Information about the deaths of the following alumni was received in the Office of Development. Please send information to University of North Texas, Alumni Records, P.O. Box 311250, Denton, Texas 76203-1250, fax to (940) 565-4519, send e-mail to alumnirecords@unt.edu or fill out the online form.

Click on the names for more information.

1930s [ top ]

• Josephine Welch ('31),Breckenridge. She received her bachelor's degree in elementary education from North Texas.
• Eva Tompkins ('32), Fort Worth. She received her bachelor's degree in English from North Texas.
• Mabel Landers Corder ('33), Fort Worth. She received the Texas first grade certificate in 1921 when she was 17 years old and taught for many years, retiring from the Fort Worth ISD in 1969.
• Vena Mae Brantley ('34), Irving. She received her bachelor's degree in mathematics from North Texas.
• Rhoads Mustain ('35), Dallas. He was a urologist in Dallas until his retirement. During World War II, he served as a surgeon in the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Silver Star for valor. At North Texas, he was president of the senior class.
• Reba Nell Barnes Allbritton ('36), Port Arthur. She taught at DeQueen Elementary School and retired from the Port Arthur school district in 1974.
• Opal Currin Davis ('37, '50 M.Ed.), Houston. She was an educator for 47 years and taught her last 20 years in the Fort Worth ISD.
• Jean Emogene Keedy Gage ('37), Fort Worth. She was married for 62 years until her husband's death in 2000. She traveled extensively and was an avid bridge player.
• Walter C. Grady ('37), Greenville. Grady, who owned General Motors auto dealerships in Greenville and in Rockwall, worked his way through North Texas by delivering milk for Brooks Dairy. He enjoyed playing football and watching his sons play football.
• Katherine Maurice Jones ('37), Las Vegas. She was married 64 years and was a lifelong educator, teaching science and chemistry in the Tulsa public schools and at the University of Tulsa.
• Eloise Speer Herring ('38), Fort Worth. She was a teacher for 48 years, including 22 years at South Hi Mount Ele- mentary and Stripling Junior High in Fort Worth.
• Orman L. Kimbrough III ('38), Longview. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a teacher and principal. He operated the O.L. Kimbrough Oil Co. until he retired in 1975 and served on the board of Longview ISD for 21 years.
• David Pierre Hollis Jr. ('39), Lewisville. He was a former mayor of Corinth and taught in Denton for 43 years. He also was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

1940s [ top ]

• Sibyl Ferguson Dungan ('40), McKinney. She taught first grade for 25 years in the Chambersville, Frisco, McKinney and Allen school districts.
• Adrian Gasperson ('41), Marshall. He was a public school administrator for 42 years, retiring in 1987 after working in Wise County, Weatherford, Mission, Waco and Marshall schools. He also served in the U.S. Army.
• Durward A. Reid ('41), Dallas. He served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and the Korean War, then worked in finance and insurance.
• Ouida M. Ledbetter Hagar ('45), Portland, Ore. She started the Meals On Wheels program in Washington County, Oregon, and held numerous offices in the United Methodist Women's Organization. She was an avid Portland Trail Blazers fan.
• Annie V. Stallcup King ('45), Plano. She taught in several Texas school districts, including Frisco.
• Jane Pullen Morris ('46), Sour Lake. She was a home economics teacher in the Hardin-Jefferson ISD before retiring and a longtime member of the Garden Club.
• Wilburn Curnutt ('47, '47 M.S.), Waco. He played on the first North Texas football team to go to a bowl game (the 1946 Optimist Bowl), and during World War II served in the U.S. Navy. He worked at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Waco, retiring in 1977.
• Olga Justine Begley Denham ('48), Nocona. She received her bachelor's degree in home economics from North Texas.
• John D. Rowlett ('49, '50 M.S.), Richmond, Ky. He was vice president emeritus for academic affairs and research and dean of faculties at Eastern Kentucky University, where he began teaching in 1951. During World War II, he served as a seaman in the Pacific.
• Vaughn Ray Smith ('49, '59 M.Ed.), Sherman. He served in the U.S. Navy as a tail gunner throughout World War II. He was a registered school business administrator and in May 1988 was named Educator of the Month by Texas School Business Magazine.

