’50s
Dr. Alexander R. Doberenz ’58 of Hockessin, DE, has been named professor emeritus at the University of Delaware. He retired from the university as Dean of the College of Education and Public Policy.
Rev. Donald F. Garrett ’59 of Akron, NY, and his wife, Sharon, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in August 2009.
’60s
Gene King ’60 of Greeneville, TN, has retired from a career in education in the Greeneville School System. He was serving as principal of Greeneville High School at the time of his retirement.
’70s
Moe Malala ’71 of Pago Pago, Samoa, is searching for his 1968 classmates. You can e-mail Moe at gimalala@hotmail.com.
Sidney and Claudia (Strohmaier) Courtney ’72 ’73 of Dover, DE, celebrated their 40th anniversary on August 22. The Courtneys were among the few married couples attending Tusculum during the early 1970s. They recall that they lived just behind campus in one of the five Russell Trailers and could easily walk the back road and reach campus near the science building road. When they last visited campus in 2005, the lot was overgrown but they still have fond memories of their time at Tusculum. Prior to marrying, they lived on campus. Sidney lived in Haynes Hall and Charles Oliver Gray East. Claudia lived in Katherine Hall. “They changes on campus and beyond have been extensive since 1973, but many things remain the same,” they write and wish all alumni and current students the best for the new year.
’00s
Nancy Goral Luciani ’01 of Goose Creek, SC, continues to recuperate from her kidney transplant operation. Her husband, Anthony, who donated his kidney to Nancy, has been cleared to return to work for the U.S. Coast Guard and is feeling great. While she is healing well, Nancy has to remain cautious around people because of the depression of her immune system by her anti-rejection medications. She has not been yet cleared to be around large groups of people or return to work as an emergency medical technician. Nancy says she is so grateful and happy to have been given this second chance and to be able to watch her two children grow up. Her recovery will take the better part of a year. At Tusculum, Nancy was a member of the soccer, softball and cross country teams. To help the family with medical and living expenses, a fund has been set up to accept donations. Donations can be made to The Luciani Kidney Fundraiser, 136 Wilton St., Goose Creek, SC 29445. To learn more about Nancy’s recovery please visit https://sites.google.com/site/goralfamilynews/.
Eric Clemons ’07 of Knoxville, TN, has been selected as one of the Knoxville Business Journal’s “40 under 40” listing of young business leaders in the area. Clemons manages U.S. Cellular retail stores in Alcoa and Sevierville and serves as co-leader of the company’s regional Diversity and Inclusion Council. He has also taught call center management and strategies courses at ITT Technical Institute. Clemons is working on his second master’s degree in human resources from Western Carolina University. He has also given back to the community, helping the Knoxville Area Urban League to launch an after-school program designed to introduce at-risk middle school students to high-tech careers and improve their technology skills.
Valerie Mullins ’08 of Limestone, TN, graduated in December from South College with a master of science physician’s assistant degree.
Wayne Hughes ’90 and his wife, Pamela, of Afton, TN, celebrated the birth of their third child, Ava Marie, on December 19, 2009.
Tim and Kristen (New) Dalton ’02 ’02 of Stone Mountain, GA, celebrated the birth of their daughter, Katelyn “Kate” Blair on November 24, 2010. Kate was 7 lbs and 7 oz and 18 inches long. Their son, Tyler, is now a proud big brother.
Brad Hawks ’05 and his wife, Mallory, of Galax, VA, celebrated the birth of their daughter, Rylee Kathryn, on November 10, 2010.
