Alumni
Spotlight

Although Katie Corbett Johnson ’31 retired from the classroom in 1978 she firmly believes that no one should ever stop learning. “They taught me back then to keep learning,” she said during a recent reception in her honor in Greenville. “I came to East Carolina to learn how to teach, and the teachers and professors were superb. I cannot say enough about how East Carolina helped me to learn the methods of teaching.” Teaching, she said, is “the noblest profession.” Johnson spent her entire career in eastern North Carolina schools. After retiring, she served as a substitute elementary teacher until 1998. In 1999 she became a volunteer teacher. Her dedication to education was acknowledged by the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service. She also has been honored by the Clinton County Schools and Sampson Community College. Her three daughters all followed her footsteps by graduating from East Carolina and becoming teachers. Daughter Ann is married to ECU Athletics Director Terry Holland. During her college years, Mrs. Johnson lived in Cotten Hall, sang in the glee club and acted in several plays.




Jake Smith ’06, who led the East Carolina baseball team in seven offensive categories, won this year’s Johnny Bench Award, which is given to the nation’s best college catcher. Bench, the Hall of Fame catcher, presented the trophy to Smith during a ceremony in Wichita, Kan. A Greensboro native, Smith boasted a .988 fielding percentage behind the plate, meaning he made only four bad throws all year out of 322 chances.

Adreinne Millican ’05 showed why she’s arguably the best woman golfer to come from ECU by winning the N.C. Amateur Championship this summer. Millican stormed from behind on the final three holes to post the lowest score in the tournament’s 57 years. The Greensboro native, who won five tournaments in a stellar college career, now is thinking about turning pro.


In Memoriam

’00, ’05 DR. JAMES HENRY McGLONE of Goldsboro died June 3, 2005. He was program director for NOVA Behavioral Health Care.

’94 JAMES TODD McRAE of Chesapeake, Va., died Sept. 28, 2005. He was business manager of the Ferguson Enterprises Inc. HVAC division.

’93 JOHN ROBERT McLEOD PARKS of Raeford died April 1. He worked for the U.S. Park Service in the West and in sales and was a volunteer speaker for the National Alliance for Mental Illness.

’82 MICHAEL EUGENE “GENE” LEWIS of Oak City died May 24. He was retired from Carolina Telephone/Sprint and was a licensed auctioneer
and realtor.

’79, ’85 ROBERT FRANCIS “BOB” MATTHEWS SR. of Williamston died April 13. He was a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Navy and taught for the ECU Division of Continuing Education.

’78 DIANNE GIBSON HUMPHREYS WOODWARD of Greenville died May 17. She had taught in Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach and eastern North Carolina.

’75 THE REV. RONALD DALE CYR of Kinston died April 11. He was a Methodist minister and served as chaplain at Caswell Center.

’72 REVA LEWIS BUTLER of Dunn and Cary died June 15. She was a retired teacher in Harnett County and former officer of the N.C. Order of the Eastern Star.

’70 FRITZ FILLMORE LITTLE of Middlesex and Leicester died May 16. He was an adjuster for State Farm, Allstate and Horace Mann.

’69 CARLTON REID BEAMAN SR. of Tarboro died May 13. He was retired from Carolina Telephone/Sprint and owner of Beaman Construction Inc.

’69 MARGARET GOLD EVANS BUNCH of Greenville died March 28. She had taught at Beaufort and Pitt community colleges and worked at Pitt County Memorial Hospital.

’66 WILLIAM HYTHE “BILL” MORRIS JR. of Hawthorne, Fla., died April 1, 2004. His transportation career included positions throughout the U.S., most recently as lead planner of the San Diego light-rail system.

’65 VICKI BARRETT GILLIAM of Roxboro died March 4. She was a teacher and a founder of Family and Life Services of Person County.

’64, ’70 WILLIAM PENN “BILL” EYERMAN of Raleigh died June 3. He piloted several publications promoting economic development in the Triangle region.