1950s [ top ]

• Pansy Taylor Dobbs ('50), Fort Worth. When she attended North Texas in the 1920s, she played the organ on Saturday nights to accompany the silent films shown in the auditorium. She liked to tell of the time she was playing "When My Baby Walks Down the Street" and looked up to see a herd of cattle moving across the screen.
• Tom D. Willis ('50), Sherman. He owned Tom Willis & Associates Real Estate and Insurance for 39 years. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War.
• Marjorie Heighten Beneke ('51), Austin. She taught music and second grade at Richardson Heights Elementary in the 1960s and also taught private piano lessons. She devoted countless hours to volunteer activities.
• William Reid Darnell ('51), Leesburg, Fla. He was chief financial officer for Florida Crushed Stone, retiring in 2000 after 25 years of service.
• Meryl M. Miller ('52), Fort Worth. He served in the National Guard and the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a lifelong salesman and sold real estate in the Arlington-Fort Worth area for more than 30 years.
• Gerald White ('52, '55 M.Ed), West Hebron, N.Y. He was a science teacher in Texas and Long Island schools.
• John C. 'Jack' Murray ('53), Garland. He received his bachelor's degree in business administration from North Texas.
• Malcolm Patterson ('53), Rockwall. He received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from North Texas.
• Robert M. Compton Jr. (attended '54-'56), Tulsa, Okla. He was a successful businessman and an accomplished pilot. He was involved with the Make a Wish Foundation and personally flew food supplies into Venezuela for flood victims.
• Erin G. Garrett ('54), Irving. He served in the Army from 1954 to 1956 and worked for 36 years with Exxon USA.
• Elaine Walker Ledbetter ('54 M.S.), Pampa. She received her master's degree in counseling and student services from North Texas.
• Russell D. McClure ('54 M.Ed.), Abilene. He was an educator for 48 years, 46 years with the Abilene ISD. He was selected several times as Teacher of the Year.
• Robert Randall Onstead ('54), Sugar Land. He was founder of Randall's Food Markets in Houston and served as chair of the board from 1966 to 1999. He had been president of Onstead Interests since 1999 and a limited partner in the Houston Texans since 2001. He was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 1993. In April he received UNT's Distinguished Alumnus Award.
• Anita Allison Bayless ('55), Fort Worth. She taught ninth-grade physical science in the Arlington ISD for 22 years and was twice awarded Teacher of the Year.
• Russell V. Browning ('55), Katy. He was the owner of Texas Wood Molding and had worked for Sinclair Oil Co. and in the oilfield equipment business.
• Jack W. Kay ('55 M.M.), Chattanooga, Tenn. He served as a minister of music for 27 years at the First Baptist Church of Chattanooga and was a charter member of the CenturyMen, a singing group made up of Southern Baptist ministers of music.
• Ben G. Karnes ('56), Wellington. He received a bachelor's degree in music education from North Texas.
• Jerry M. Jones ('57), Austin. He served with the 49th Armored Division at Fort Bliss and received his degree from North Texas in management.
• Henry C. Reese IV ('57), Gonzales. He worked for the Denton Record-Chronicle, owned a real estate company and worked in the oil industry.
• Betty June Kahler Berry ('58, '90 Ph.D.), Round Rock. She was a media specialist and resource librarian in several school districts and worked at the Texas Education Agency, eventually becoming the state's director of library media programs. The Texas Library Association named her one of the 100 Library Champions of the Century.
• Edwin Lavon Biggerstaff Jr. ('58, '58 M.S, '63 Ed.D.), Garland. He was a dentist in the Dallas area for 37 years. He was known to his patients as "Dr. B."
• George H. Riddel ('58 M.S.), Fort Worth. He was a Marine who served in the Korean War. A retired co-owner of Film Pak Inc., he was employed with Alcon Labs for 12 years before starting his own business.
• Winston Dix Stallings ('58 M.Ed.), Russellville, Ark. He was a band director in Arkansas public schools and worked for Beatrice Foods before becoming vice president of public affairs for Arkansas Tech University.

