Giovanni Pantoja (’18), Odessa. He worked as a producer for CBS 7 News in Odessa. His news station described Gio, who had fought cancer since he was a child, as a “force of nature.”

David H. Watkins (’58), Terre Haute, Indiana. He attended North Texas between a two-year stint in the U.S. Army. He studied cornet with John Haynie and horn with Clyde Miller. Following graduation, he played with the Dallas Symphony for five years. He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in music at Indiana University and spent the rest of his career on the faculty of Indiana State University teaching horn and music history, retiring in 1997. He played horn in the Terre Haute Symphony and Terre Haute Community Band, and used his piano skills as an accompanist and dance band pianist. He was a member of the UNT Alumni Association.

H.B. Cox (’56), Houston. He was president of his junior and senior classes. He was a charter member of the Sigma Nu Zeta Omicron chapter. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Air Force. He had a 35-year career with Shell Oil Co, living in Brazil, Syria and other spots around the world. He loved North Texas and especially the friendships he made through Sigma Nu.

Bill Densmore (’58, ’69 M.S.), Dallas. He taught history, as well as photography and student leadership, in Dallas ISD for 37 years. His love for history extended to the Munger Place neighborhood in East Dallas where he grew up, and he wrote two books about it -- earning the title of the “oldest new urbanist” from the Lakewood Advocate. During the Korean War, he was a U.S. Marines drill instructor. Former students often would go up to him on the streets and say “Mr. Densmore, you probably don't remember me” -- but he did.

Charlie Joe Cole Jr. (’58, ’61 M.Ed.), Denton. While attending North Texas, he played on the football team that brought racial integration to Texas football and was a member of the Geezles. He then served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He worked as a teacher, principal and superintendent for Pilot Point, Forestburg and Lake Dallas ISDs. Cole established Adult Probation Services in Denton and Cooke counties, serving as chief probation officer for 23 years. He also lobbied for a Breathalyzer tester. Cole loved to carve wood and attended church with his family regularly.

Gaston Lea Walker (’58 M.Ed., ’73 Ed.D.), Hurst. He taught in Plano ISD, served as a teacher and principal in Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, and was a professor of sociology and psychology at Tarrant County Junior College until his retirement in 1994.

Curtis Henry Funk (’67 M.M.E.), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. After receiving his doctorate from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, he taught music at Fresno Pacific College in Fresno, California, from 1968 to 1984 and at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, from 1984 to 2008, then retired to be near his children.

Quincy Armstrong (’54), Grandview. He played center position and linebacker from 1949 to 1951 and was first team for the All-Gulf Coast Conference in 1950 and 1951. In 1993, he was inducted into the North Texas Athletics Hall of Fame. After graduating, Armstrong played pro football in Canada, then played for the New York Giants and the Cleveland Browns. He later worked as a coach and administrator. While at UNT, he was a member of the Geezles.

Ronnie Tutt, Franklin, Tennessee. He played drums for Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond, Jerry Garcia, Johnny Cash, Stevie Nicks and other legendary musicians. His work can be heard on such albums as Billy Joel’s Piano Man, Gram Parsons’ Grievous Angel and Elvis Costello’s King of America. His passing was recognized by the Elvis Presley estate, Tanya Tucker and major publications, including The New York Times. He attended UNT from 1956 to 1959.

Leila Jaynes Meacham (’63), San Antonio. She was the author of several New York Times bestselling books, including Roses, Tumbleweeds, Somerset and Dragonfly. Meacham earned her degree in education and worked as a high school English teacher, where she first dabbled in writing romance books. After she retired, she took up writing “when I ran out of all the things I waited to do until retirement.”