’62, ’64 RUBY DRIVER HARRIS of Rocky Mount died March 20. She worked in school systems in the Carolinas and in Michigan.

’62 CHARLES LEONARD HOLLIDAY SR. of Fuquay-Varina died April 11. He was director of the N.C. State Property Office and owner of a development company.

’60 JAMES H. “JIMMY” DAUGHTRIDGE of Rocky Mount died Nov. 27, 2004. He was an Army veteran, school principal, teacher and basketball coach.

’56 WILLIAM N. “BILL” HOWARD of Bath died June 27. He was a Coast Guard veteran and retired as vice president of Hannah & Dunn Inc. of Greenville.

’54 ADA CATHERINE BREWER GRIFFIN of Wilson died Sept. 30, 2004. She taught in Wilson, Rocky Mount and Wayne County schools and at Wayne Community College.

’51, ’52 EDWIN D. AVERETTE SR. of New Bern died May 22. He was a veteran of the Army and served in the Korean War.

’51 LOU SMITH NELSON of Simpson died April 29. She taught English at Belvoir High School and was author of a grammar textbook.

’49 YVONNE HONEYCUTT AVERETT of Greenville died June 18. She was a teacher in eastern North Carolina for 29 years.

’43, ’60 BOBBIE LORRAINE PRITCHARD MATTHEWS of Rocky Mount died Oct. 1, 2005. She was regional director of school music in the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.

’43 NELLIE REECE BARNES MULHOLLEM of Clayton died Oct. 31, 2005. She taught first grade for 38 years in Johnston County schools.

’42 MARTHA RICE MATKINS of Burlington died Sept. 25, 2005. She taught in Roanoke Rapids and Raleigh schools, then directed the UNC-Chapel Hill Graham Memorial and Student Union.

’41 SALLY MARY MATHIAS FREEMAN of Gates died March 31. She was an elementary grades teacher for more than 30 years and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

’40 ANNA LAURIE BEALE BURGESS of Pendleton died Feb. 7. She was a retired teacher and also worked for the Northampton County Department of Social Services.

’38 GRACE MARIE SPENCER MITCHELL of Harellsville died April 1. She was a retired teacher, having taught in Hertford and Bertie county schools.

’36 CAROLYN BRINKLEY EURE of Gatesville died June 19. She formerly taught at Gatesville
High School.

’35 LOU PITTS “SU SU” WATKINS STATON of Oxford died May 2. She had taught in several North Carolina schools and was a member of the DAR.

’35 EDITH SMITH MARLSENDER MALLARD of Jacksonville died Nov. 17, 2004. She was a public school teacher and also taught piano.

’32 HELEN McLAUCHLIN MITCHELL of Lake George, N.Y., died Sept. 5, 2004. Her teaching career included positions at Columbia University, the universities of Illinois, Alabama and Florida and Appalachian State University.

’31 LOUISE MARGARET HUDGINS KITTRELL of Corapeake died March 25. She taught school in Gates County and was active in the United Methodist Women.

’30 MARY WINIFRED ROUSE DAWSON of Snow Hill died April 30, 2005. A former seventh-grade teacher, she was active in arts and history organizations.

’28 ETHEL SPRATT BOWDEN of Faison died Feb. 8. She taught in Glen Alpine and in Duplin County and was active in church and community organizations.

’28 VIRGINIA HIGHSMITH BLOUNT of High Point died Nov. 16, 2005. She was a former home economics teacher and worked for Virginia Power and Light Co. in the Government Nutrient Project during World War II.

’27 RUTH HARRELL OVERMAN of Edenton died May 7. She taught in Pasquotank County schools and was an officer in the Order of the Eastern Star.


FACULTY DEATHS

FRANCES FAULKNER DUDLEY of Greenville died March 6. She taught mathematics from 1964 until 1986.

