the University of ArkansasDivision of Agriculture and theUniversity of Arkansas at Fayetteville,will focus on agriculture and on basicand clinical scientific research thatwill lead to health improvement,especially in the area of tobacco-relat-ed diseases.

“ASU expects to benefit from theexperience of these more establishedresearch entities,” said Dr. Wyatt.“We also expect to contribute ourdeveloping expertise in areas of plantgenetic research that will producehealth improvements for Arkansans.

“ASU is pleased to be identifiedfor this capability among state univer-sities, and also to be recognized byfunding and scientific agenciesthroughout the United States whohave interests in what occurs in theABI facilities in Jonesboro,” he noted.“Through these research initiatives,ASU intends to expand the economicbase of our city, region and statethrough the eventual commercializa-tion of the intellectual properties,which are defined in the ABI labora-

Research Assistant Professor Maureen Dolan explains how research on the non-toxic part of castorbeans will be used to alter the human immune system in a positive way during a tour of the ArkansasBiosciences Institute.

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tories. The presence of the ArkansasBiosciences Institute will make ASU amore significant and successful uni-versity throughout the second centuryof its existence.”

As part of its enabling legislation,ABI has five research areas: agricultur-al research with medical implications;bioengineering research that expandsgenetic knowledge and creates newpotential applications in the agricul-tural-medical fields; tobacco-relatedresearch that identifies and appliesbehavioral, diagnostic and therapeuticknowledge to address the high level oftobacco-related illnesses in Arkansas;nutrition and other research that isaimed at preventing and treating can-cer, congenital and hereditary condi-tions or other related conditions; andother areas that are related to primaryABI-supported programs.

The scientific activities withinABI will be focused in four highlyinteractive research clusters at theinterface of agriculture, medicine andhealth, including plant-based proteinproduction, plant metabolic engineer-ing, molecular innovations in foodscience, and agriculture and disease.

“Research and higher educationare long-term investments in makingour lives better,” Attorney GeneralBeebe said. “Research is also animportant tool for economic develop-ment. Agricultural-based research fallsin that category.”

Dr. Cramer said althoughresearch is the central focus of ABI,other areas, including education,community and industry outreach,and economic development, are inte-gral parts of the ABI mission.

“Biotechnology is now impactingeverything from the medicines we useto the food we eat,” Dr. Cramernoted. “ABI's goal is to share theseexciting new discoveries with studentsof all ages, with the community andwith regional businesses.”

Faculty within the ABI will beencouraged to engage in entrepre-neurial activities, she said, includingspin-off companies, joint venturesand other business relationships tofacilitate technology transfer andregional economic development.

“This interactive environmentprovides problem-solving capabilitiesand innovation to industry andunique cross-disciplinary experiencesand training to students in scienceand business alike.”

The public got a rare glimpse intothe work of the Arkansas BiosciencesInstitute during tours given followingthe opening ceremony. State-of-the-art facilities in plant genetic engineer-ing, DNA and protein analyses,mammalian cell culture, andmicroscopy and analytical supportwere featured throughout the tour.

The Arkansas Biosciences Institute was built as a result of Initiated Act 1, passed by Arkansas voters inthe 2000 general election, to impact the health of all Arkansans in a positive way.

Dr. Carol Cramer, director of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, explains research using tobacco plantsto a group of legislators during a tour of the ABI's greenhouse.

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The Arkansas State UniversityFoundation, Inc., has received a giftcommitment of $1 million to estab-lish Arkansas State University's thirdendowed academic chair, the JuddHill Chair in AgriculturalBiotechnology, to be located withinthe College of Agriculture.

Mike Gibson of Osceola, trusteeof the Judd Hill Foundation,announced the foundation's commit-ment to fund the chair in April. Thepledge will be filled over a 10-yearperiod.

"The Judd Hill Foundation isvery proud to have the opportunity toonce again partner with the ArkansasState University Foundation," Gibsonsaid. "We hope this project's futuresuccesses will some day have globalimplications."

ASU President Dr. Les Wyattexpressed the institution's apprecia-tion to Gibson and the Judd HillFoundation for its generosity.

"Throughout his long associationwith Arkansas State University, MikeGibson has consistantly demonstrateda desire for this institution to growand progress and succeed in every waypossible," Dr. Wyatt said. "Onceagain, he wants to help us extend ourcapabilities in a way that would nototherwise have been possible. We willalways be grateful to Mike Gibsonand the Judd Hill Foundation."

Through a similar endowment

gift announced in May 1994, Gibsonestablished the Judd Hill Chair inEnvironmental Biology. Dr. JerryFarris, who directs the university'sdoctoral program in environmentalscience, is the chair holder.

Gibson explained in 1994 thatthe Judd Hill Foundation's philan-thropic goals were established to

honor the wishes of the late EstherHill Chapin, who was very interestedin promoting research, experimenta-tion and education on the conserva-tion and management of soil andwater resources.

Mrs. Chapin, who died in 1991at age 91, owned and operated JuddHill plantation, named for her father,

Seeds of ChangeJudd Hill Foundation makes $1 million commitment to Agriculture

Judd Hill Foundation Trustee Mike Gibson announces a $1 million gift to the Arkansas State UniversityCollege of Agriculture to fund the Judd Hill Chair in Agricultural Biotechnology.

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in Poinsett County. Hill acquiredwhat was then wooded acreage in the1930s and gave it to his daughter andher husband, Sam Chapin, as a wed-ding present. The couple graduallycleared more than 4,600 acres of landand developed it into one of thelargest contiguous row-crop farmingoperations in the Mid-South.

Gibson said that Mrs. Chapinwanted the farm to have a perpetual-ly beneficial impact on PoinsettCounty and the entire region. TheJudd Hill Chair of EnvironmentalScience and the Judd Hill Chair ofAgricultural Biotechnology have thepotential to make the impact Mrs.Chapin desired.

Dr. Greg Phillips, dean of theCollege of Agriculture, said this latestgift will play an important parttoward building the College ofAgriculture's relationship with theArkansas Biosciences Institute.

