Panther Tracks
1950s
David Harrison ’59 (Springfield, Mo.) was named one of the Springfield Business Journal’s 2023 Men of the Year.
1960s
Jim Chappell ’65 (Kansas City, Mo.) has been designated a “Champion of Missouri” by U.S. Senator Eric Schmidt. This award recognizes “Missourians that go above and beyond to bring positive change to their community and state”.
1970s
R. Steve Ellis ’73 (San Carlos, Panama) has retired and loves living in the country of Panama; fishing, golf, friends, and hiking.
H. Wes Pratt ’73 (Springfield, Mo.) has retired from MSU and is developing Pratt & Martinez International Consulting Firm specializing in resource identification & access while valuing inclusive engagement and cultural consciousness professional development for public sector, non-profit, private sector, and corporate employers.
Wilbur “Bill” Owen ’75 (Springfield, Mo.) is serving his fourth term in the Missouri House of Representatives.
1980s
J. Dean Hinderliter ’82 (Richardson, Tx.) has joined Bracewell LLP in the tax department.
Joel Alexander ’83 (Springfield, Mo.) has been named the President-elect of the Southwest Missouri Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
Teresa (Thomas) Hursey ’84 (Des Moines, Ia.) has been named president of Amerigroup Iowa.
Anthony Roberts ’84 (Springfield, Mo.), Executive Director of Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, was named one of
the Springfield Business Journal’s 2023
Men of the Year.
1990s
Sherry (Thomas) Coker ’91 MBA ’14 (Springfield., Mo.) was honored for her professional and civic accomplishments and contributions by the Springfield Business Journal as one of the 2024 Most Influential Women.
David Townsend ’97 (Columbia, Mo.) has begun a role as Senior Vice President of the FNF Family of Companies overseeing the Agency Division’s Midwest and Midsouth region.
Mary McMullin M. Ed. ’99 (Nixa, Mo.) has begun teaching and supervising upcoming teachers at Missouri State University.
Steve Warlick ’99 (Bentonville, Ar.) has joined HFA Architecture + Engineering as Vice President and leader of the firm’s new healthcare team.
2000s
Ryan Kleiboeker ’01 (Springfield, Mo.) has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Strategic Planning Officer for diversified manufacturer Leggett & Platt.
Erin (Langley) Dail ’01 (North Little Rock, Ar.) graduated from the University of Arkansas with an Ed.D. in May 2024.
Ezekiel “Zeke” Jump ’04 (Chesapeake, Va.) is preparing to retire after a 30-year U.S. Army career.
Krystal (Prather) Creach ’07 (Springfield, Mo.) was honored for her professional and civic accomplishments and contributions by the Springfield Business Journal as one of the 2024 Most Influential Women.
Victoria “Tori” Fugate ’07 (Kansas City, Mo.) recently joined the team at Shelter Animals Count as their Director of Communications. Shelter Animals Count (SAC) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting, analyzing, and sharing data on animal sheltering across the United States.
Justin Powell ’07 (Bentonville, Ar.) has recently accepted a new role as Vice President of Data Strategy and Solutions at Synchrony.
Myleah (Webster) Shrimpton ’07 (Springfield, Mo.) was honored for her professional and civic accomplishments and contributions by the Springfield Business Journal as one of the 2024 Most Influential Women.
Amanda (Taylor) Snelson ’08 (Seattle, Wa.) was awarded the AIA Young Architect Award 2024.
Ashley (Fears) Krug ’09 (Springfield, Mo.) was named one of Biz417’s 10 for the next 10.
2010s
Nacy (Thornsberry) Ryerson M. Ed. ’11 was honored for her professional and civic accomplishments and contributions by the Springfield Business Journal as one of the 2024 Most Influential Women.
Anjanette LaBellarte ’12 MNCL ’17 (Springfield, Mo.) was honored for her professional and civic accomplishments and contributions by the Springfield Business Journal as one of the 2024 Most Influential Women.
Emily (Mientus) Wickersham ’12 (Saint Joseph, Mo.) is separating from the US Army after 8 years of active duty service in the Medical Corps.
Emelia Enquist ’14 (Stockholm, Sd.) received the South Dakota News Media Association’s 2023 Outstanding Young Journalist award in the weekly newspaper division, representing the Grant County Review in Milbank, Sd.
Ashley Freeman ’15 (Nixa, Mo.) has returned to Drury University as an instructor in psychology.
