To send us information about the deaths of North Texas alumni, fill out and submit the online form, send e-mail to north_texan@unt.edu, fax to (940) 369-8763 or mail to The North Texan; University of North Texas; University Relations, Communications and Marketing; P.O. Box 311070; Denton, Texas 76203-1070.

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1930s [ top ]

• Frances Louise Spradley Murphy ('36, '83 M.Ed.), Granbury. She taught in several Texas towns, retiring in 1975 as senior guidance counselor at MacArthur High School in Irving. At North Texas in the 1930s, she was president of the Ellen H. Richards Club, vice president of the Green Jackets, secretary of the Mary Ardens and May Queen of her senior class.
• Molly Lee Jarvis Weiss ('37), Nocona. She taught home economics in Nocona schools for 36 years. In 1971, she was named Woman of the Year by the Nocona Chamber of Commerce.
• Wilma Pope Boothe ('38), Minneapolis, Minn. She was a first-grade teacher and served as a primary supervisor for Amarillo public schools.
• Robert J. McCloud ('38, '52 M.S.), Dallas. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He worked for the Graham Leader, founded by his grandfather, and was associate editor of the Denton Record-Chronicle. He also taught journalism at North Texas and Texas Wesleyan and was a professor of journalism at East Texas State University.
• Lois Block Mantzel ('39), Richardson. She earned her business degree from North Texas.

1940s [ top ]

• James Woodrow 'Woody' Counts ('41, '51 M.Ed.), Arlington. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Texas during World War II. He then served for more than 40 years in public education, retiring in 1985 as superintendent of the Arlington ISD. He attended North Texas on a basketball scholarship.
• Clovis C. Cowan ('42), New Braunfels. He served in the U.S. Navy on the carrier U.S.S. Wasp during World War II. He worked for Humble Oil and Refining Co. for 20 years and retired from Northern Petrochemical, a division of the Enron Corp., in 1983. At North Texas, he was a member of the Talons and was voted most popular man on campus in 1942. He met his wife, the late Olive Virginia Hull Cowan, on campus.
• Margaret V. Glover Hayes ('42), Graceton. She was an elementary school teacher in Texas and Oklahoma. She and her husband owned the Hayes Oldsmobile-Cadillac-Nissan dealership in Ada, Okla.
• Lucile Ayres Payne ('42), Dallas. She worked as a technical illustrator during World War II and for 37 years was a partner with her husband in Payne Associates, Designers of Interiors. She was the founder of the Interior Designers Guild of Dallas and participated in mentoring programs at several universities, including UNT.
• W. Hattie Boyd Rainey ('42), Denton. She worked for nearly 50 years with W.V. Rainey Greenhouses Inc., a business that she and her late husband founded. Many of her family members graduated from North Texas, including her siblings and her sons, Bill Rainey ('68) and Tom Rainey ('73). Her family says that on her 85th birthday, she proudly stood up as an alumna at the graduation of her granddaughter Kati Rainey ('05).
• Jo McMurry McGouirk ('47), Fort Worth. She was a schoolteacher before becoming a full-time mother. She enjoyed music, art, theater, traveling and reading.
• Oleta Alby Knight Allen ('49, '53 M.Ed.), Bozeman, Mont. She taught in Texas public schools from 1929 to 1971. She began teaching in one-room schools in rural Young County and finished her career in Boerne and San Antonio high schools. Survivors include her son, Sam Allen ('81 M.B.A.), and her foster son, Douglas Welborn ('67).
• Billie Dell McGraw Watson ('49), Irving. She served as a librarian for the Joshua and Godley ISDs before moving to Irving, where she was head librarian at MacArthur High School for 27 years. She was also an avid bridge player.
• Edith Beckner Mulkey, Lubbock. She attended North Texas in the 1940s, then left to raise her family. She finished her bachelor's degree at Texas Tech in 1992 at the age of 68. She worked as an administrative assistant with the Lubbock ISD and was a Goodwill volunteer for many years after her retirement.

1950s [ top ]