"This endowed chair will alsohelp us develop a strong agriculturalbiotechnology program in the col-lege," he added. "The endowed pro-fessorship will help us recruit premierfaculty members for leadership in thisarea."

Gibson said the chair in agricul-tural biotechnology links areas inwhich Mrs. Chapin had a concern.

"Esther Chapin was interested intwo very broad fields, agriculture andhealth care,” he explained. “The JuddHill Chair of Agricultural Biotechnologyjoins those interests of agricultureand medicine into a study to producefarm-raised pharmaceuticals, accom-plishing both of her purposes.”

"In addition, the endowmentwill make possible the study of dis-ease resistance among plant varieties

and the development of plant vari-eties that tolerate various soil types,thus promoting Mrs. Chapin's loveof farming."

ASU's involvement with JuddHill Plantation has grown much clos-er over the years, Phillips added.

"We have had a longstandingrelationship with Judd Hill person-nel," Dr. Phillips added. "With thisgift, our college really looks forwardto expanding those interactions anddeveloping a stronger research andservice presence in the agriculturalcommunity."

As with other endowed chairs,proceeds from the endowment fundwill help support a distinguished fac-ulty member who can devote researchand service toward a specific academ-ic focus.

Under the agreement between

the ASU Foundation and the Judd

Hill Foundation, the chair holder

will serve a five-year term. Dr. Susan

Allen, vice chancellor for Research

and Academic Affairs, and Dr. Greg

Phillips, dean of the College of

Agriculture, will make the selection

in consultation with Gibson, as foun-

dation trustee.

Examples cited for chair holder's

research activity include molecular

plant pathology and the study of

mechanisms to improve disease resist-

ance among plant varieties, plant

stress physiology that will examine

the development of plant varieties

that tolerate certain specific condi-

tions in various soil types, and plant-

made pharmaceuticals and the study

of genetically enhanced organisms by

using plants as factories for the pro-

duction of vaccines or other pharma-

ceutically active agents.

Farmers listen to a cotton presentation during the 10th annual Judd Hill Cotton Technology Field Day heldon September 2 at the Judd Hill Plantation.

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Proudly WavingFlag Plaza acknowledges service of Bookout family

The Arkansas State UniversityBoard of Trustees has named a newlandmark on the Jonesboro campus inhonor of State Senator Jerry Bookout,his wife Loretta and their son StateRepresentative Paul Bookout.

Against a bright blue Septembersky, the United States, Arkansas andArkansas State University flags wereraised for the first time from BookoutPlaza, located prominently at thesouthern entrance to the ASU cam-pus, in a ceremony on September 17.

“It is our pleasure to announcethe naming of Bookout Plaza,” saidASU Board of Trustees ChairmanMike Medlock. “This hard workingfamily is fun to know and an asset tothis community.”

The flag plaza was constructedas a gift in honor of the Bookoutfamily to ASU by Alltel Corporation,SBC and the Farm Bureau ofArkansas in recognition of “the untir-ing service rendered to the communi-ty, state and region by Jerry, Lorettaand Paul Bookout.”

State Senator Jerry Bookout, a1955 alumnus of ASU, began hisservice to the university as a studentwhile serving in the StudentGovernment Association. He wasMembers of ASU's ROTC unit raise the flags for the first time at the new Bookout Plaza on the ASU campus.

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elected to 11 terms in the ArkansasGeneral Assembly. Working withgovernment leaders, ASU adminis-trators and faculty, Sen. Bookout hashelped develop and secure fundingfor every classroom, library andadministrative facility built on theASU campus within the last 30years. Sen. Bookout was named aDistinguished Alumnus of ASU in1997.

Loretta Bookout, an emeritusinstructor of elementary education,has helped the community, state andthe ASU campus for many years asan advocate, creator and developer

of early childhood education pro-grams, as well as public school anduniversity programs. Mrs. Bookoutholds a bachelor's degree, '73, and amaster's degree, '80, from theCollege of Education. As an instruc-tor, she has influenced the lives ofhundreds of ASU students.

State Representative PaulBookout, a 1985 alumnus of ASU,has served the people of CraigheadCounty and the state of Arkansas inthe General Assembly for threeterms. As a member of the GeneralAssembly, Rep. Bookout has been astrong advocate for securing thefunds to build the Arkansas StateUniversity Biosciences Institute.

“This is overwhelming,” Sen.Bookout told the crowd. Hequipped, “It's nice to see my nameon a wall at ASU that I didn't putthere!”

“I came here in 1951-17 yearsold and the first in my family to go

to college,” he continued. “I've beenaffiliated with this institution for 53years, and it has been pure joy.Working with people, addressingproblems and appreciating our suc-cesses has been a wonderful journeyand I appreciate you letting me doit.”

Mrs. Bookout and Rep.Bookout also thanked the manyfriends, family and colleagues at theceremony.

Bookout Plaza is located at thesouthern end of the CentennialPedestrian Mall, which was formerlyopen to traffic as Caraway Road.

State Senator Jerry Bookout has served Arkansas StateUniversity for more than 50 years.

“Working with people,addressing problems andappreciating our successeshas been a wonderful jour-ney. ”

-Sen. Jerry Bookout

The Foundation News is publishedtwice yearly by the division ofUniversity Advancement at ArkansasState University. We welcome yourideas about the ways in which wemight better serve you with informa-tion about Development project high-lights, or about information related toopportunities for charitable giving tothe ASU Foundation.Contact us at(888) 225-8343.

Craighead County Farm Bureau President Joe Christian, right, visits with Sen. Jerry Bookout, Loretta Bookout, andtheir son Rep. Paul Bookout at the dedication ceremony of Bookout Flag Plaza.

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Upward Bound at Arkansas StateUniversity is flying a bit higher thesedays, thanks to a scholarship fundstarted this summer by ASU alumnaLauri Harris Lyons and her husbandJohn of San Antonio, Texas.

Upward Bound Director TonyThomas said the Lyons gift will havefar-reaching effects on the UpwardBound program and its students.