Matthew Suarez ’16 (Ozark, Mo.) was named one of the Springfield Business Journal’s 2024 Men of the year.
2020s
Taegan (Sumners) Hadlock ’20 (Aurora, Mo.), paralegal, is working with her sister, attorney Taylon Sumners-Schwartz to open a law practice in Mount Vernon, Mo.
Sam Marshall ’20 (Saint James, Mo.) graduated from medical school at the University of Missouri- Columbia in May 2024.
Madison Forck ’21 (Jefferson City, Mo.) has joined the Peace Corps and is working in HIV prevention in the Philippines.
Olivia Hall ’24 (Kansas City, Mo.) started a new position as a Building Enclosure Specialist at BranchPattern.
Caden Howard ’24 (Lenexa, Ks.) began chiropractic school at Cleveland University – Kansas City.
Marriages
Jennifer Morris ’09 to Kevin O’Brien
Catherine Robinson ’15 to Matthew Tohl
Births and Adoptions
Aelia Brown to Holly B. Bergman-Brown ’10 and Kalen Brown
Ford Creek Peebles to Natasha (Sanford) and Alex Peebles ’15/’15.
Deaths
Dorothy “Dee” (Cribbs) Kirkbride ’46
Dorothy (Hillhouse) Cowan ’48
Betty (Cole) Dukert ’49
Walter “Walt” Pettit ’49
Henry “Sandy” Schneider ’49
Richard Meyer ’50
JoAnn (Bryant) Brown ’51
Lois (Oxley) Sandford ’51
James “Jim” Findlay ’52
Jo Nell (Willhauck) McClernon ’53
Polly Copper ’55 M. Ed. ’63
Jack Atwill ’56
John Sayre ’56
Mary (Moore) Peterson ’57
Melba (Allison) Rector ’58
Gary Adamson ’59
Lillian (Jackson) Breyer ’59
Arryl Paul ’60
Joseph “Joe” Bohrer ’61
Samuel “Sam” Brown ’61
William “Bill” Gurley ’61
Evelyn (Callaway) Fullerton ’62
Jean (Keene) Chen ’63
Donald “Don” Shelhammer ’63
Donald “Don” Holliday ’64
James “David” Jones ’64
Joseph “Joe” Peters ’64
Marvin “Bud” Smith ’64
Frederick “Fred” Farthing ’65
Ronald “Ron” Journagan ’65
Mary (Kneemueller) Parker ’65
David “Dave” Schafer ’66
Thomas Sneed ’67
Brice “Chris” Hadley ’67
Lynda (Blodget) Settlemoir ’67
Catherine “Cay” (Coughenour) Sikes ’68
Jean Hicks ’69
Sandra (Smith) Carr ’70 M.Ed. ’89
Penelope “Penny” (Everling) Haggard ’70
Elizabeth “Beth” (DeBerry) Long ’70
Joseph “Joe” W. Montgomery ’70
Charles Pace ’70
James “Jim” Doran ’71
Rhonda (Chudomelka) Edge ’75
Henry “Ted” Harmon ’76
Gregory Vestal ’77
William Swineburg ’80
Donald “Don” Griffin ’82
Carolyn (Dunham) Hall M.Ed. ’82
Lyman “Gray” Squires ’83
Rebecca (Lape) Dickey ’91
Susan (Sherman) Talley ’03
David Carter ’03
Darcy (Dougherty) Houser ’07
Rabbi Walter Jacob ’50
Rabbi Walter Jacob ’50 (1930–2024) was a trailblazer in Reform Judaism and interfaith dialogue. He credited Drury’s liberal arts education for shaping his perspective. He received an honorary doctorate from Drury in 1990. A leading figure at Rodef Shalom Congregation in Pittsburgh, Jacob co-founded Germany’s Abraham Geiger College, revitalizing rabbinic education in Europe. Renowned for his scholarly contributions and activism, his legacy spans continents. His connection to Drury underscores the profound impact of education in fostering global leaders dedicated to community and faith.
Panther Tracks
1950s
David Harrison ’59 (Springfield, Mo.) was named one of the Springfield Business Journal’s 2023 Men of the Year.
1960s
Jim Chappell ’65 (Kansas City, Mo.) has been designated a “Champion of Missouri” by U.S. Senator Eric Schmidt. This award recognizes “Missourians that go above and beyond to bring positive change to their community and state”.