DR. RAYMOND LAWRENCE “RAY” JONES of Greenville and Chapel Hill died July 8. He taught in the School of Business from 1961 until 1989.

DR. CHARLES H. MOORE of Greenville died March 25. He taught psychology for 30 years, beginning in 1968.

DR. EVERETT PITTMAN of Greenville died March 10. He was chairman of the School of Music from 1971 until 1980 and later taught music classes.

DR. CHARLES LEWIS PRICE of Greenville died June 8. He was a member of the history faculty from 1957 until 1983.

DR. KATYE OLLIVER SOWELL of Greenville and Atlanta died May 13. She taught math for more than 35 years, beginning in 1965.

Class Notes


By Franceine Rees



2005
KRISTIN MARIE WETHERINGTON appeared as Maggie in the Theater of the American South production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in Wilson, in two Cape Fear Regional Theatre productions and two ECU/Loessin Summer Theatre musicals. ANTHONY JAMES HOLSTEN and MARLO AMBER HOFFMAN HOLSTEN ’97 of Greenville are among founders of the Greenville Theater Project. Anthony is a lecturer in the ECU English department, and Marlo works in public relations for Barnes and Noble Booksellers.

2004
LT. ROGER LEE VOGEL III of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, was featured speaker at the March 28 Victory Bell ceremony on campus. EMILY RENEE CUTHRELL of Greenville has joined Faulkner & Associates Advertising as media coordinator.

2003
KELLY ELIZABETH GRIFFIN SMITH has been promoted to branch manager of First South Bank’s Greenville office on Arlington Boulevard. DR. ANTHONY CARL “TONY” BREUER of Greenville, an artist and physician, is showcasing his artwork online at www.breuerworksart.com. ALTRICE MELODY CARTER GALES of Grimesland is working with the Pitt Community College law enforcement training program. GARY RUDOLPH REDDING ’03 ’05 is a lecturer in the ECU Department of English.

2002
KATHERINE MARIE EVANS of Fayetteville is a social worker with Cape Fear Valley Home Health. She formerly worked with Advantage Hospice and Home Care. NICOLE MICHELLE SONBERT HOUSE, a music teacher at Aycock Middle School, Greenville, was the subject of the winning “My Teacher, My Hero” essay sponsored by the Greenville Daily Reflector and two local businesses. ELIZABETH LEE GLASGOW KNIGHT of Winterville was one of 50 recipients of James Madison Fellowships awarded to secondary school history and social studies teachers. She teaches at Rose High School in Greenville.



SGA presidents unite
Former presidents of the Student Government Association have organized themselves into the Robert Herring Wright Society. The group will support programs and services offered by the Division of Student Life. Pictured at the society’s organizational meeting, and the year each was SGA president, are (from left) Scott Forbes ‘77, (rear) Tom Mallison ‘62, Ian Eastman ‘94-‘95, Alex Martin ‘91, David Lloyd ‘68, society director Bill Clutter, (front) Brent Queen ‘00, M. Cole Jones ‘05-‘06, Shannon O’Donnell ‘04, Dallas Wells ‘59, and Keith Dyer ‘93.  Photo by James Davis


2001
SHARON JOYCE ARENA ELLIOTT of Winterville was one of four occupational therapists in the nation to receive board certification in gerontology from the American Occupational Therapy Association. She works at Therapeutic Life Center. DANIEL JAMES HAUGHT is enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is working as a research assistant at the Institute of Behavioral Science.

2000
GEORGE THOMAS COLLIER ’00 ’04 and OLIVIA ANNE HILL ’02 ’04 were married Oct. 8, 2005, in Fuquay-Varina. Both are federal grant administrators with the N.C. Department of Commerce. LESLI GRANDY of Greenville, a fourth-grade teacher at Pactolus Elementary School, was recognized as one of Pitt County’s “top teachers” by the Greenville Daily Reflector.