’40s
Dr. George Moore ’43 of White Stone, VA, passed away on September 11, 2010. Dr. Moore was a retired physician. He received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine, a degree in public health from the University of Michigan and was certified in 1956 by the American Board of Preventive Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Moore served in the U.S. Army from 1943 through 1946 and was commissioned in the U.S. Public Health Service in November 1950. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1967 and retired in 1972 with the rank of captain. His service career included tours at Fort Bragg, NC; Durango, CO; Battle Creek, MI; Charlottesville, VA, and Kathmandu, Nepal. After retiring from the Public Health Service, Dr. Moore became director of the Thomas Jefferson District Health Department in Charlottesville and taught at the University of Virginia. In 1977, he accepted an appointment as associate professor of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. In 1980, he was appointed as director of the Northern Neck Health District and retired from state employment in 1984. During his professional career, Dr. Moore published numerous articles on preventive medicine in scientific journals. He was a member of the Association of Military Surgeons, the Commissioned Officers Association of the Public Health Service, the Northern Neck Medical Society and the Retired Officers Association. He served both as register and past president of the Richard Henry Lee Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. In March 2009, Dr. Moore was presented with the Surgeon General’s Lifetime Exemplary Service Award. He was a member of Campbell Presbyterian Church. His guiding principle was: “Happiness comes from within and is based on work well done, on serving others, and in remembering the dignity and worth of human life” (from Thomas M. Durant MD, Professor of Medicine at Temple Medical School, 1947).
John S. Maine ’48 of Lancaster, PA, passed away January 3, 2011. Mr. Maine was a retired library director for Millersville University. A native of East Tennessee, he served as a radio operator on the USS Nevada during World War II. After earning a degree from Tusculum, Mr. Maine earned a master’s degree in library science from the Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in 1951. He served as library director and a faculty member of Tusculum from 1954-1957 and then served in the same roles at Shepherd University in West Virginia from 1957-1961. He joined Millersville University in 1961 and served as the library director until his retirement in 1985. As director, he oversaw the design, construction and opening of the Ganser Library at the university. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Millersville and a lifelong member of the American Library Association and the Millersville Lion’s Club. His survivors include son and Tusculum alumnus Douglas L. Maine ’70.
James Edwin Birdwell, Jr. ’49 of Clinton, TN, passed away December 16, 2010. Mr. Birdwell served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater. After the war he returned home and graduated from Tusculum. He later earned a master’s degree in economics from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. Mr. Birdwell was recalled to the Navy during the Korean Conflict and served in the Middle East and London. He retired as a commander from the Naval Reserve after a long and distinguished career in the military. In civilian life, Birdwell started a career in banking in Nashville, later working in Norfolk, VA, before moving to Clinton, where he served as chief executive officer and president of Union Peoples Bank and retired as vice chairman of First American Bank. Active in the community, he served on the Industrial Development and Coal Creek Companies boards. He was chairman of the finance committee of the Methodist Holston Conference and served on the administrative board of the Methodist Church. He served on the Oak Ridge Hospital Foundation Board and was president of the Civitan.
Robert E. Keasling ’49 of Greeneville, TN, passed away December 15, 2010. Mr. Keasling was a retired educator having served as a teacher and principal. Mr. Keasling began his teaching career at Greeneville High School, where he taught mathematics and was chairman of the math department for 20 years. He was then named principal of EastView Elementary School, a position he held until his retirement in 1988. That year, he was named “Teacher of the Year” by the Greeneville-Greene County Area Chamber of Commerce. During his career, he also served as an adjunct faculty member of Tusculum, Greeneville’s Vocational School, East Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He also served as a trustee on the board of the Greeneville City Schools Education Foundation. Mr. Keasling enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943, serving in World War II as technical sergeant in the Headquarters Detachment 492D Port Battalion. Two years of his service was spent overseas on Guadalcanal, the Philippine Islands and Japan. He was awarded the World War II Victory Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Theatre Ribbon, the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, one Bronze Service Star, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the Army Occupation Medal. After returning home from the war, he enrolled at Tusculum, where he earned a degree in mathematics and economics with a minor in education. In 1952, he became one of the first students to receive a master’s degree from East Tennessee State College, now East Tennessee State University. He earned master’s degree in supervision and administration. Active in church, he served as the last Sunday school superintendent at Reaves Memorial Evangelical United Brethren Church and the first superintendent in the new Trinity United Methodist Church after the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged with the Methodist Church in 1968 to form the United Methodist Church. He served on a number of committees for the church.