“When you're talking about stu-dents who come from homes wherethe ability to fund a college educationis inadequate, a gift like this makes atremendous difference, not only inour students' academic performance,but in their overall lifestyle,” he said.

Upward Bound has been on theASU campus since 1981. The pro-gram primarily targets high schoolstudents, 10th through 12th grade,from low-income families orfamilies in which neither par-ent holds a bachelor's degree.

“Students participating inUpward Bound are six timesmore likely to successfullygraduate with a bachelor'sdegree,” Thomas noted.

He said Upward Bound atASU targets 12 high schools inMississippi, Greene,Craighead, Poinsett andLawrence counties inNortheast Arkansas.

A six-week summer pro-gram provides the collegiateexperience to an average ofabout 95 students per year. ASaturday tutoring programthroughout the academic year

provides help in college preparation,including selecting and visiting col-lege campuses, applying for financialaid, and preparing to take collegeentrance exams like the ACT. UpwardBound students are also exposed toplays, concerts and other culturalactivities, and receive etiquette train-ing.

Lauri Lyons has been an enthusi-astic supporter of Upward Bound formany years. The 1996 engineeringgraduate was herself a participant inthe Upward Bound program at ASU,and served as a tutor/mentor for UBduring her college years. She creditsUB and the College of Engineeringwith contributing to her achievementafter graduation.

After several successful years as aneducation consultant with Hewlett-Packard, Lauri took a military leave of

absence, and now serves as a Captainin the U.S. Air Force, stationed at theBrooks City-Base, Texas, where she ischief of the Modeling IntegratedResearch Team for the Air ForceResearch Laboratory RadiofrequencyBranch.

The Lyons said they believe noone achieves success without supportor assistance, and their goal is to helpothers achieve success.

“Robbie Lyle (former UpwardBound director) said something thatreally applies to Lauri,” John Lyonssaid. “Upward Bound is the anvil onwhich the ball and chain of povertyare broken. It's true.”

“Ms. Lyle and many othersbelieved in me,” Lauri noted. “Thisscholarship fund is my way of show-

Flying HigherJohn and Lauri Lyons boost Upward Bound

Student mentoring/tutoring is an important component of Upward Bound at Arkansas State University.

Continued on page 11

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Arkansas State University-Newport recently received $1 million in char-itable gifts and pledges toward capital improvements and programs on itscampus.

The Walton Family Foundation, in a desire to acknowledge the manycontributions that Lindley and Kaneaster Hodges Jr. have made to JacksonCounty and the state of Arkansas, has provided $250,000 to ASU-Newportfor the construction of the Center for the Arts, and $250,000 for the estab-lishment of the Lindley and Kaneaster Hodges Jr. Auditorium Endowment.In addition, Kaneaster Hodges Jr. announced a $500,000 challenge gift forlibrary and classroom expansion to Samuel Moore Walton Hall, and a$200,000 scholarship challenge gift.

Lindley and Kaneaster Hodges Jr. have been actively involved in pro-moting educational activities at ASU-Newport through their support of cul-tural events, academic programs and prison education initiatives. Mrs.Hodges is actively involved in a prison Bible study program.

Former U.S. Senator Hodges has long been recognized for his leader-ship in higher education by serving on numerous higher education boardsand committees. He serves as president of the Northeast Arkansas HigherEducation Charitable Foundation, is a member of the Arkansas EducationCoordinating Board, and serves on the ASU-Newport Aviation AdvisoryCommittee.

Through the establishment of the Lindley and Kaneaster Hodges Jr.Endowment, ASU-Newport, in conjunction with local patrons, establishedthe 2004-2005 Patron's Performing Arts Series.

The Lindley and Kaneaster Hodges Jr. Auditorium is located in theCenter for the Arts on the campus of Arkansas State University-Newport.The facility seats approximately 600.

OF NOTE

ASU-Newport benefits from gifts

ASU President Dr. Les Wyatt congratulates Lindley and Kaneaster Hodges Jr. on a gift made toASU-Newport in their honor by the Walton Family Foundation as Dr. Larry Williams, ASU-Newport chancellor, applauds.

Continued from page 10

ing that I believe in these young peo-ple.”

Thomas said Upward Bound isone of three federal TRIO programsoffered at Arkansas State; StudentsSupport Services and the Ronald E.McNair Achievement Program arethe other two. The three programsoffer a pipeline from 10th grade tomaster's level work, ensuring that stu-dents can get the help they need inachieving academic success.

“It's been interesting,” Thomassaid. “Our students work hard attheir studies and they want to investin themselves. They receive a stipend,and each time they've given a portionof that stipend back to the program.We had a student who graduated inMay, and she volunteered after gradu-ation to help give back because of hersuccess. She's now a paid part-timeadviser/instructor.”

Thomas said the program wel-comes volunteer tutors and careerspeakers to help Upward Bound stu-dents as they make career choices.

The Lyons' gift will have furtherimpact, due in part because both oftheir employers provide matching giftfunds, which doubles any gift theLyons make to ASU academic pro-grams like Upward Bound.

To make a tax deductible giftbenefiting Upward Bound, interestedpersons may send a check, madepayable to the ASU Foundation, toP.O. Box 1990, State University AR72467-1990, with “ASU UpwardBound Scholarship Endowment”written in the memo portion of thecheck. To learn more about volunteeropportunities with Upward Bound,contact Tony Thomas at (870) 972-2080.

12

Several of Arkansas' senators andrepresentatives were recognized atArkansas State University's annualLegislative Day on September 18before the ASU-University ofMemphis football game.

Those honored included Sen.Steve Bryles, Sen. John Paul Capps,Sen. Bobby Glover, Sen. Jim Luker,Rep. Travis Boyd, Rep. MarvinChilders, Rep. Leroy Dangeau, Rep.Billy Gipson, Rep. Kevin Goss, Rep.Wayne Nichols and Rep. Chris Thyer.

Sen. Steve Bryles of Blythevillewas elected to the Arkansas Senate in2000. He serves on the SenateEducation Committee, the SenateEconomic and IndustrialDevelopment Committee, the jointcommittee on Retirement and SocialSecurity, the joint Budget Committeeand the Legislative Council.