1999
Attorney JONATHAN VANN BRIDGERS of Greenville was sworn in as a member of the N.C. state bar this spring. He received his law degree from Regent University School of Law in Virginia. JOHN ADLIN DAIGLE JR. of Winterville was promoted to director of finance at Overton’s Inc. of Greenville. JENNIFER LYNN SISK ’99 ’05 is a lecturer in the ECU Department of English.

1998
DR. WILLIAM ALEXANDER BENSON IV of Plymouth is practicing dentistry in Raleigh. He received his dental degree from New York University. MELANIE SARA McSTINE of Manassas, Va., competed in her first marathon in Miami on behalf of the National AIDS Training Program, helping raise funds for the Whitman-Walker HIV/AIDS Clinic in Washington, D.C. She is training coordinator for the Environmental Systems Research Institute in Vienna.

1997
ANGELA CAROL CLARK MILLS of Greenville, a nurse at Pitt County Memorial Hospital’s Pain Management Center, was recognized as the hospital’s Outpatient Services Division Nurse of the Year. YOMI MUJIB SHAFAU of Greenville is a program manager at NACCO Materials Handling. He appeared in the Farmville Community Arts Council production of Ragtime this spring. KARRIE BROWN RUSHING and husband Matthew are the parents of a daughter, Anna Southerland, born last Aug. 9. The family lives in Garner. DALE SHANNON HOLLOWAY LACKEY of New Bern and husband Tony welcomed new daughter Marlena Shannon last August. Dale is a physical therapist at Craven Regional Medical Center.

1996
JENAI EILEEN STERN PAUL of Baltimore, clinical pharmacy coordinator at the University of Maryland’s Spring Grove Hospital Center, has received board certification in psychiatric pharmacy.

1995
BRANDON MONROE TATE ’95 ’98 of Greenville has opened his third U.S. Cellular retail store. His Atlantic Wireless operation is one of seven U.S. Cellular “platinum agents” in the nation.

1994
BOBBI MICHELLE WILSON of Clayton has left the tax department of Ernst & Young LLP, where she worked for eight years, to become tax manager with General Parts Inc., the holding company for all CarQuest stores. DALE C. MANN of Felton, Del., is a band director and head coach for varsity golf at Milford High School. MARCELLUS MACQUEEN “MARC” GAINEY of Dublin, Ohio, is a “Mac Genius” at Apple Computer Inc. in Columbus. He is certified in three technical areas. DENNY WARREN PURSER of Greenville is a certified financial planner with Purser Financial Solutions.

1993
JONATHAN RICHARD POWERS of Greenville, an Edward Jones investment representative, has been appointed a field trainer for new brokers. CHRISTOPHER JOHN LANEY of Greensboro was recognized by Business Journal as one of Greensboro’s “Forty Leaders Under 40.” Chris, vice president of Question Technologies Inc., recently earned a pilot’s license. LISA SPIRIDOPOULOS of McLean, Va. has been named director of marketing for Crescent Heights, Va. She was previously an associate vice president at Brotman-Winter-Fried in Falls Church and also a statistician for the Washington Wizards and the Washington Mystics.

1992
CHRISTOPHER SMITH WOELKERS has opened Greenville’s first bed and breakfast. His 5th Street Inn is in the National Register-listed Shuff-Smith House at the corner of Fifth and Library Streets. ANN ELIZABETH STRUCINSKI WEINGARTZ has been named director of ECU’s University Printing, Graphics and Mail Services.

1991
JEFFREY PAUL McLOUD of Kinston has been appointed to the 25-member N.C. Independent Living Council. He also serves on the Governor’s Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities and holds office on two mental health boards.

1990
GAIL DILLAHUNT SMITH of Greenville, a teacher at Rose High School, was recognized by the Greenville Daily Reflector as a “top teacher” in Pitt County.