1960s [ top ]

• Barzella Harris ('61), Fort Worth. She was a longtime teacher and counselor. She earned her bachelor's degree from North Texas in speech and drama.
• Mary Jane Enderby Mann ('63), Nacogdoches. She was the organist at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nacogdoches and was also a successful music teacher. She and her husband had performed many recitals as duo organists, and they traveled extensively in Europe performing on historic organs.
• James P. Costa ('64), Dallas. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years before earning his bachelor's degree from North Texas in English. He worked in the medical field.
• Jack Hedrick ('65), Portland. He received his bachelor's degree in industrial arts education from North Texas.
• James W. Brothers Jr. ('66, '68 M.A.), Sweetwater. He was a dentist for more than 30 years and was a leader in Boy Scouts, Lions Clubs International and the local Rattlesnake Ridge Shooting Club.
• Seth Reynolds Downs Jr. ('66), Conroe. An Army veteran, he was the founder and president of Business Telephone Systems Inc. of Atlanta and co-owner of Corpus Christi Motor Sports.
• Henry O. Wilson ('66, '79 M.Ed.), Waco. He was a teacher and football coach in the Dallas ISD for 30 years, retiring in 1993. He also was an Army veteran.
• Howard Swindle (' '68), Granbury. He was an investigative journalist who earned three Pulitzer Prizes for the Dallas Morning News and served as the first guest lecturer for UNT's Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism (2000-01). He was editor of North Texas' student newspaper, the Campus Chat, in 1968 before being named Outstanding Journalism Graduate. He was a Navy veteran of Vietnam.
• James Brewer ('69), Temple. He received a bachelor's degree in secondary education from North Texas.
• Raoul Rosenthal ('69 Ph.D.), Carmel, Ind. He was a professor and researcher at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He enjoyed playing sports, including golf and tennis, and organized an adult co-ed beginner's hockey team.
• Anthony W. Sockwell ('69), Dallas. He was self-employed as a graphic artist for 32 years. He also coached and played soccer.

1970s [ top ]

• Nelson Lane Kelley ('70 Ph.D.), Kaneohe, Hawaii. He was a professor and chair of the Department of Management at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He served as director of the university's Pacific Asian Management Institute from 1986 to 1990.
• Stephen R. Landers ('71), Plano. He was vice president of administration at Shippers Warehouse in Dallas.
• Ronald Kent McComb ('71 M.B.A.), Fort Worth. He earned his bachelor's degree from North Texas in psychology.
• Frank G. Sanders ('71 M.B.A.), Irving. He worked in the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights for 31 years. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and an elder at St. Stephens Presbyterian Church.
• Edith A. Benjamin Washington ('71), Dallas. She was a teacher in the Corpus Christi and Dallas school districts and a church chaplain at the Dallas County jails and juvenile facilities. She sang for many years with the Reflection Singers and the Lovelights.
• Sara E. Owens Wilson ('72), Aubrey. She had worked at Members Choice Federal Credit Union.
• Digby Bernard Bell ('73 D.M.A.), Shawnee, Okla. He was a professor in the music department at the University of Oklahoma for more than 40 years and the department chair for 25 years.
• Georgia E. Sylvester Cortemeglia ('73), Dallas. She taught in the Dallas ISD for 30 years. She participated in many school and sports activities, and was known to love to ride her four-wheeler.
• Jimmie C. Lee ('73), Plano. He was the project manager for the Dallas Arboretum and served in the U.S. Army.
• Anna E. Case ('74), Charleston, Ore. She received her bachelor's degree in communication studies from North Texas.
• Don E. Adcock ('76), Odessa. He received a bachelor's degree in management from North Texas.
• Ronald Alfred Gainsforth ('76). He received his bachelor's degree in accounting from North Texas.
• Janetta James Hunter ('78), West Bend, Wis. She was employed by Forrer Supply of Germantown, Wis.
• Sylvia H. Trewin ('79 M.F.A.), Richardson. She received her master's degree in art from North Texas.