’50s
Murrell Davis Weesner ’50 of Morristown, TN, passed away January 7, 2011. An active alumni and supporter of his Alma Mater, Mr. Weesner was a member of the Tusculum College Morristown President’s Advisory Council and the Tusculum Alumni Association. Mr. Weesner and his wife, Joan Faulkner Weesner ’51, have been regular attendees of alumni and college events in Morristown and on the Greeneville campus. He was honored for his dedication and support of the college with the Pioneer Award, the highest honor presented by the Tusculum Alumni Association, and the Sport’s Benefactor Award. A retired educator, Mr. Weesner served 37 years in the Morristown-Hamblen School System as a teacher, assistant principal and in the central office assisting with the school newspaper, student organizations and athletics. He also worked for the U.S. Bureau of the Census, as city editor for the Morristown Sun, a newscaster for WCRK radio and a reporter for the Knoxville Journal. In addition to his degree from Tusculum, Mr. Weesner earned a master’s degree from Duke University and completed doctoral work at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He was a lifetime member of Centenary United Methodist Church, where he served on the administrative board, as a Sunday school teacher and on the church history committee. Mr. Weesner always claimed that he was a Methodist before he was born since his maternal grandfather was a Methodist circuit rider and his paternal grandfather was an original member of Centenary. Active in the Morristown community, he and his wife were recognized in 2009 as “Mr. and Mrs. Morristown.” He served a number of local organizations including Hamblen County Foundation for Educational Excellence (board member), Morristown Cemetery Restoration and Preservation Committee (treasurer), Hamblen Adults Working for Kids, Hurricane Alumni Association, Morristown Housing Authority Appeals Hearing Board, Morristown Employees Credit Union (treasurer for 20 years), Literacy Council, Tennessee Bicentennial Committee exhibit at Rose Center, Hamblen County Retired Teachers Association, the Boy Scouts (leader) and the Civil Air Patrol. Mr. Weesner enjoyed working with theater productions in college and at Morristown East High School. His most recent appearance was in “The Nick of Time,” a pageant of Morristown’s history. He enjoyed traveling across the United States and abroad, including leading senior class school trips. His favorite hobbies were collecting and reading books, maps and crossword puzzles. His personal library totaled more than 5,000 books. Among his many honors over the years were the 1950 “Morristown Young Man of the Year,” the Jaycees Service Award, Hurricane Alumni Hall of Honor, Wall Street Journalism Medal and Who’s Who in the South and Southwest. He is also honored on a plaque in the Burke-Toney Stadium press box, located at Morristown East, commending his service to school activities. His standing in the community was recognized through a memorial service held in the auditorium of Morristown East. In addition to his wife, his survivors include daughters and Tusculum alumni Becky Jo Moles ’79, Mary Ellen Horner ’82 and Winn Ann Seals ’90 and son-in-law Kirk Horner ’80.
Ellen Shelton McNiff ’55 of Texas, formerly of Aberdeen, MD, passed away on May 16, 2010. Mrs.McNiff was a retired tax preparer, who was known for her sense of humor. As her health had declined, she moved to Texas where her son could care for her.
’60s
David Carroll Kiker ’62 of Greeneville, TN, passed away December 24, 2010. Mr. Kiker was retired from Delfasco of Tennessee after many years of service and was a member of Love’s Memorial United Methodist Church. Mr. Kiker enjoyed coon hunting and was past president of the Greene County Coon Club.
William Strockbine ’64 of Portsmouth, RI, passed away December 20 from injuries suffered in an automobile accident. Mr. Strockbine was register and director of records for 30 years at State University of New York at Stony Brook. He earned a master’s degree from the university as well. Strockbine had numerous interests including English grammar, poetry and limericks, crosswords, baseball, fine automobiles, clock collecting, cutlery grinding and metal polishing. He was known for his generous and caring nature, his sense of humor and his laughter. His survivors included former wife and Tusculum alumna Penelope (German) Strockbine ’64.