1989
LINDA KAYE DARTY of Greenville is author of The Art of Enameling, a book on the art of applying glossy finishes on metal, glass or ceramic ware. She teaches in the ECU School of Art. EDWARD GLENN and LINDA JEFFERSON “JEF” GLENN (Honorary) of Greenville, owners of Jefferson’s, received the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce Amazing Customer Service Award in May. The Glenns have moved their business into the renovated Jefferson Blount-Harvey building on Evans Street in downtown Greenville. Attorney TERENCE ERNEST McENALLY III of Garner is operating a weekend satellite firm in Fuquay-Varina to serve Hispanic clients. Terence is fluent in Spanish.

1988
GREGORY WHITLEY JARRELL and STACY ANN HAMILTON JARRELL ’89 of Greenville are partners in Jarrell Design Collective. In March they won four regional ADDY Awards for excellence in advertising materials. LORI ANN SHRANK of Burnsville, Minn., married Matt Standafer last spring. Lori is controller at The Blake School, a private prekindergarten-grade 12 school.

1987
MARK ALDO DeSALVO of Chesapeake, Va., has joined Ferris Baker Watts in Virginia Beach as a senior vice president and investment advisor. He was previously a vice president for investments at Morgan Stanley.

1986
DONALD CHRISTOPHER LANCASTER of Youngsville has joined Union Bank & Trust Co. as market executive for Franklin County. He was formerly a vice president at First Citizens Bank in Louisburg. WILLIAM JOSEPH “BILL” McBRIDE III of San Francisco has been promoted to chief operating officer of Club One Inc., an international fitness and wellness organization. He was previously a senior vice president at the Sport & Health Co. in Washington, D.C. SHARON DENISE GARRIS ANGEL of Winterville has received state bar certification as a paralegal. She is an accountant and specializes in bankruptcy.

1984
MICHAEL ROBERT GRUBBS of Pfafftown has been appointed plant manager at Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind. He was previously operations and production manager for Sara Lee Sportswear/Underwear/Socks. RONALD DEAN JONES of Greensboro has earned a master’s degree in adult education. He is a career counselor with Guilford County Training and Employment Services.

1982
SHARON LYNETTE PARROTT KINSLEY of Greenville, a teacher at Creekside Elementary School, was selected Pitt County’s Sam’s Club Teacher of the Year.

1981
DR. MADGE LOU BARNES ’81 ’87 of Grand Prairie, Texas, is medical director for the City of Dallas Department of Environmental and Health Services’ public health division. She was formerly medical director at Concentra Medical Center. SELENE WHELESS GWALTNEY ’81 ’87 of Asheville is clinical coordinator for Allergy Partners PA, the nation’s largest single-specialty practice in allergy, immunology and asthma with 21 hubs in 12 states. TERRY WADE MIZESKO, bass trombonist with the North Carolina Symphony, composed Last Voyage of the Currituck, a piece premiered at the symphony’s concert presented at Pepsi Amercas’ Sail 2006, the recent Tall Ships event held off the Carteret County coast. JANE CAROL McLAURIN of Holly Springs is president at McLaurin Safety Consulting. She was previously an OSHA compliance supervisor at the N.C. Department of Labor in Raleigh.

1980
KATHY KLEPPINGER SPRAU of Greenville is president of the local Business and Professional Women’s Network. DR. JOSEPH ANTHONY NELSON ’80 ’85 of Winterville has been appointed principal at Stokes School. He has been an educator in Pitt County for 24 years.

1979
CORETHA MELVIA RUSHING of Atlanta has been named chief administrative officer at Equifax Inc., an information technology company based in Atlanta. She was previously senior vice president of human resources at the Coca-Cola Co. and an official with Cameron Wesley LLC. CATHERINE LAWRENCE SPRUILL was one of 19 artists whose work was displayed in nine Greenville gardens for the “Art in the Yard” public tour benefiting the local Ronald McDonald House.

1978
MARK ALAN TANNER of Annapolis, Md., has retired as director of the FBI’s Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force. He has joined CollabraSpace as director of law enforcement and homeland security. The organization’s purpose is to foster collaboration among agencies and organizations involved in protecting America from terrorist activities.