1970s
R. Steve Ellis ’73 (San Carlos, Panama) has retired and loves living in the country of Panama; fishing, golf, friends, and hiking.
H. Wes Pratt ’73 (Springfield, Mo.) has retired from MSU and is developing Pratt & Martinez International Consulting Firm specializing in resource identification & access while valuing inclusive engagement and cultural consciousness professional development for public sector, non-profit, private sector, and corporate employers.
Wilbur “Bill” Owen ’75 (Springfield, Mo.) is serving his fourth term in the Missouri House of Representatives.
1980s
J. Dean Hinderliter ’82 (Richardson, Tx.) has joined Bracewell LLP in the tax department.
Joel Alexander ’83 (Springfield, Mo.) has been named the President-elect of the Southwest Missouri Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
Teresa (Thomas) Hursey ’84 (Des Moines, Ia.) has been named president of Amerigroup Iowa.
Anthony Roberts ’84 (Springfield, Mo.), Executive Director of Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, was named one of
the Springfield Business Journal’s 2023
Men of the Year.
1990s
Sherry (Thomas) Coker ’91 MBA ’14 (Springfield., Mo.) was honored for her professional and civic accomplishments and contributions by the Springfield Business Journal as one of the 2024 Most Influential Women.
David Townsend ’97 (Columbia, Mo.) has begun a role as Senior Vice President of the FNF Family of Companies overseeing the Agency Division’s Midwest and Midsouth region.
Mary McMullin M. Ed. ’99 (Nixa, Mo.) has begun teaching and supervising upcoming teachers at Missouri State University.
Steve Warlick ’99 (Bentonville, Ar.) has joined HFA Architecture + Engineering as Vice President and leader of the firm’s new healthcare team.
2000s
Ryan Kleiboeker ’01 (Springfield, Mo.) has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Strategic Planning Officer for diversified manufacturer Leggett & Platt.
Erin (Langley) Dail ’01 (North Little Rock, Ar.) graduated from the University of Arkansas with an Ed.D. in May 2024.
Ezekiel “Zeke” Jump ’04 (Chesapeake, Va.) is preparing to retire after a 30-year U.S. Army career.
Krystal (Prather) Creach ’07 (Springfield, Mo.) was honored for her professional and civic accomplishments and contributions by the Springfield Business Journal as one of the 2024 Most Influential Women.
Victoria “Tori” Fugate ’07 (Kansas City, Mo.) recently joined the team at Shelter Animals Count as their Director of Communications. Shelter Animals Count (SAC) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting, analyzing, and sharing data on animal sheltering across the United States.
Justin Powell ’07 (Bentonville, Ar.) has recently accepted a new role as Vice President of Data Strategy and Solutions at Synchrony.
Myleah (Webster) Shrimpton ’07 (Springfield, Mo.) was honored for her professional and civic accomplishments and contributions by the Springfield Business Journal as one of the 2024 Most Influential Women.
Amanda (Taylor) Snelson ’08 (Seattle, Wa.) was awarded the AIA Young Architect Award 2024.
Ashley (Fears) Krug ’09 (Springfield, Mo.) was named one of Biz417’s 10 for the next 10.
2010s
Nacy (Thornsberry) Ryerson M. Ed. ’11 was honored for her professional and civic accomplishments and contributions by the Springfield Business Journal as one of the 2024 Most Influential Women.
Anjanette LaBellarte ’12 MNCL ’17 (Springfield, Mo.) was honored for her professional and civic accomplishments and contributions by the Springfield Business Journal as one of the 2024 Most Influential Women.
Emily (Mientus) Wickersham ’12 (Saint Joseph, Mo.) is separating from the US Army after 8 years of active duty service in the Medical Corps.
Emelia Enquist ’14 (Stockholm, Sd.) received the South Dakota News Media Association’s 2023 Outstanding Young Journalist award in the weekly newspaper division, representing the Grant County Review in Milbank, Sd.
Ashley Freeman ’15 (Nixa, Mo.) has returned to Drury University as an instructor in psychology.
Matthew Suarez ’16 (Ozark, Mo.) was named one of the Springfield Business Journal’s 2024 Men of the year.
2020s
Taegan (Sumners) Hadlock ’20 (Aurora, Mo.), paralegal, is working with her sister, attorney Taylon Sumners-Schwartz to open a law practice in Mount Vernon, Mo.