• Mary Louise Burden Russell ('50), Abilene. She was a retired English teacher with the Fort Worth ISD.
• John Neely Smith ('50), Grand Prairie. He served in Normandy and much of the European theater during World War II. He came to North Texas on the G.I. Bill and retired from Vought after a long career as an aerospace design engineer.
• Clarence Leon Turner Jr. ('50, '54 M.S.), Dallas. "Coach" taught physical education and science in the Dallas and Corpus Christi ISDs for 34 years. After losing his sight, he attended the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center in Austin, where he became a career guidance teacher and helped students learn adaptive skills.
• Katy Oldham Metcalfe ('51), Greenville. She was a retired librarian who earned her bachelor's degree in library science from North Texas.
• Joyce Edgar Newman ('51), Dallas. She began her career as a fashion illustrator and commercial artist and in the 1970s pioneered a business that provided interior tropical plants to the design and architectural trades. She later gained distinction for her colorful serigraph prints.
• James Alexander Wylie Jr. ('51), Fort Worth. He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He was an industrial arts teacher for 33 years, including 28 years at Forest Oak Junior High School in Fort Worth. After retiring from teaching, he worked as a security guard at St. Joseph Hospital.
• Opal Charlene Buckingham Gnagy ('52), Midland. She taught for 34 years in Midland and was named the favorite teacher of first lady Laura Bush, whom she taught in the second grade. They stayed in touch for 54 years and appeared together in New York City in 2006 for a marketing campaign about teaching.
• George Paulissen ('52, '53 M.S.), La Porte. He served in the U.S. Army as a radar technician. After earning his North Texas degrees, he received a master's in nuclear physics from MIT. He joined Shell Oil Co. in 1956 as a staff research physicist and is credited with the development of several patents. He retired in 1990.
• William L. Heard Sr. ('53), Black Canyon City, Ariz. He was a retired electronic engineer who was interested in computers. He had moved to Arizona to take care of his mother, who preceded him in death.
• Byram E. Merrell Sr. ('53), Fort Worth. He was founder and president of Advance Petroleum Distributing Co. He had served as president of the board of directors for the Birdville ISD and president of the Texas Oil Marketers Association.
• Doris Shannon ('53), Richmond. Her son says she was proud to have been a North Texas graduate. She earned her bachelor's degree in art from North Texas.
• Glenn Bolin ('57), San Angelo. He served in the U.S. Army after graduation. He retired from Nestle Co. in 1991 and from Pillsbury in 1999. At North Texas, he was a member of Sigma Nu.
• Gilbert Eugene Carlyle ('57), Tyler. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and was employed for 28 years at Southwestern Life in corporate communications. After his retirement, he co-founded Corporate Cost Control.
• Carroll Ann Corson ('57), Houston. She founded and operated INS Software, which created software programs for insurance companies. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from North Texas.
• Sam Dale Rector ('57 M.Ed.), Fort Worth. He taught vocational agriculture for 39 years, first in Millsap and Krum and then for 23 years in Decatur. He also was a pastor at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and Bell Baptist Church in Decatur for 32 years.
• Bill Bruce Passmore ('59 M.Ed.), Dallas. He taught in Angleton and Richardson schools and served as principal of Richardson High School, Lake Highlands Elementary and Merriman Park Elementary. He also helped open the El Centro and Richland College campuses of the Dallas County Community College District and became an associate dean for the district. He supervised UNT student teachers from 1992 to 2003.
• Mary Alice 'Peggy' Keeling Pierce ('59), Waco. She was an educator for more than 40 years in Waco and Carrollton. She enjoyed sewing and doing needlepoint.
• Mary Alice Gunn Pilgrim ('59, '65 Ed.D.), Denton. She had served as an associate professor in the Department of Business Administration at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth.

1960s [ top ]

• Billy Joe Foster ('60), Fort Worth. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and then became the first person in his family to graduate from college. A reporter at numerous newspapers, he was working at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram the day of President John F. Kennedy's assassination. He and Bob Schieffer, later a CBS news anchor, interviewed Marguerite Oswald as they drove her to the Dallas police station the day her son, Lee Harvey Oswald, was captured.
• Judith Brassell Fulton ('61), Marietta, Ga. After graduating, she taught choral classes in Odessa schools. She was known throughout West Texas as "Miss Judy" on the Romper Room program and performed in community theater productions. She also was an accomplished song writer who was a worship leader and choir director in churches and at national events.
• Edward 'Sonny' Morrison ('68), Prescott, Ariz. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and worked at Morrison Milling Co. in Denton for 33 years, serving in a number of roles including president. He moved to Prescott in 1995 to raise Texas longhorns.
• Truman Teel ('68), Denton. He was a bus driver for the Denton ISD. He earned his bachelor's degree in finance from North Texas.
• John Elbert Yount ('69), Argyle. He was a State Farm Insurance agent. He earned his degree in journalism from North Texas.
• Penny Bass ('69, '76 M.S.), Seattle, Wash. She was a former teacher and a former in-flight supervisor and flight attendant for United Airlines.
• Marion Cunningham ('69, '72 M.B.A.), Carrollton. He earned his degrees in management from North Texas.