Sen. John Paul Capps of Searcyserved in the Arkansas House ofRepresentatives from 1963 through1999, and was elected Speaker of the

House, 1983-84. He is serving hisfirst term in the Senate, and chairs theSenate Technology and LegislativeAffairs Committee as well as the jointcommittee on AdvancedCommunications and InformationTechnology. He serves on the SenatePublic Transportation Committee andthe joint committee on LegislativeFacilities.

Sen. Bobby Glover of Carlisleserved 10 terms in the ArkansasHouse from 1973 through 2002, andhe is serving his first term in theArkansas Senate. He chairs theLegislative Facilities Committee, andis vice chair of the Senate Revenueand Taxation Committee. He is amember of the Senate Technologyand Legislative Affairs Committee,the joint committee on Audit and thejoint committee on PerformanceReview.

Sen. Jim Luker of Wynne is serv-ing his first term in the ArkansasSenate. He was elected to theArkansas House in 1994, and served

three consecutive terms. He serves asvice chairman of the Senate JudiciaryCommittee and is a member of theSenate Technology and LegislativeAffairs Committee, the joint commit-tee on Budget and the LegislativeCouncil.

Rep. Travis Boyd of Piggott isserving his second term in theArkansas House of Representatives.He serves as vice chair of the HouseAgriculture, Forestry and EconomicDevelopment Committee. He is alsoa member of the House Revenue andTaxation Committee, the HouseRules Committee, the joint commit-tee on Budget, and chairs the HouseSmall Business and EconomicDevelopment Subcommittee.

Rep. Marvin Childers ofBlytheville was elected to theArkansas House of Representatives in2000. He is a member of the HouseJudiciary Committee and the HouseInsurance Committee. He chairs theHouse Corrections and Criminal LawSubcommittee, and is a member ofthe joint committee on PerformanceReview.

Rep. Leroy Dangeau of Wynne isserving his second term in theArkansas House. He is vice chair ofthe Legislative Council and is a mem-ber of the House EducationCommittee as well as the HouseAgriculture, Forestry and EconomicDevelopment Committee. He is alsoa member of the House RulesCommittee and chairs the Council'sAdministrative Rules and Regulationscommittee and the House EarlyChildhood Education Subcommittee.

OF NOTE

Legislators Honored

ASU President Dr. Les Wyatt visits with State Representative Benny Petrus and his wife Tammyduring ASU Legislative Day. Sen. Bobby Glover is in the background.

13

Rep. Billy Gipson of Monette isserving his third term in the ArkansasHouse. He is a member of the HousePublic Transportation Committeeand the House City, County andLocal Affairs Committee. He chairsthe House Waterways andAeronautics Subcommittee and is amember of the joint committee onEnergy and the Legislative JointAuditing Committee.

Rep. Kevin Goss of Wilson isserving his second term in theArkansas House of Representatives.He is a member of the House PublicHealth, Welfare and LaborCommittee, and the House Aging,Children and Youth and Legislativeand Military Affairs committees. Heis also a member of the joint com-mittee on Performance Review andchairs the House Human ServicesSubcommittee. Rep. Goss was assis-tant Speaker Pro Tempore for theFirst District Caucus during the 84thGeneral Assembly.

Rep. Wayne Nichols of MarkedTree is serving his second term in theArkansas House. He is a member ofthe House Judiciary Committee andthe House Agriculture and EconomicDevelopment Committee. He alsoserves on the House RulesCommittee and the Legislative JointAuditing Committee. He chairs theHouse Juvenile Justice and ChildSupport Committee.

Rep. Chris Thyer of Jonesboro isserving his first term in the ArkansasHouse of Representatives. He is amember of the House JudiciaryCommittee and the House StateAgencies and Governmental AffairsCommittee. His is vice chair of theHouse Elections Committee.

Arkansas State University appre-ciates the work and dedication ofthese public servants.

Arkansas State Universityreceived the news in August that the2005 U.S. Department of Defenseappropriations bill, which included$12 million in contracts for ASU sci-entists, was signed by PresidentGeorge W. Bush.

The Arkansas Congressional dele-gation's efforts secured the $12 mil-lion contract, according to ASU offi-cials, and includes two projects thatwill be conducted by scientists in theCollege of Sciences and Mathematicsto determine weapons of massdestruction.

Using their expertise, ASU scien-tists will work with two other univer-sities in the United States to researchand create remote detection tech-niques for minute levels of nuclear,chemical and biological substances.

“We are grateful to the entireArkansas Delegation for making thispossible for Arkansas StateUniversity,” said ASU President Dr.Les Wyatt. “Senators BlancheLincoln and Mark Pryor both workedtirelessly on the ConferenceCommittee to secure this for us. Weare grateful to President Bush forsigning the appropriations bill. Weespecially appreciate the encourage-ment and tremendous support ofCongressman Marion Berry, whoworked to pass this through theAppropriations Committee.”

One of the programs, SHADES(Standoff Hazardous Agent DetectionEquipment System), will be used todetect nuclear and chemical particlesfor the location of weapons of massdestruction. SHADES is funded at$1.5 million for ASU in conjunctionwith Radiance Technologies ofHuntsville, Ala.

The second program, SSRID(Standoff Sensor for RadionuclideIdentification), will detect molecules

to determine contamination levelsfrom such weapons. SSRID is fundedat $10.5 million and will be equallyshared with the University of Hawaiiand Florida A&M University.

“This is exciting news for ASUand only serves to validate theexpertise of our scientists,” said Dr.Susan Allen, ASU vice chancellor forResearch and Academic Affairs.“ASU will be conducting researchthat will be used by the U.S. Army. Iapplaud the work of all of our scien-tists who worked on this proposaland who will continue the research.”

In addition to Dr. Allen, Dr.Bruce Johnson, physics; Dr. WilliamBurns, chemistry; Dr. Scott Reeve,chemistry; and Dr. SergeyKudryshov, physics; will also workconduct scientific work on SSRID.Dr. Robyn Hannigan, geochemistry,will develop the SHADES program.