Sam Marshall ’20 (Saint James, Mo.) graduated from medical school at the University of Missouri- Columbia in May 2024.
Madison Forck ’21 (Jefferson City, Mo.) has joined the Peace Corps and is working in HIV prevention in the Philippines.
Olivia Hall ’24 (Kansas City, Mo.) started a new position as a Building Enclosure Specialist at BranchPattern.
Caden Howard ’24 (Lenexa, Ks.) began chiropractic school at Cleveland University – Kansas City.
Marriages
Jennifer Morris ’09 to Kevin O’Brien
Catherine Robinson ’15 to Matthew Tohl
Births and Adoptions
Aelia Brown to Holly B. Bergman-Brown ’10 and Kalen Brown
Ford Creek Peebles to Natasha (Sanford) and Alex Peebles ’15/’15.
Deaths
Dorothy “Dee” (Cribbs) Kirkbride ’46
Dorothy (Hillhouse) Cowan ’48
Betty (Cole) Dukert ’49
Walter “Walt” Pettit ’49
Henry “Sandy” Schneider ’49
Richard Meyer ’50
JoAnn (Bryant) Brown ’51
Lois (Oxley) Sandford ’51
James “Jim” Findlay ’52
Jo Nell (Willhauck) McClernon ’53
Polly Copper ’55 M. Ed. ’63
Jack Atwill ’56
John Sayre ’56
Mary (Moore) Peterson ’57
Melba (Allison) Rector ’58
Gary Adamson ’59
Lillian (Jackson) Breyer ’59
Arryl Paul ’60
Joseph “Joe” Bohrer ’61
Samuel “Sam” Brown ’61
William “Bill” Gurley ’61
Evelyn (Callaway) Fullerton ’62
Jean (Keene) Chen ’63
Donald “Don” Shelhammer ’63
Donald “Don” Holliday ’64
James “David” Jones ’64
Joseph “Joe” Peters ’64
Marvin “Bud” Smith ’64
Frederick “Fred” Farthing ’65
Ronald “Ron” Journagan ’65
Mary (Kneemueller) Parker ’65
David “Dave” Schafer ’66
Thomas Sneed ’67
Brice “Chris” Hadley ’67
Lynda (Blodget) Settlemoir ’67
Catherine “Cay” (Coughenour) Sikes ’68
Jean Hicks ’69
Sandra (Smith) Carr ’70 M.Ed. ’89
Penelope “Penny” (Everling) Haggard ’70
Elizabeth “Beth” (DeBerry) Long ’70
Joseph “Joe” W. Montgomery ’70
Charles Pace ’70
James “Jim” Doran ’71
Rhonda (Chudomelka) Edge ’75
Henry “Ted” Harmon ’76
Gregory Vestal ’77
William Swineburg ’80
Donald “Don” Griffin ’82
Carolyn (Dunham) Hall M.Ed. ’82
Lyman “Gray” Squires ’83
Rebecca (Lape) Dickey ’91
Susan (Sherman) Talley ’03
David Carter ’03
Darcy (Dougherty) Houser ’07
Rabbi Walter Jacob ’50
Rabbi Walter Jacob ’50 (1930–2024) was a trailblazer in Reform Judaism and interfaith dialogue. He credited Drury’s liberal arts education for shaping his perspective. He received an honorary doctorate from Drury in 1990. A leading figure at Rodef Shalom Congregation in Pittsburgh, Jacob co-founded Germany’s Abraham Geiger College, revitalizing rabbinic education in Europe. Renowned for his scholarly contributions and activism, his legacy spans continents. His connection to Drury underscores the profound impact of education in fostering global leaders dedicated to community and faith.
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Connection
Leading Legacy
DRURY MAGAZINE FALL 2024
PUBLISHER
Drury University
Dr. Jeff Frederick, President
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Shanda Trautman
MANAGING EDITOR
Janet Rock
WRITER / EDITOR
Rex Ybañez
DESIGNERS
Max Prater, Janet Rock
PANTHER TRACKS EDITOR
Michelle Hethcoat
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Jasmine Cooper
Drury Magazine, a publication for alumni and friends of Drury University, is published twice each year. The mission of Drury Magazine is to engage readers in the life of the university, reflect the university’s values and capture the intellectual curiosity and distinct community that is Drury.
The views presented do not necessarily reflect or represent those of the editors or the official policies of Drury University.
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