1970s [ top ]

• Lee Henry ('71), Dallas. She worked in art and design and owned a custom framing shop until her retirement in 2004.
• Kerry West ('71), Denton. He had served as a teacher and coach for the Denton ISD since 1972, including four years as head football coach at Ryan High School. He retired in May as the middle school athletics coordinator. He also trained in martial arts for 20 years and held a fifth-degree black belt in tae kwon do and a third-degree black belt in karate shin toshi. He and his daughter taught martial arts in Denton.
• Benjamin Wesley Tice ('72), Fort Worth. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 26 years and worked for Texas Instruments and Sedco Oil in Dallas.
• Lucile Cowles Guess ('74), Denton. She was an English teacher in Denton for 20 years and had traveled extensively throughout the United States and to many foreign countries, including Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Canada and New Zealand.
• Stanley Kent Curry ('75), Electra. He worked at Miller Brewery for more than 30 years and was interested in music. He earned his bachelor's degree in biology from North Texas.
• Ronald L. Robbins ('75), North Richland Hills. He was named Teacher of the Year in 1999 at Bedford Junior High School, where he taught for 11 years. He was a special education teacher in Seagoville for emotionally disturbed children and served as a professor of psychology and counseling at Tarrant County College. He also did mission work in India and South Korea.
• Stephen Lindley 'Linn' Smith ('75), Dallas. He started several small businesses, including his own landscape business, and was co-owner of an interior design company. He also was an author and involved in real estate. At North Texas, he was active in Campus Crusade for Christ.
• George R. Winston Jr. ('76, '82 M.Ed.), Dallas. He was a band director and later an award-winning salesman. He worked at Motorola and Nokia in training and development and was the founder of Winston Career Development.
• Kathryn Adrian Hansen ('79), Fort Worth. After graduating from North Texas, she earned a law degree and began her career at the Dallas Legal Aid Society. She later worked for the Arlington city attorney's office, including two years as chief prosecutor, and the city attorney's office in Fort Worth. She moved to Fort Worth's environmental management department in 1997.

1980s [ top ]

• Carol Oakley Smiarowski ('81), Buford, Ga. She was an associate professor of dance at Brenau University in Gainesville, Ga. As director of its dance program from 1994 to 2005, she helped develop new degrees and guide the program through its accreditation process. She performed with ballet and dance companies and was a lecturer at Spelman College after graduating from North Texas.
• Jeanne Inge Reid ('83 M.S.), Dallas. She earned her graduate degree in library science from North Texas.
• Philip D. Caramia ('87 M.P.A.), Dallas. He was a ­­senior analyst with the U.S. Government Accountability Office in Dallas, which he joined in 1985. His work led to improvements in agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and the EPA. Survivors include his wife, Penney Harwell Caramia ('84).
• Katharine Nelson Cooper ('88), Little Rock, Ark. She taught at public schools in Arkansas, most recently teaching French and English at Joe T. Robinson High School in Pulaski County. She also served as the school's advanced placement sponsor.
• Larry Glen Cooper ('88), Fort Worth. He was a quality assurance engineer at ADP Team Truck in Hurst for the past 11 years and was interested in sports and fitness.
• Sally Danforth ('89 M.B.A.), Dallas. She worked at Decision Analyst Inc. for 17 years, most recently as vice president of client services. She also volunteered at local animal shelters and for local environmental causes and was a supporter of the arts.
• Jennifer Anne Kemp ('89, '89 M.S.), Irving. She was a director with Deloitte Tax LLP, leading the Mid-America region's Global Employer Service co-sourcing practice. An avid Dallas Stars fan, she was a season ticket holder who went on road trips and got to hold the Stanley Cup after the Stars won the championship. At North Texas, she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.

1990s [ top ]

• Lorie Frazier-Friedenbach ('92), Bloomfield, Neb. She was a volunteer who loved soccer, her flower garden and teaching young children. She earned her UNT degree in education.
• Katherine Melody McGovern ('94), Fort Worth. She taught general education classes at Emma Robertson Elementary School in Granbury and special education classes at Souder Elementary in Everman.
• Beth Jordan Douglas ('95 M.Ed.), Granbury. Her career in education began in Duncanville at Byrd Junior High. She later transferred to Duncanville High School where she taught senior and advanced placement English until retiring in 2002.
• Regina Marie 'Gina' Hagins ('97), Dallas. She began her teaching career in 1997 at Peeler Elementary and continued at Rosemont Elementary School in Oak Cliff.
• Gene Hetsel ('97 Ph.D.), Gainesville. He taught at North Central Texas College and then at Southeastern Okla­homa State University as an aviation instructor and full professor.