’70s
John F. Wade ’76 of Biddeford, ME, passed away January 8, 2011, following a long battle with bladder cancer. Wade was instrumental for many years in the local politics of the Upper East Side in New York City. Serving as campaign manager and chief of staff, he strategized an underdog campaign for Democrat Carolyn Maloney in 1992 to defeat a 15-year Republican incumbent to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. “John Wade was an inspirational and loving friend and colleague whose political genius and personal courage truly changed my life,” Maloney said in a statement following Wade’s passing. “His innate intelligence, irreverent wit and superb organizational skills made him a unique and uniquely qualified individual, and we shall not see his like again.” He also played a critical role in the successful campaigns of several Manhatten figures from assemblymen to civil court judges. Over the period of a decade, an area that was once predominantly Republican became one that was represented entirely by Democrats, and Wade was credited by many as the man behind the historic shift. A native of Dublin, Ireland, he came to America with his family as a young boy and grew up in Manhattan and northern New Jersey. His first experience in politics was working on the staff of Congressman John B. Anderson in Illinois in 1979 and then as a senior staffer on Anderson’s unsuccessful presidential campaign as an independent candidate in 1980. Mr. Wade then returned to New York City and joined the staff of Maloney. He also worked as director of education for the Bronx Borough President and as a consultant for major political candidates in New York and Maine. Mr. Wade was also a LGBT activist throughout his career.
’80s
Reid A. Brogden ’81 of Nashville, TN, passed away on December 29, 2010. Mr. Brogden served as an attorney for the State of Tennessee for 20 years and was serving as general counsel to the State Health Services and Development Agency at the time of his untimely passing. He was a graduate of the University of Tennessee and Cumberland College of Law. He was a member of St. Henry Catholic Church. His survivors include his parents and Tusculum alumni Frank and Rolien (Brown) Brogden ’50 ’51. Mr. Brogden was the fifth generation of the Rhea/Brogden family to attend Tusculum.
Jean Van Wyck ’84 of Oviedo, FL, passed away December 28, 2010. Ms. Van Wyck had graduated from Tusculum with a degree in elementary and special education and earned her master’s degree in education from Grand Canyon University in 2008. She was an intensive reading teacher at Lawton Chiles Middle School in Oviedo. Earlier in her career, Ms. Van Wyck had worked in several elementary schools in Ocala, Orlando and Oviedo, providing training to enhance social, emotional and academic learning for autistic and severely emotionally challenged students. She was chosen as the 1991 “Teacher of the Year” at Ocala Springs Elementary School. Ms. Van Wyck was known for her brilliant smile, infectious laugh and effervescent personality that endeared her to family, friends and co-workers. Extremely active in her children’s academic careers and extra-curricular activities, she was an active supporter of the Oviedo High School Booster Club and the ROTC. An avid sports fan, she had recently coached the Lawton Chiles Middle School Girls’ Volleyball Team to a county championship. In addition to sports, Ms. Van Wyck also loved the beach, spending her leisure time with family and friends at New Smyrna Beach. Her greatest joys in life were her two sons, Kevin and Kyle, and spending time with her extended family and friends.
’00s
Leonard Blaine Lawson, Jr. ’05 of Greeneville, TN, passed away January 18, 2011, due to injuries suffered in an automobile accident. Mr. Lawson was a member of the Pioneer men’s golf team during 2001-03. Upon learning of his untimely passing, Golf Coach Bob Dibble said, “Blaine was a fine young man and we are all saddened by this tragic news. We all loved Blaine very much and the Tusculum family extends its deepest sympathy to the Lawson family during this difficult time.” Mr. Lawson was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church. He was known for his sense of humor, strong laugh, big hugs and love animals, especially dogs. Following college, Mr. Lawson worked with his father, Greeneville businessman Lennie Lawson. His survivors include his mother and Tusculum alumna Terri (Nelson) Lawson ’80.