UNT friends

Alice Miller

Alice Miller, 96, who gave generously to UNT along with her husband, the late Jim Miller, Dean Emeritus in the College of Education, died March 29 in Willow Park. Alice, a former nurse, and Jim moved to Denton in 1976 after he accepted a position at UNT. After she earned a degree in fashion design and textiles at Texas Woman’s University, she worked as a designer for FOSHA, a high-end women’s clothing company in Dallas. She also enjoyed painting, especially with oil paint, and participated in local art shows in Denton. Her final wish was to have memorial tributes made to the Dean Emeritus J.R. Miller Scholarship or the E. LaMar Hoke Memorial Scholarship at UNT.

Pearl Bilger

Pearl Bilger, 79, who was a member of the President’s Council for her generous contributions to UNT, died Feb. 5 in Arlington. Bilger and her husband, Harry Bilger, established the Dr. Marlys Lamar Scholarship to benefit students who want to pursue counseling psychology. They also have a planned gift that will support students in the Department of Psychology. She served as a teacher in numerous parts of the U.S. and settled in Denton with her husband upon their retirement.

Fred Patterson

Photo of Fred PattersonFred Patterson, who was a member of the College of Music Support Council as well as the Matthews Society, died Feb. 19 in Denton. He was the owner of the Denton-Record Chronicle until his retirement in 1999 and was frequently praised for his support of Denton’s arts. He co-founded the Redbud Festival, which is now known as the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival, as well as the Denton Holiday Lighting Festival, and he helped in the establishment of the building for the Greater Denton Arts Council – which was later named the Patterson-Appleton Center for the Visual Arts in honor of Fred and Roy Appleton Jr., general manager of the Record-Chronicle. Fred and his late wife, Patsy, were avid supporters of UNT’s College of Music and established three scholarships: The Patsy C. and Fred W. Patterson College of Music Scholarship Enrichment Fund, The Patsy C. and Fred W. Patterson String and Voice Scholarship, and the Fred and Patsy Patterson Orchestra Endowed Scholarship. He was active in several initiatives for UNT, including spearheading fund-raising efforts and serving on search committees, and also was a member of the President's Council and the North Texas Athletics Trustees. He received a UNT presidential citation in 1985.

Miriam Glock

Miriam Glock, 100, who was a member of the President’s Council for her generous contributions to UNT, died Aug. 6 in Davis, California. Her donations include the William Darby Richardson Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund, a grant created in honor of her nephew who graduated from the Mayborn School of Journalism in 1978. She was very active in community groups and spent many hours volunteering to teach English to new immigrants.

Don Winspear

Don Winspear, 62, of Dallas, who gave generously to UNT’s College of Music, died Sept. 17. He followed the path of his parents, Margot and Bill Winspear, whose contributions led to the naming of The Margot and Bill Winspear Performance Hall at UNT’s Murchison Performing Arts Center. Don served as a market research consultant for his company, Crescent Research, which he founded in 1977. Additionally, he served on the boards of the AT&T Performing Arts Center and the Dallas Opera. He also worked as a scout leader and assisted with his church.

Lois “Bunny” Thomsen

Lois “Bunny” Thomsen, 91, of Dallas, who donated generously to the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, died March 17. She and her late husband, Tommy, were members of the Chilton Society. She founded Lois Luhnow Interiors, an interior design business, designing homes in Dallas.

Marilyn Haynie

Marilyn Haynie, 90, of Denton, who helped establish the John and Marilyn Haynie Trumpet Scholarship with her husband, the late John Haynie, Professor Emeritus of music, died June 21. She met John at the University of Illinois, where she attended school and served as principal flute in Concert Band and Symphony Orchestra. She and John married in 1951, and the couple moved to Denton when John came to UNT’s College of Music. Marilyn traveled alongside John, playing piano during his trumpet performances, and assisted in recruiting students for his UNT trumpet studio. She also taught piano and flute, volunteered at Hodge Elementary School and was involved in Pi Beta Phi, Meals on Wheels, the Women’s Association and more.

 

Norman Thomas

Norman Thomas, 88, of Denton, who donated generously to UNT, died Oct. 8. His contributions benefited the College of Music with The Rainbow-Froehlich Community Outreach and Scholarship Fund. In 1951, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served for four years before graduating from the University of Virginia with a degree in science. He worked for the Environmental Protection Agency for 32 years.

Richard Knight Jr.,

Richard Knight Jr., 76, a former member of the UNT System Board of Regents who was Dallas’ first Black city manager, died Nov. 23 in Dallas.

He was a member of the Board of Regents from 1999 to 2002.

Knight served as assistant city manager for Dallas from 1982 to 1986, then took helm as city manager from 1986 to 1990 during which time he spearheaded the expansion of the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park and the Dallas Convention Center.

He founded several companies, including Knight Waste Services, and was active in numerous nonprofit organizations.

He previously worked as city manager in Durham, North Carolina; Carrboro, North Carolina; and Gainesville, Florida.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Fort Valley State University and his master’s degree from the University of North Carolina. He was a member of the U.S. Army and served in the Vietnam War.

Charles Rouh

Charles Rouh, 74, of Grapevine, a member of the Chilton Society, died Aug. 10. He and his wife, Peggy Rouh ('95 M.S., '01 Ph.D.), an adjunct professor in the College of Information, established The Drs. Jerry and Michelle Wircenski Scholarship in the College of Information that supports students of applied technology and performance improvement. The scholarship was created to honor the impact the professors had on Peggy Rouh’s life.

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