’70s
Harry Walker ’79 of Towson, MD, recently earned his doctorate in education from Johns Hopkins University. His doctorate is in leadership and teacher development. Harry had retired from the Baltimore County Public Schools after 33 years, most spent as an elementary school principal. After a brief time in the private sector as a senior education technology consultant with Education Elements, he has returned to school leadership as the principal of Bellows Spring Elementary School in Howard County, MD.
’10s
Bo Cordell ’13 was named among the name of nine finalists for the 2013 Harlan Hill Trophy, the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year Award. Cordell, a graduate student at Tusculum originally from Cincinnati, OH, is the first player in Tusculum history to be named a national finalist for NCAA II football’s most coveted individual honor twice in his career. He was also a finalist in 2010. Cordell is also the first quarterback in program history to earn All-America distinction in two separate seasons. He was recently named to the 2013 Beyond Sports Network NCAA Division II All-America Football Team and was recognized twice in 2010 by D2football.com and Don Hansen’s Football Gazette. Cordell had one of the most prolific careers ever by a collegiate signal caller. He owns 15 NCAA Division II records, including career passing yards (16,265 – 4th all NCAA divisions), career completions (1,397 – 3rd all NCAA divisions), career pass attempts (2,187 – 3rd all NCAA divisions) career total offensive yards (16,432 – 4th all NCAA divisions) and total offensive plays in a career (2,572 – 2nd all NCAA divisions). Cordell was also named the 2013 South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Tusculum player to earn the honor multiple times in his career (2010 and 2013). He owns 13 South Atlantic Conference football records, including career touchdown passes (112) and touchdowns responsible for (127), marks he established in his collegiate finale against Mars Hill University.
’40s
Betty Beeson Helms ’44 of Neenah, WI, passed away on December 11, 2013. Mrs. Helms had deep ties to Tusculum College. Her grandfather was Professor Samuel Rankin, for whom Rankin Hall is named, and her uncle, Raymond Rankin, served as Tusculum’s president in the 1950s and 60s. Her sister, Ann Beeson Gouge ’41, is a Tusculum alumna as is her cousin Tom Rankin ’51. Mrs. Helms attended Tusculum for two years before transferring to Eastman School of Music, from which she earned a Bachelor of Music degree, majoring in music theory with minors in piano and cello. After graduation, she worked as a draftsman for the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, TN. There, she met her future husband, John, while playing in the symphony orchestra. The couple moved to Elmhurst, IL, where John worked in research for American Can Co. In 1948, they moved to Neenah. Mrs. Helms looked for opportunities in music and spent her life in a variety of musical expressions. She taught private piano lessons in her home, accompanied students at recitals and contests, was a charter member of the Fox Valley Symphony and directed her church choir for 17 years. In addition, she played in the Oak Park-River Forest Symphony and the Lawrence College Symphony. She and her husband often provided music for weddings in the Fox Valley. Mrs. Helms was an active member of Faith United Methodist Church, Church Women United, American Association of University Women, the Neenah Historical Society, Sigma Alpha Iota Alums, the Wednesday Musicale and the Fox Valley Keyboard Teachers Association.
Mr. Robert D. Drain ’49 of Greeneville, TN, passed away December 7, 2013. Mr. Drain was a retired farmer and rural mail carrier. He was also a director of the Greene County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company. Mr. Drain was a veteran of the U.S. Marines, and he was a member of Walkertown Presbyterian Church.
’60s
Michael P. Claditis ’60 of Natrona Heights, PA, passed away March 19, 2013. Mr. Claditis was the owner and operator of Claditis Auto Sales in East Deer Township for 25 years. He also formerly owned Michael’s Children’s and Ladies Clothing in Tarentum. Mr. Claditis was an avid car collector and enjoyed spending time with his family and yard work.