1977
DEBORAH JEAN HARRIS PARKER of Grifton was named to Manpower’s Circle of Stars, a national recognition program for the company’s top performers. She is branch manager for Manpower in Wilson, New Bern and Kinston.

1976
DR. GLORIA FISHER-SNEAD ’76 ’94 of Greenville received the Emmons-Flintom Award from the Eta State Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma honor society for educators. She is the principal at Whitfield School in Grimesland. SHERI ANN MOSLEY STRICKLAND of Greenville has been elected vice president of the N.C. Association of Educators, a full-time position, and will be working in Raleigh. She was preschool disabilities coordinator for Pitt County Schools. DR. WILLIAM EDWARD SCHLENGER of Raleigh, a psychologist, has joined Abt Associates as a principal and senior technical official. He has produced several publications on post-traumatic stress disorder.

1975
WANDA EDWARDS YUHAS of Winterville has been named director of the Pitt County Economic Development Commission. A new novel by MARGARET “MAGGIE” BISHOP ’75 ’76, Murder at Blue Falls, is set for publication this fall. The setting is a dude ranch near Boone. Maggie lives in Deep Gap. DR. ROGER DEAN SHARPE of Harmony won the Democratic Party’s nomination as a candidate for the fifth congressional district, representing 12 counties along the North Carolina/Virginia line. He has written about his ECU experiences in Ceremony of Innocence (Mercer University Press, 2005). CAPT. WILLIAM ROBERT “BILL” McKNIGHT of Falls Church, Va., has retired after 30 years as assistant director of correction for the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office. He is now working as a personal fitness trainer in two area health clubs. RONALD DEAN PAYNE ’75 ’83 of Matthews is retiring as director of bands for Providence High School.

1974
DR. PHILLIP BAXTER WATTS of Harvey, Mich., received the Northern Michigan University Excellence in Professional Development Award. He is a specialist in exercise physiology. DARRELL HARRISON ’74 ’79 of Greenville is owner of Xerox Document Solutions East Inc. and will begin his 15th year this fall as a college football official. DR. ALTA ANDREWS of Ayden has been appointed associate dean for community partnerships and practice in the ECU School of Nursing. She is a member of the Eastern Area Health Education Center home health advisory board. DENNIS WOODARD DELAMAR of Charlotte directed a local Wizard of Oz production and returned to Greenville to appear in the ECU/Loessin Summer Theatre production of The Fantasticks. He retired from teaching after 30 years.

1973
NOEL MORRIS “SANDY” HARRIS III of Greenville has been promoted to battalion chief of the City of Greenville’s Fire/Rescue department.

1972
MICHAEL W. KELLY of Nags Head, owner of Kelly’s Outer Banks Restaurant, has pledged $25,000 to ECU’s Institute for Tourism. Mike is an ECU trustee and a founding member of the College of Human Ecology’s advancement council.

1971
RICHARD R. “RIC” COX of Greenville was co-winner of the Greenville-Pitt County Small Business Leader Award. He is owner of the Richard R. Cox CPA firm. DONALD WAYNE MILLS and ADA “BOOTS” ASKEW MILLS of Greenville were jointly honored by the Pitt District of Boy Scouts of America with its Distinguished Citizen Award. Don is manager of NACCO Materials Handling Group, and Boots is retired from the ECU education faculty. DONNA LEA RAINEY WARE ’71 ’80 of Winterville has retired as child nutrition director for the Pitt County Schools. JACK S. MOODY of Braxton, Miss., is director of the Mississippi Office of Geology’s geospatial resources division. He formerly directed the Mississippi Geologic Survey’s energy and coastal division.

1968
SAMUEL R. KENNINGTON of Roxboro has been appointed principal of Roxboro Community School, a charter school for middle grades and high school students scheduled to open this year. Sam has been executive director of the Roxboro Uptown Development Corp. and previously was an educator in Burlington and Statesville.