“Every time rural American isrecognized at this level the entirecommunity benefits,” said Rep.Berry. “I congratulate ASU; I thankthe rest of the ArkansasCongressional Delegation for theirefforts; and I look forward to hearingabout the further success of the uni-versity, the community and the dis-trict. This cutting-edge research hasbeen awarded to a great institution,and I join ASU's administration incongratulating the scientists whohave earned the solid reputation mak-ing this award possible.”

The Department of DefenseAppropriations Act for Fiscal Year2005 passed the House ofRepresentatives in late June and theSenate in late July. The bill alsoincluded funding for all branches ofthe military, in addition to the fund-ing that will come to Arkansas State.The new budget year for the federalgovernment began October 1.

Defense $$$ASU receives scientific grant

14

Plaques of gratitude line the wallsin the home office of the late MelvynWetherspoon, a testimony to theJackson County man that touched thelives of many through his service as aneducator, mentor and citizen.

An endowed scholarship has beenestablished at Arkansas State Universityby former students, friends and familymembers to honor the memory ofWetherspoon, who taught for morethan 40 years in Northeast Arkansas.

“A life of service demands somekind of recognition,” said ASU alum-nus Joseph Black, a former student andfamily friend of Wetherspoon. “It is fit-

ting that we pay tribute to the way thisman gave so much to so many.”

Wetherspoon was called up to be ateacher to the many veterans who werereturning to Jackson County followingWorld War II, according to his wife,Alice. She said it was one of the firstintegrated classes in the county. He wasone of two veteran teachers who pro-vided training in the classroom, as wellas on-the-farm training with livestockand crops.

Wetherspoon went on to teach inthe Blacksville, Branch and Newportschools, where he taught science andlater on, agriculture. Mrs. Wetherspoon

said he always had his students' bestinterest at heart.

“He encouraged his students, andlet them know agriculture just doesn'tmean going to the fields to work,” shesaid.

Wetherspoon was named an hon-orary state farmer by the FutureFarmers of America. A past boardmember at White River Vo-Tech, hewas cited several times as a friend ofVo-Tech. He was a Newport HighSchool Service Award recipient, andhad been recognized for his classroomservice by Arkansas' Secretary of State.He also served on the county commit-tee of the U.S. Department ofAgriculture's Farm Service Agency.

In addition to his 40 years ofschool teaching, Wetherspoon wasactive in his church, teaching severalBible classes and a class at a nearby cor-rectional facility. Black said the decisionto raise funds for a scholarship inWetherspoon's memory was a projectthe whole community could rallyaround.

“Melvyn Wetherspoon was just anoutstanding individual,” Black said.“This scholarship is a way in which wecould remember a good man who'salways given more than he's taken.Nothing would have pleased him morethan this scholarship that will help stu-dents with their education.”

Persons interested in rememberingMelvyn Wetherspoon may contributetoward the scholarship by sending theirtax deductible gift made payable to theASU Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 1990,State University AR 72467. Please write“Wetherspoon scholarship” in thememo section of the check.

OF NOTE

Wetherspoon Scholarship

Mrs. Alice Wetherspoon, (center), and her daughter, Mrs. Alycya Small, present a gift to ASU Director of DevelopmentSteve Watkins to endow the Melvyn Wetherspoon Memorial Scholarship at Arkansas State University.

15

Dr. Ed Coulter lovingly tells thestory of the student who wanted tosee “Dr. Coulter” when he and hislate wife, Dr. Fran Coulter, both hadoffices in the old First Baptist Churchbuilding of the original ASUMHdowntown campus.

“The secretary asked the studentwhich Dr. Coulter he wanted to see,”Dr. Ed Coulter recalled. “The studentreplied, 'the smart one.' 'She'supstairs,' said the secretary.' She wasright.”

Dr. Ed Coulter, chancellor ofArkansas State University MountainHome, said he and his family havebeen deeply touched by the love andsupport of the many friends of theASU and Mountain Home communi-ties since Dr. Fran Coulter's passingin March.

He said he and his family areespecially appreciative of the act byASU's Board of Trustees in December2003, when they named the HonorsProgram at ASUMH in honor of Dr.Fran Coulter's service, and of themore than $35,000 in charitable giftsthat have been made to the programsince her passing.

Dr. Fran Coulter, along with Dr.Rebecca Baird and Dr. Steve Johnson,helped form the Beta Iota EpsilonChapter of Phi Theta Kappa honorsociety at ASUMH; it is now one ofonly four chapters in the state to earn

the organization's top classification, “afive-star chapter.”

“They've done a great job withthis honor society,” Dr. Coulter said.“But we've never had the funds torun an honors 'program.' Thisendowment will help fund activitiesfor that program.”

Dr. Coulter said this year the pro-fessors will visit other college campus-es to guide ASUMH in creating thenew honors program. He knows thenew program will involve work, trav-el, research and writing by studentswho are willing to “go the secondmile.” He hopes to build the endow-ment to $150,000.

Married for 40 years, the Coultersmet the first day of their freshmanyear at Ouachita. She finished her

bachelor's degree in three years. Theymarried that August, then she went towork as a secretary at the universitywhile he finished his bachelor'sdegree.

“We took turns supporting eachother going to school,” he noted. “Ibelieve we were the first couple atOuachita that completed our work ineducation. We were there 29 years-25of it spent in teaching and adminis-tration.”

Dr. Coulter said his wife was hiredfirst to come to ASUMH, and theyboth eagerly accepted the opportunityof creating the new university.

“We had quite a balance, she onthe academic side and me on theadministrative side. We gave eachother perspective. She was more thanthe chancellor's wife; she was a facultymember through and through.”

Dr. Coulter said his wife spent herlife preparing to teach. He said herextensive travel—she'd been to 32countries—fostered her desire toknow and to teach. He said she wasknown as a demanding teacher whoexpected the best from her students.

“A teacher who figures it out has awonderful opportunity to affect thelife of a student,” he said. “Fran fig-ured it out.”

