1970s
Robert Willoughby ’70 received an award in recognition of his efforts in the classroom, in research and scholarship, and in community service. He is the head of the department of history, geography, political science, philosophy and religious studies at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith.
Willoughby’s focus of research and scholarship is on the opening of the American West and British history. He recently presented a paper at the University of Leeds in Britain about Napoleanic-era British military history. He is the author of three books about the opening of the America West: “Robidoux’s Town: A Nineteenth Century History of St. Joseph, Missouri,” “The Great Western Migration to the Gold Fields of California” and “The Brothers Robidoux and the Opening of the American West.”
CORRECTION
In the Spring 2013 issue, we incorrectly reported that Chuck Sinclair ’72 had joined Pro Serv Business Systems. Sinclair is first vice president/investments at Stifel Nicolaus in St. Joseph, Mo. He has 28 years of experience in the financial services industry and earned the Certified Financial Planner Professional Certification in 1992. We apologize for the error.
1980s
Susan (Allee) Bailey ’80 retired as a second-grade teacher from the South Holt Elementary School in Oregon, Mo. She taught there for 29 years.
Patricia Cryer Loeblein ’81 was named the American Chemical Society Colorado Teacher of the Year. “I would love to thank many of the faculty at Missouri Western for their wonderful modeling of excellent teaching and mentoring,” Loeblien wrote. “In particular, the chemistry teachers – Drs. Zweerink, Smith, Lambing, Archer and Schwarz, whom I first met at high school summer camp in 1976.” Her husband is Walter Loeblein ’83.
David Slater ’82 was re-elected to his fifth term as mayor of Pleasant Valley, Mo. Slater serves as first vice president on the Missouri Western Alumni Association Board of Directors.
1990s
Stacy (Clark) Holtzclaw ’92 was inducted into the Excelsior Springs High School 2013 Hall of Fame. As a high school student, she was a four-year state qualifier for the Excelsior Springs Tigers cross country team.
Amy (Dragoo) Casey ’93 earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy and Foundations and Curriculum and Instructional Leadership from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She is the principal of Oakwood Manor Elementary School in the North Kansas City School District.
Brian Johnson ’94 joined Universal Guardian Finance as director of sales and marketing. He was previously assistant vice president of business development and client services for JM Family Enterprises.
Laurie Mefford ’94 was named principal of Parkview Elementary, Cameron, Mo.
Donna L. Witte ’95 and Mike Shelton announce the birth of a daughter, Amelia Michelle, born March 3, 2013. Amelia is the couple’s third child.
LuAnn Cadden ’99 published the book, “Traveling through Illinois: Stories of I-55 Landmarks and Landscapes Between Chicago and St. Louis.” The book was published by The History Press. She is also the author of “Driving Across Missouri: A Guide to I-70,” which was published by University Press of Kansas in 2010. Both books provide information about the geography, history, culture and businesses along the respective major interstates.
2000s
Kristin (Turner) Drollinger ’01 and her husband, Mark, announce the birth of a daughter, Makenna Cathleen, born Oct. 24, 2012.
Carolyn Polston ’01 graduated summa cum laude from Graceland University with a degree in elementary education.
Brenda Burnside ’02 and Paul Jaeger were married March 1, 2013, on Ft. Lauderdale Beach in Florida. The couple resides in Shawnee, Kan.
Nick Parker ’02 and his wife, Kaycee, announce the birth of a daughter, Elle Sophia, born April 24, 2013.
LaShandra (Acklin) ’02 and Lee ’04 Shepard announce the birth of a son, Nehemiah Asher, born Feb. 22, 2013. He joins a brother, Nathanial, and sisters Serenity and Trinity.
Matthew Chrisman ’05 earned a doctorate from the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Rebecca (Jackson) Plumley ’05 and her husband, Robert, announce the birth of a son, Jackson, born June 12, 2012. The couple also has a daughter, Caitlyn.
Candace Day ’05 and Jeremiah Quarles were married May 5, 2012 in Dallas. Candice was elected for a two-year term as president of the Urban League of Greater Dallas Young Professionals, an auxiliary of the National Urban League.
Jill (Tudeen) Talbot ’05 and her husband, Preston, announce the birth of a daughter, Lacey Mae, born Aug. 18, 2012. The couple has another daughter, Lillian.
Sarah (Jones) Mollus ’07 & ’10 and her husband, Trenton, announce the birth of a daughter, Avery Jane, born on Dec. 5, 2012.
Aime Whipple ’08 was named Teacher of the Year for the Savannah (Mo.) R-III School District. She teaches third grade at Minnie Cline Elementary School.
2010s
Chelsie Biermann ’11 was recognized as one of the state’s Outstanding Beginning Teachers by the Missouri Association for Colleges of Teacher Education. She is a special education teacher at North Platte Elementary in Camden Point, Mo.
Springs to lead American Red Cross
Angie (Wright) Springs ’02 was named executive director of the Midland Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross in St. Joseph, Mo. and began her duties in June. Springs had previously served as director of volunteer services for the chapter, but was most recently campaign director for the United Way of Greater St. Joseph.
Springs is a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and co-founder of Mama Griffs, a group that plans activities for Missouri Western alumni and their families.
Class of ’74 meets class of ’09
Roy Grimes ’74 was processing paperwork at his desk at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan when he noticed a familiar area code – 816. Then he noticed a familiar place – Missouri Western.
Grimes is the Regional Command-Southwest Manager for Mission Essential Personnel LLC. He oversees civilian contractors working in support of the United States Marine Corps, II Marine Expeditionary Force. The paperwork belonged to Dathan Pettis ’09, a military veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was beginning his one-year tour at Camp Leatherneck as an intelligence and political analyst for the South West Analysis Center, C-2, II MEF.
“You never know where you are going to run into someone from Missouri Western, even at the far end of the earth like Afghanistan,” Grimes said.
Two alumni inducted into Hall of Fame
Greg Kastner ’78 and Mike Musser ’84 were inducted into the St. Joseph Baseball Hall of Fame at a St. Joseph Mustangs game in June.
Kastner is head baseball coach and athletic director at Bishop LeBlond High School, St. Joseph, and the public address announcer for the Mustangs. Musser is head baseball coach at Benton High School, St. Joseph.
Kastner was pitcher for the Griffons from 1971-73 and Musser was a Griffons third baseman from 1980 to 1983. Both broke several Missouri Western records.
In Memory
We honor those who have passed away. If you want to include someone in this listing, please call (816) 271-5651, mail the information to Diane Holtz, Missouri Western State University, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64507, or email holtz@missouriwestern.edu.
June (Gerber) Bockelman ’54, Leawood, Kan., Feb. 22, 2013.
Shirley (Miller) Budinger ’54, Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 29, 2013.
Bob L. Hale ’64, St. Joseph, Mo., Jan. 17, 2011.
Mindy S. (Kottman) Kampen ’81, Shawnee, Kan., Jan. 19, 2013.
Linda Sue Leake ’76, St. Joseph, Mo., Feb. 7, 2013.
Marie (Holding) Turner ’37, St. Joseph, Mo., March 16, 2013.