1980s [ top ]

• Glenna K. Rush Ishmael ('81), Dallas. She worked as a nurse for 40 years.
• Judith C. King ('81 Ph.D.), Springfield, Ohio. She worked at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the Office of Measurement and Signature Intelligence for 20 years and at Riverside Research Institute.
• Jeffrey D. Stevenson ('81), Fort Worth. He was the principal bassist with the Fort Worth Symphony from 1986 to 1997.
• Kenneth Lee McCoy ('86 M.Ed.), Wichita Falls. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years and then worked for the Postal Service until his retirement.
• Harold George Smead ('88 M.S.), Bloomfield, N.J. He was a technical services department supervisor in the Bloomfield Public Library. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1973 to 1977.

1990s [ top ]

• Troy Lee York ('90), Fort Worth. He was co-founder of the Step-One Club and the 24 Hour Club.
• Finley Stewart('91, '91 M.Ed.), Denton. He traveled internationally, narrating stories and speaking at schools, libraries and conferences. He helped found the statewide Tejas Storytelling Association and the annual Texas Storytelling Festival at Civic Center Park in Denton.
• Troy Michael Pizzolato ('92, '94 M.B.A.), Addison. He worked as a financial analyst for the healthcare industry and was a certified real estate appraiser.
• Brandon Lee Bow ('95), Dallas. He was an Eagle Scout who worked with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Denton for 10 years and was a commercial pilot.
• Wendy Wyland ('95 M.Ed.), Webster, N.Y. She won a bronze medal in the 10-meter platform diving at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, won gold at the 1982 World Championships in Ecuador and was a seven-time national champion. She received a master's degree in counseling and student services from UNT.

University Community [ top ]

• Watt Lesley Black, Denton , Professor Emeritus of education, 1963-1994. He earned his bachelor's degree from Henderson State Teachers College, his master's from Peabody College and his doctorate from Florida State University. At North Texas he was the founding director of the Meadows Excellence in Teaching Program and served as co-editor of the Southwest Journal of Education. Memorials may be made to the Dr. Watt Black Meadows Excellence in Teaching Scholarship fund (UNT Foundation, P.O. Box 311250, Denton, Texas 76203-1250).
• Irma J. Caton, Denton , Professor Emeritus of kinesiology, health promotion and recreation, 1962-1990. She earned her bachelor's degree from East Tennessee State College and received her master's and doctorate from the University of Tennessee. At North Texas she chaired the women's division of health, physical education and recreation from 1965 to 1975 and was chair of physical education from 1975 to 1985, when she returned to teaching. Memorials may be made to the Irma J. Caton Scholarship Endowment (UNT Foundation, P.O. Box 311250, Denton, Texas 76203-1250).
• Ernest H. Harrell, Fort Worth , professor of psychology since 1971. From 1981 to 1991, he directed the Department of Psychology's experimental psychology program and from 1991 to 2003 served as chair of the psychology department. Harrell, who received his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Texas Christian University, was a licensed psychologist and a diplomate in neuropsychology with the American Board of Professional Disability Consultants. In addition to neuropsychology, his research interests included rehabilitation, stress and biofeedback. Memorials to an endowed scholarship being created in his memory may be sent to the attention of Linda Marshall, University of North Texas, Department of Psychology, P.O. Box 311280, Denton, Texas 76203-1280.
• Andrew Smith Jr., Bay City, UNT junior and football quarterback, 2002-04. Smith died Aug. 7 in an automobile accident near Calvert. As a redshirt freshman in 2002, Smith led the football team to an 8-4 record and a New Orleans Bowl victory over the University of Cincinnati. He played in 20 games for North Texas with 16 starts and threw 1,393 yards and eight touchdowns. He came to UNT after a standout career at Bay City High School, where he led the team to a Class 4A Division I state championship in 2000.
• Walter Louis Spitz, Bangkok, Thailand, visiting assistant professor of English, 2001-2003. He attended Tarleton State University and UNT and earned a doctorate from Rice University. He taught
  at universities in Texas and Kansas as well as universities in Malaysia, Japan and Thailand.