Persons interested in making a giftto the Fran Coulter Honors Programat ASU Mountain Home may sendthat gift to the ASU Foundation, Inc.,P.O. Box 1990, State University AR72467.

Honored ProgramProgram at ASUMH named for Fran Coulter

Fran Coulter

16

Chad Lewis came to his photog-raphy vocation late in his life. Asports management major at ArkansasState University, Lewis picked up hiscamera and enrolled in a basic pho-tography class in the fall of 1998. Hequickly became a photographer forASU's student newspaper, TheHerald, and later became its photoeditor.

Already an avid outdoorsmanand hiker, Lewis became an equallyeager nature photographer. Some ofhis works were prominently featuredin the Crowley's Ridge Scenic Bywaydocumentary project of 1998; hiswork still graces brochures that toutthe beauty of this eastern Arkansastopographical wonder.

Upon his graduation in the fall of1999, Lewis stepped into a staff posi-tion in the sports department at theJonesboro Sun. After only a monthon the job, he became ill and had toresign. In the summer of 2000, ChadLewis, 29, died of complications fromlung cancer surgery. He was the onlychild of Doyle and Pat Lewis.

That fall, several of Lewis' friendsbegan discussing ways in which hemight be remembered. Two of hisbest friends, Bill Blakely and EricHowerton, went to Dr. Jack Zibluk,ASU assistant professor of journalismand Lewis' photojournalism professor,and proposed a fundraising effort toestablish a memorial scholarship.

“I had the same thought as Billand Eric, but I was uncomfortableabout it,” Dr. Zibluk said. I didn'twant people to think I was profitingfrom a tragedy. But when they came

to me, it was clear we were all on thesame wavelength.”

Howerton and Blakely, alongwith Lewis, were ardent members ofthe Ultimate Frisbee Club. Thefriends thought a special UltimateFrisbee tournament would be a dis-tinctive way to raise funds for a schol-arship. The friends thought a photo-journalism scholarship would be anatural fit, and Dr. Zibluk thought itmade sense, too.

“Photojournalism was Chad'scareer,” he said. “So the money willalways go to fulfill Chad's potential.”

Lewis' friends quickly sprang intoaction. Thanks to their work and

determination, the first UltimateFrisbee tournament netted more than$2,000. Subsequent “Get Grubby”(Lewis was called that by many of hisfriends) tournaments raised another$3,000. Friend and secondary educa-tion major Jill Forrester has, for thelast two years, spearheaded the effortby Lewis' friends and family toacquire charitable gifts in addition tothose raised from the tournaments.

Last spring, the Chad LewisMemorial Scholarship reached theendowment level. Interest earned willhelp the endowment grow. Dr. Zibluksaid it is the only photojournalismscholarship offered in the state.

“The photojournalism-emphasis

Gettin' GrubbyFriends work and play to remember a special friend

Mrs. Pat Lewis and Eric Howerton share a happy moment at the “Get Grubby” tournament for the ChadLewis Memorial Scholarship.

17

Improved education, health care and good roads will bring the Delta to theforefront of the nation, retired U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers told participants at the10th annual Delta Blues Symposium, held in March on the Arkansas StateUniversity campus.

“I spent an inordinate amount of my time in public life to do something tobenefit the people of the Delta,” Bumpers told the group. “I believe the richness ofits natural resources and the determination of its people will prevail. Though it maynot come in my lifetime, I believe the dawn of the Delta will come. There are a lotof wonderful people in the Delta who make it a vibrant part of the United States.”

The four-term Democrat was the keynote speaker for the week-long seminar,“The 1950s,” and spoke at length about the Delta, his career, and his involvementon the school board of the Charleston School District in Franklin County,Arkansas.

On August 20, 1954, 16 African-American children walked into classes at thepreviously all-white Charleston, Ark., Public School. Charleston was the first schoolto become fully integrated following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in May 1954for desegregation in the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, court case.

Bumpers was a member of the school board that approved integration inCharleston's schools. He said he advised his fellow board members that integrationwas the right thing to do. He credited the school's superintendent, Woodrow“Woody” Haynes for helping the process work for the district. (Haynes later servedas manager of the Arkansas State University farm.)

The crisis than ensued three years later during the integration of Little Rock'sCentral High School in 1957 did cause some trouble for the Charleston district, hesaid. Bitterness developed during an election for two positions on the school board,but in the end, he noted, voters supported the decision, naysayers were silenced andtroublemakers were rendered harmless-thanks to the voters' resolve and a little tur-pentine.

While many might believe Bumpers' finest hour was his impassioned defenseof President Bill Clintonduring Clinton'simpeachment trialbefore the U.S. Senate,Bumpers said he wantsto be remembered oth-erwise.

“I want my legacy tobe known that I votedagainst 38 amendmentsto the constitution dur-ing my time in office,”he noted. “Our consti-tution has served us sowell.”

Bumpers visits

Retired Senator Dale Bumpers shares a light moment with Dr. WilliamClements, ASU professor of English and folklore, at the ninth annual DeltaBlues Symposium in March.

degree at ASU is the only one of itskind in Arkansas. There are no pho-tojournalism degrees offered by anyschool in Louisiana or Oklahoma.We're the only one in three states,and we have the only scholarship,”he explained. “It's Chad's gift.”

Dr. Zibluk said the criteria forchoosing the scholarship recipientalso reflects the career he believesLewis should have had. The scholar-ship is open to students of all majorswho express an interest in a photo-journalism career, particularly thosewho are interested in sports orwildlife photography. Applicantsmust submit an essay and a portfolioof work to prove their potential.

“If there is ever a question ofwho should receive the scholarship,the committee will ask, 'Who wouldChad choose?' and that will provideour answer,” Dr. Zibluk said.

At present, the scholarship willbe awarded at $300 yearly. Dr.Zibluk said he hopes the scholarshipaward can be increased, or perhapstwo scholarships can be awarded.

“The important thing,” henoted, “is that the scholarship is nowendowed and permanent. Chad'sname, and his spirit, will live onindefinitely, even after we're allgone.”