2000s [ top ]

• Jessica Birge ('03), New Braunfels. She earned her bachelor's degree in theatre arts at UNT and was studying nursing at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
• Percy Holden ('07 M.Ed.), Arlington. He was an assistant principal at Fannin Elementary School in Grand Prairie and was working on his doctorate in educational administration at UNT. He was a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
• Taylor Austin Hicks, Highland Village. He was a senior majoring in communication design. He began classes at UNT in fall 2002.
• Lorena Sandoval, El Paso. She was a senior pursuing a bachelor's degree in entrepreneurship at UNT. She planned to graduate next May.
• Melanie Goodwin, Arlington. She was a sophomore studying radio/television/film at UNT. She graduated from Bowie High School in 2006 and enjoyed singing and acting in theater productions.
• Karl Edward Guy Jr., Fort Worth. He was a sophomore at UNT and a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity.

University Community [ top ]

• Richard Byrd Escue Jr. ('39, '40 M.A.), Denton, Professor Emeritus of chemistry, 1945-1985. After receiving his bachelor's and master's degrees from North Texas, Escue earned his doctorate from the California Institute of Technology. He was published in numerous scientific journals and secured grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, among others. He served as councilor for the Oak Ridge Associated Universities, where his work helped introduce radioactive gallium as a cancer detection tool. After retiring, he enjoyed traveling and had just returned from a trip to Egypt. He established the R.B. Escue Scholarship Award in chemistry education at UNT, first awarded this year.
• Marsue McFaddin Johnson Haviland, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, professor of English, 1965-1984. She came to North Texas after earning her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Arkansas. Her teaching specialties included the Renaissance and contemporary American crime fiction. In 1979-80, she became the first resident professor from North Texas to teach at the University of Lodz in Poland, as part of an exchange program between the two universities. She moved to Prescott, Ariz., in 1984.
• Wilfred "Flip" Shumway Higgins, Scottsdale, Ariz., Professor Emeritus of art, 1962-1983. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri and his master's from the University of Iowa. He taught painting and drawing at North Texas and did independent study in France and Italy. His art won numerous awards and was represented in more than 200 public and private collections. Memorials, payable to the UNT Foundation, may be made to the Wilfred Higgins Memorial Scholarship in the UNT College of Visual Arts and Design, P.O. Box 305100, Denton, Texas, 76203-5100.
• Adolphus Doyle Holder, Denton, associate professor of education, 1973-1998. He was a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War and later earned his bachelor's degree from Lamar University in Beaumont and his master's and doctorate from Colorado State University. Joining North Texas as head of the vocational education program, he served as a consultant for community colleges and coordinated statewide in-service workshops and other projects funded by the Texas Education Agency.
• Davie James "Jim" Lawson, Dallas, member of the North Texas Board of Regents, 1969-1976. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Lawson enrolled at North Texas and was in the first group of student senators to serve when the university introduced student government in 1948. He also worked on the Campus Chat newspaper. He was 11 credit hours shy of graduating when he joined the El Paso Times as sports editor. He worked at the sports desk at the Dallas Times Herald before becoming an assistant to Jim Ling in forming Ling Temco Vought (LTV). He later served as a vice president of the company and became the CEO of Resalab, an electronics company.
• Mark Mortensen ('91 M.S., '95 Ph.D.), Arlington, assistant professor of computer education and cognitive systems, 1992-2005. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin. At UNT, he earned a master's degree in computer education and cognitive systems and a doctorate in higher education. He specialized in computer applications for education and distance education and received a UNT Community Award in 2001 for his work with at-risk student-athletes. In 2005, he joined the University of Texas at Arlington, where he was an assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and served as technology director.
• Don Charles Palermo ('60, '66, '67 M.Ed.), Denton, director of admissions, 1969-1995. He served in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps and in the reserve for several years. He was president of the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and served on various national committees for the College Board. After earning bachelor's degrees in business and education and a master's in counseling and guidance, he completed many hours in higher education with an emphasis in student services and psychology. He retired in 1995 as director of research services in the admissions office.
• Mary Shepherd Thibodeaux ('76 Ph.D.), Denton, professor of management and associate dean of the College of Business Administration, 1976-2006. She earned her bachelor's degree from Grambling State University, a master's from Eastern New Mexico University and her doctorate in organizational theory from North Texas. Thibodeaux was named associate business dean in 1994 and served as interim dean from 2004 to 2005. She had received UNT teaching awards and was considered an expert on small business management, organization theory, self-directed work teams and multicultural diversity. Survivors include her husband, Alton Thibodeaux, founding director of the university's Office of Equal Opportunity in 1977.
• Pat M. Windham ('47, '51 M.S.), Plantation, Fla., associate professor of physics, 1956-1986. Windham served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He attended North Texas prior to his military service and returned to complete his bachelor's and master's degrees in physics. He earned his doctorate from Rice University. Windham taught in the accelerator and nuclear physics program at North Texas and spent summers as a research associate at the University of Wisconsin and Rice University. His specialties included negative ions, Van de Graaf accelerators, and energy and population studies. After retirement he was active in the Lifelong Learning Institute at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Fla.