1966
KATHERINE VIRGINIA JONES REVELS of Raleigh has been appointed to the N.C. Environmental Education Advisory Council. The board advises the N.C. Office of Environmental Education on programs serving educators and the general public.

1965
JERY WADE TILLOTSON of New York has published his latest novel, House of Screaming Clowns, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains. After more than 30 years in the city, Jery plans to move back to North Carolina this year. His books are labeled under various pen names, including Andrea d’Allasandra. JAMES H. BUNDY of Raleigh has retired as regional director of the National Student Clearinghouse. He is N.C. State University’s university registrar emeritus. James is married to FAYE BAKER BUNDY ’62. NEIL EDWARD DORSEY ’65 ’67 of Columbia, Md., was selected for three awards for his achievements in volunteer service, including recognition as PR/marketing volunteer of the year for the Central Maryland American Red Cross.

1962
HARRY ELBERT “HAL” SMITH JR. of Greenville has retired as counselor at Pitt Community College. He was featured speaker at the school’s graduation this year and received an award for distinguished service to PCC.

1959
SYLVIA ANN JONES WHELESS of Greenville was presented the local Best-Irons Humanitarian Award in February. She has worked with prison ministries, the Shrinettes, the Salvation Army, the Keep America Beautiful program and other civic and charitable organizations.

1958
JANE BRUTON DAUGHTRIDGE of Wilmington has been named senior planner for New Hanover County. She was formerly director of planning for Oak Island.

1957
E. O’BRIEN EDWARDS of Durham has retired after 41 years with Broyhill Furniture. He worked in sales and management throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Calling members of the Class of 1956
Come home to your 50th college reunion and choose from several activities planned for Oct. 20–21. To learn more, call 800-ECU-GRAD or visit Reunions.PirateAlumni.com. Student Union board members in 1956, seated left to right, were Jo Anne Harris, Dot Lloyd, Libby Small, Decoma Byrd, Linda Whitehurst and Cynthia Mendenhall. Standing left to right: Eddie Dennis, Roy Askew, Charles Simmons, Joel Farrar and Greenville Banks. University Archives photo

1955
LT. COL (RET.) RALPH PARKINSON SMILEY ’55 ’59 and JOAN KELLY SMILEY ’59 ’83 of Walnut Creek and Island View Shores celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June. An Air Force veteran, Ralph was a navigator bombardier on the B-52, then an educator in Wayne County. Joan retired after 30 years as a teacher, principal and counselor.

1942
CHARLES T. FUTRELL of The Village, Fla., was honored by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and featured in a Wisdom of Age exhibit in Tallahassee. Charlie has competed in more than 400 road races, dozens of triathlons and six Hawaii Ironman competitions, winning two world triathlon championships.


Baseball coach LeClair dies
Keith LeClair, East Carolina University’s head baseball coach from 1997 to 2002, died last month following an extended illness. LeClair, 40, had been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, for the past five years.

During his collegiate baseball career as a player, assistant coach and head coach at Western Carolina University and East Carolina, LeClair was a part of 13 NCAA Tournament teams and earned five conference coach-of-the-year awards.

He officially relinquished his coaching duties in 2002 after leading the Pirates to their fourth consecutive NCAA Regional appearance before. LeClair remained with the Department of Athletics as a special assistant to the director of athletics until his death.

“Keith LeClair and his approach to life touched so many people in this community while providing inspiration for all who had the good fortune to meet and know him,” Director of Athletics Terry Holland said. “His legacy in Pirate Athletics is unmatched and his good counsel will be sorely missed in our daily lives.”

“Keith represents the true spirit of ECU athletics,” Chancellor Steve Ballard said. “He taught us all to dream big dreams and make them come true. He was a close friend and trusted adviser, and he was the best possible model of someone who puts ECU first.”