To make tax-deductible charita-ble gifts toward this endowment, youmay send your check, made payableto the ASU Foundation, Inc., to theASU Office of Development, P.O.Box 1990 State University AR72467-1990. Please specify “ChadLewis Endowment” in the memosection of your check. If you preferto use a credit card, please call (870)972-3940 or toll-free (888) 225-8343 to make a gift.

18

Longtime supporters Boe andMyrna Adams of Leachville recentlyhelped Arkansas State University'sDepartment of Athletics move a hugestep closer to achieving its goal of anew Performance EnhancementComplex when they presented a giftof $250,000 to ASU Director ofAthletics Dr. Dean Lee.

Mr. and Mrs. Adams, along withtheir daughter Tina presented thecheck, given to Dr. Lee and schoolofficials at a media conference inMarch at ASU's Football Complex.The gift supports the improvement ofASU's strength and conditioning area,which will be named the Boe andMyrna Adams Strength and

Conditioning Center.

“Thanks to the generous supportof Boe and Myrna Adams, we will beable to provide an ultra-modern facili-ty for our student-athletes to haveproper training and workouts,enabling them to reach their fullpotential,” Dr. Lee said.

“Not only will this wonderful giftprovide our current student-athleteswith a state-of-the-art place to workout, enhancements to this area willallow ASU to attract top-flightrecruits and remain competitive.

“This is a tremendous step forASU Athletics in moving our facilities

to the next level,” Dr. Lee continued.“Boe and Myrna have helped raise thebar and have established the excel-lence we seek in providing the infra-structure in this athletic department.We are so grateful for this gift fromBoe and Myrna Adams and for theircontinued support of ASU Athletics.”

Upon completion of the three-story football complex, improvementto the current strength and condition-ing area will accomplish one of thesteps in a three-part commitment tothe proposed PerformanceEnhancement Center. The other twocomponents include the Tim andTerri Langford Sports MedicineCenter and the Student-AthleteAcademic Success Center.

“On behalf of all of the coachesof ASU's different sports, we want tosay we are extremely appreciative toBoe and Myrna Adams for this gift,”said ASU Head Football Coach SteveRoberts, who represented the coach-ing staffs of ASU's 16 intercollegiatesports programs.

“We're thrilled with the ability torenovate the existing facility in such away that will have a large impact onthe entire athletics program.”

Enhancements include connect-ing the structure to the football build-ing through complementary architec-tural design, as well providing servicesfor student-athletes in the classroomthrough computer labs, study areasand academic support staff.

The strength and conditioningarea will feature 70 workstations,flooring, a flexibility area, a powerarea, a speed area, a cardiovasculararea, training equipment, Olympicweight-lifting platforms, air and heat-ing systems, and training securitymeasures.

Pumping Up Adams' gift benefits ASU Athletics

Boe Adams and his wife Myrna make the announcement of their gift to the Arkansas State University ath-letics program.

19

The Arkansas State UniversityAlumni Association announced itsDistinguished Alumni during half-timeceremonies at ASU's homecoming gameagainst Troy State University.

Stephen W. Edwards received aBachelor of Science degree in manage-ment from ASU in 1975. An accom-plished instrument, commercial pilot, heis owner and president of GES Inc., acorporation that owns and operates theFood Giant chain of supermarkets. He isalso managing partner of EDPROPDevelopment Co., a commercial realestate firm, and Edwards Rentals, whichspecializes in residential rental proper-ties.

Edwards is a member of theArkansas Executive Forum of the SamM. Walton School of Business.Additionally, he serves on the President'sArkansas Advisory Council of WinrockInternational. He is a recipient of theKappa Alpha Order-Hamer Court ofHonor, and was Marianna-Lee CountyCitizen of the Year for 2002. He and hiswife Laura are the parents of three chil-dren.

Charles L. Rasberry is EmeritusProfessor and Chairman, ASUDepartment of Radio-Television andEmeritus Director of Broadcasting forKASU, ASU-TV and the Indian SportsNetwork. Before graduating fromArkansas State College with a Bachelorof Science in journalism in 1956,Rasberry was president of his freshmanclass, editor of the student newspaper,recipient of the ROTC, band and jour-

nalism awards, Student of SpecialDistinction (the highest academic desig-nation) and winner of the WilsonAward, the highest award given to agraduating senior at Arkansas State.

Rasberry has served on the board oftrustees of the Arkansas State CollegeFoundation for the Advancement ofHigher Education (also know as theKays Foundation) since 1996, and hasbeen active in the Nettleton PublicSchools, serving on the Charter SchoolStudy Committee since 2002, theAcademic Booster Club as president,1994-96, present of PTSA, 1987-89,and the Band Booster Club, which hewas activities volunteer. He and his wifeRebecca have a daughter, Catherine,who is also an ASU graduate.

Dr. C. Calvin Smith began his dis-tinguished life in the Arkansas Delta, onwhich he has become a nationally recog-nized expert. Dr. Smith started his col-lege education at Arkansas BaptistCollege in Little Rock, finishing hisundergraduate degree at ArkansasAM&N (now the University ofArkansas-Pine Bluff ). He began hiscareer in education by teaching highschool social studies and coaching foot-ball, taking classes at Arkansas Statetoward his Master's degree, which hereceived in 1970. He also earned a doc-toral degree in 1978 from UA-Fayetteville.

The author of several books, Dr.Smith retired and was named EmeritusProfessor of History in 2002. The fol-lowing year, he was named ASU's first

Presidential Distinguished Professor ofHeritage Studies and continues in thatcapacity. Dr. Smith and his wife Earlinehave a son, C.C. Smith, who has contin-ued the family's teaching tradition, cur-rently teaching social studies and coach-ing the girl's track team at JonesboroHigh School.

Kathy Brittain White earned herBachelor of Science in business educa-tion in 1977and her Master of Sciencein business administration in 1978, bothfrom Arkansas State University. Sheearned a doctorate in management fromthe University of Memphis in 1981.Selected as one of Forbes magazine's Top25 American Business women in 2001,she has never forgotten her alma mater.

