Dr. Geraldine “Gerrie” Collins (’80 D.M.A.), Milton, Florida. She spent the bulk of her career as a professor of piano at Mississippi State University, where an endowed scholarship has been established in her honor.

Ralph Pace (‘59), McAllen. He was a U.S. Army and Korean War veteran who, after being honorably discharged, graduated with a business degree in production management. He worked in the packaging materials and equipment field for many years and in 1986 established Pace Packaging Materials and Equipment. He enjoyed spending time with his wife, Ginger, watching Dallas Cowboys games and movies, playing cards and vacationing at South Padre Island.

Mary Denny (’73), a member of the UNT System Board of Regents and a former state representative, died Sept. 14. She majored in education and mathematics and minored in chemistry at UNT, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She had served on the UNT Foundation Board and was appointed to the UNT System Board of Regents by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2018.

During a career focused on public service, she was precinct chair for Denton County for a decade and chairwoman of the Denton County Republican Party from 1983 to 1991. Gov. William P. Clements appointed her to the Texas Committee for the Humanities in 1990. In 1993, she was elected to the Texas House of Representatives and served seven consecutive terms.

A recipient of the Outstanding Texas Legislator Award and Common Cause's 1995 Star of Service Award, she volunteered with numerous community organizations. She was a member of the Denton Benefit League, United Way, Arts Council, City Federation of Women's Clubs and the Current Century Department of Ariel Club. She was a lifetime member of the UNT President's Council, and she also was a board member of the YMCA and numerous other civic associations. 

Memorial donations may be made to The Honorable Mary Craver Denny Scholarship Fund, which supports UNT students in need.

Kimberly ‘Kim’ Ledesma (’03), 53, a licensed vocational nurse who had worked at UNT’s Student Health and Wellness Center since 2014, died Aug. 26 in Denton.

She was born in Santa Clara, California, and her family moved to Denton in 1981. She graduated in 1988 from Denton High School and earned a general studies degree at UNT before completing a nursing program to become a licensed vocational nurse.

A memorial service is scheduled at 6 p.m. Sept. 12, with rosary at 6:30 p.m., at DeBerry Funeral Directors, 2025 W. University Drive in Denton.

Ben Morris Jr. (’67), Houston. A certified public accountant, he worked at Price Waterhouse & Co., served as a chief financial officer and president at Mid-American Oil Company, and as chief operating officer for the Tatham Corporation. He co-founded Sanders Morris Harris Group in 1987, serving as CEO from 2000 to 2009. A member of the Kendall Society, he gave back to UNT by establishing The Ben and Margaret Morris Endowment and co-established The Hershel Anderson Professorship in Taxation for the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. He was named UNT’s Department of Accounting Outstanding Alumnus in 2006 and was presented the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2011. A business mentor to members of the incarcerated population, he also played guitar and was an avid Houston Astros fan.

Patricia J. McClish (’70), Winters. A respected customer service agent in the insurance industry, she retired following a lengthy career at Dexter and Company in Dallas. She was also known for her singing voice, which boasted a range from low alto to high soprano. She and her husband, Gary McClish, had relocated two years ago to the Austin area to be closer to their daughter .

Joseph Edward Murray Jr. (’61), Lufkin. He led the Lufkin Daily News to a Pulitzer Prize for Meritorious Public Service for his work about a young man who died in Marine Corps training in the 1970s -- a series that also led to reforms in Marine Corps recruiting and training. It was one of many highlights in a long career that began when he worked for the Houston Chronicle. In the 1960s, Joseph began working for his hometown newspaper, earning the position of editor in 1969 and publisher in 1978. In 1989, he became a special writer for Cox Newspapers, writing columns that were also distributed by The New York Times and published around the nation. He loved traveling and continued his column until he retired in 2000.

Arthur James Cotten Jr. (’62), Murphy. At North Texas, he was a member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. He worked in the life insurance business for over 50 years. Arthur enjoyed fishing and spending time with his grandchildren, and he was known as a storyteller who loved a good joke. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nan Tuthill Cotten (’80).

James Everett Harrison (’59), Dallas. A production management major, he worked for over 30 years with Southern Union Co. and then worked for Kaufman, Munn & Associates P.C. and Chase Bank. James was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan, attending games at the Cotton Bowl and Texas Stadium, and later watching them on TV. He also flew extensively, commuting by air to Austin every day for three years and earning many airline awards. Memorials, with "Accounting Excellence Fund” on the memo line, can be sent to UNT Division of University Advancement, 1155 Union Circle #311250 , Denton, TX 76203.

Norma Lynn Knobel Hunt (’60), Dallas. A secondary education major, she served as president of the Chi Omega sorority and was named Woman of the Year and Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities while at North Texas. Norma also completed post-graduate study in Dublin, Ireland, as part of the Rotary Club’s overseas fellowship program. A former teacher, she married the late Lamar Hunt, who was best known as the Kansas City Chiefs’ owner and founder of the American Football League, which merged into the NFL. They also were founding investors in the Chicago Bulls. She was the only woman to have attended all 57 Super Bowl games. She also was an avid traveler and art collector and involved in numerous charities.