Dr. White is the founder and cur-rent president of Rural Sourcing, Inc.,an organization that supports economicexpansion and workforce diversity bycreating technology employment oppor-tunities and career advancementprospects in rural America. Her gifts toASU have created extensive learningexperiences for students while providingbenefits to business and industry. Sheand her husband Doug Trimble live inChapel Hill, North Carolina.

The ASU Alumni Association is inits 21st year of recognizing distinguishedalumni. The Alumni Association's boardof directors annually selects recipientsfrom nominations submitted by thepublic. For more information about theDistinguished Alumni Program atArkansas State University, visithttp://alumni.astate.edu

Distinguished Alumni Named

RasberryEdwards Smith White

20

Arkansas State University tookanother step to achieving its goal of atotal Performance EnhancementComplex when a gift of $250,000was presented by Dr. Tim and TerriLangford to ASU Director of AthleticsDr. Dean Lee on September 9.

The gift will be used to furtherenhance ASU's sports medicine serv-ices, which will be named the Timand Terri Langford Sports MedicineCenter.

The Langfords’ gift benefits onepart of the three-part PerformanceEnhancement Center. Boe and MyrnaAdams of Leachville made an equalgift in March toward the Strength andConditioning Center, and the com-plex also will offer the Student-Athlete Academic Success Center.

“We are honored that Tim andTerri have so generously agreed toassist us with our Sports MedicineCenter. This state-of-the-art facilitywill allow us to better manage thehealth and safety of our student-ath-letes through the prevention andtreatment of injuries. Their gift alsohelps to move us closer to completingthe Performance EnhancementComplex,” Dr. Lee said.

“Tim and Terri have served asexceptional ambassadors for this uni-versity and represent the absolute bestthat ASU has to offer. Tim has been arole model for our program since heenrolled here in 1979 through hisathletic, academic and leadership abilities.”

Langford, a urologist in LittleRock with Arkansas UrologistsAssociates, played quarterback for theIndians from 1980-83 under formerhead coach Larry Lacewell. His wife,Terri, is a former physical therapistand received part of her physical ther-apy training at Arkansas State.

“Coach Bill Templeton recruitedme to play football at ASU and heand I have kept in touch over theyears. He loves ASU so much and hasreally been instrumental in our deci-sion to give back to the school. Irecently visited the ASU campus and

Terri and I were blown away by whatwe saw,” said Dr. Langford.

“We saw the student center, thestudent housing and toured the newfootball complex and Dean explainedthe direction things were going andwhat he was trying to do. We visitedthe sports medicine area and saw aneed there.

“I've always been close to RonCarroll (ASU's certified athletic train-er) and with Terri's background as aphysical therapist, the sports medicinefield has always been special to us.

A Shot in the ArmLangfords give to sports medicine

ASU Athletic Director Dr. Dean Lee, right, thanks Dr. Tim Langford during a ceremony in which Langfordand his wife Terri presented an endowment gift to ASU Athletics.

21

Outsourcing of information technology jobs need not go to foreigncountries like India when there is an affordable, comparable expertise hereat home, according to Dr. Kathy Brittain White, president of ArkansasRural Sourcing, Inc.

In August, with support provided by the Horizon Institute ofTechnology and Arkansas State University, Arkansas Rural Sourcing, Inc.,opened its office in ASU's Center for Economic Development on KruegerDrive in Jonesboro with nine full-time employees.

At a ceremony celebrating ARS' opening, the East Arkansas BusinessDevelopment Council presented a $75,000 gift to the ASU Foundationand the Horizon Institute to assist with Arkansas Rural Sourcing's pro-grams.

ARS is a statewide initiative whose mission is to support economicexpansion and workforce diversity by creating high technology employmentopportunities and career advancement prospects in rural America. ARS canprovide IT services at a rate that is 30 to 50 percent lower than mostdomestic-based IT consulting firms. A benefit to potential clients over out-sourcing overseas is the capability to handle time-sensitive projects, or proj-ects in which frequent contact is required.

“In the next decade, we hope to open 50 centers in 20 states,” Dr.White noted.

Southern Arkansas University at Magnolia and the University ofArkansas-Monticello have joined Arkansas State University as active part-ners in education with ARS.

Arkansas Rural Sourcing, Inc.

UPDATE

Rural Source-Community members cut a ceremonial ribbon at the opening of Arkansas RuralSourcing, Inc., at Arkansas State University's Center for Economic Development.

Also, we love Arkansas State. On ourway home that day, Terri and I talkedabout how we would like to givesomething back to the school.”

Recently, the sports medicinedepartment expanded into the for-mer Indian football team lockerroom. This conversion increased theavailable athletic training work spacefrom 700 to more than 2,800 squarefeet. Other training centers in theConvocation Center, TomlinsonStadium and the Track Complexserve to complement this primaryspace and provide frontline care forpractices and events.

As a senior on ASU's footballteam, Langford was presented thefirst Terry Gwin Award, which isawarded to the top student-athlete inany sport at ASU. He also receivedthe National Football FoundationGraduate scholarship, the McDonaldScholarship (presented annually bythe Southland Conference), and wasa three-time Academic All-SouthlandConference selection.

A second-team All-SouthlandConference pick in 1983, Langfordled ASU in total offense for threeseasons and still ranks eighth incareer yardage with 3,745 yards(1,429 rushing and 2,316 passing).

“I grew up at ASU,” continuedDr. Langford. “Football was fun andit was important, but academics wereeven more important and I appreci-ate the fact that Sam Gennuso(ASU's former faculty athletics repre-sentative and current professor ofEnglish) went to bat for me andhelped me get some of those scholar-ships to further my education.”

“I have a lot of great friendsassociated with Arkansas State and alot of great memories. I hope thatothers will see how much the pro-gram is growing and see the directionit is heading and support the efforts.”

NONPROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAID STATEUNIV., AR 72467PERMIT NO. 5

P.O. Box 1990 • State University, AR 72467

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Winter on the ASU campus.