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October 2007 Newsletter62nd SUL ROSS NIRA RODEO OCT. 4-6 AT S.A.L.E. ARENA Sul Ross State University – where intercollegiate rodeo began – will host the 62nd annual National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) event Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 4-6. Competition begins at 7 p.m. each evening in the S.A.L.E. Arena. General admission is $5. Children under 12 and Sul Ross faculty, staff and students with ID will be admitted free. Thursday, Oct. 4 will be a long slack, with performances Friday and Saturday evenings. There is no charge for the slack. Seventeen Southwest Region university and college teams will join Sul Ross in the competition, including: Angelo State University, San Angelo; Clarendon College; Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, N.M.; Frank Phillips College, Borger; Howard College, Big Spring; Mesalands Community College, Tucumcari, N.M.; New Mexico Jr. College, Hobbs, N.M.; Odessa College; Ranger Junior College; South Plains College, Levelland; Tarleton State University, Stephenville; Texas Tech University, Lubbock; Vernon Jr. Regional College; Weatherford College; West Texas A&M University, Canyon; and Western Texas College, Snyder. Six Sul Ross State University coeds will compete for the 2007 Miss Rodeo Sul Ross title. Coronation will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m., prior to the rodeo. Reigning Queen is Mary Briggs, Odessa. Candidates include: Sarah Ashley David, Cisco, a freshman majoring in reproductive physiology; Amanda Renfro, North Richland Hills, junior, kinesiology; Julie Lejsal, Pearland, junior, animal science/pre-veterinary medicine; Cayla Slaughter, Pyote, animal science; Kaydi Kubala, El Campo, senior, animal science; and Kayla Clingingsmith, Seguin, freshman, agricultural education. Sul Ross boasts nine national team championships, seven men's and two women's; and 24 individual event titles. The rodeo team won men's championships in 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1962, 1982 and 1983 and women's crowns in 1962 and 1985. Only Southeastern Oklahoma State University boasts as many national team championships, five men's and four women's. Current Sul Ross women's team member Kaycee Watt, Claresholm, Alberta, Canada, competed in goat tying at the 2006 College Finals Rodeo, and earned Academic All-American honors. Harley May, a member of the first three men's championship teams, won eight national collegiate titles, three world championships in steer wrestling on the professional circuit and was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1979. He returned to coach the Sul Ross rodeo teams from 1994-98. May won the all-around men's championships from 1949-51; bareback riding in 1949; bull riding in 1949-50; and saddle bronc riding in 1950-51. Tex Martin (1953) and Cody Lambert (1982) also won men's all-around titles, while Jo Gregory Knox,(1951), Elisabeth Prude Longbotham (1953) and Donna Saul (1962) claimed all-around women's crowns. Other Sul Ross national individual champions are: bull riders Johnny Ackel (1952), Ira Akers (1953), Tex Martin (1954); and George Eads (1962); saddle bronc rider Don Lee Smith (1958); and Bill James, who tied for first in calf roping in 1961 and won team roping in 1962. In women's competition, Charlotte Martin (1954) and Saul (1962) won goat tying championships; Saul won calf tying in 1961; and Jayne Gentry won breakaway roping in 1985. SUL ROSS HALL OF HONOR TO ADD 4 INDUCTEES AT HOMECOMING Former football coach Joe George, Belton; tennis and basketball standout Dana (Souter) Pannell; San Saba; volleyball player and coach Ruth (Roman) McWilliams, Marfa; and John Curry, Monahans, will be inducted into the Sul Ross State University Hall of Honor during Homecoming 2007. Induction ceremonies will be held Saturday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m. in the Becky Ramos Espino Conference Center, University Center. This year's class increases Hall of Honor membership to 104. George, presently an assistant football coach at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, compiled a 28-12 record during four years at the Lobo helm. His 1982 team went undefeated in the regular season and qualified for the NAIA playoffs. Pannell, a counselor in the San Saba Independent School District, a 1988 (B.S.) and 1992 (M.Ed.) Sul Ross graduate, was an all-conference basketball player in 1987-88 and an academic all-conference and all-district in both tennis and basketball from 1986-88. McWilliams, who coaches at Marfa ISD and is the women's athletic coordinator, was a three-time all-conference volleyball player for the Lady Lobos (1977-79) and later coached the volleyball and softball teams. She earned both a B.S (1982) and M.Ed. (1990) degree from Sul Ross. Curry, who retired from education in 2004 after a 36-year career, will be inducted as an Outstanding Booster. He has served as the public address announcer for Sul Ross men's and women's home basketball games since 2002. He earned a M.Ed. Degree from Sul Ross in 1979. Hall of Honor Banquet will be held with Distinguished Alumni/Outstanding Service Awards Banquet on October 27, 2007. Tickets are $17. R.S.V.P by calling 432.837-8226. See Homecoming. SUL ROSS GRADUATE SARA TANDY REGION 18 TEACHER OF YEAR
Sul Ross State University graduate Sara Tandy, Alpine, has been selected as the 2008 Region 18 Elementary Teacher of the Year. Tandy will travel to Austin Nov. 3 for a luncheon honoring all regional participants for state Teacher of the Year competition. She received a bachelor of science in elementary education and a master's of education degree in reading. In May, she was named Alpine ISD 2007 Elementary Teacher of the Year. "Teaching is not for the fainthearted," she said. "It is rewarding, yet an exhausting, profession because doing it right requires the use of body, mind, spirit and heart! When a teacher is passionate about her work, students and parents alike sense that and respond positively. Teaching in not only about grades or academics; it is about reaching the whole child." Region 18 is one of the 20 service centers in the state of Texas. Its geographic area is the largest in the state encompassing 19 counties, 33 school districts. It serves over 6,000 educators and approximately 81,000 students. Tandy is married to David Tandy, Sul Ross Lady Lobos basketball coach. They have two daughters, Courtney, a freshman at Alpine High School, and Ashley, a sixth grader at Alpine Middle School. She is the daughter of Raul and Esther Dominguez, Alpine. SUL ROSS' RANGE AND WILDLIFE CLUB WINS NATIONAL HONOR by Jason Hennington, News Writer
The Wildlife Society awards the National Chapter of the Year to encourage and recognize outstanding achievements by chapters of the Wildlife Society. This year Sul Ross was chosen for their accomplishments, participation in various activities and their impact on their members and the resource management profession. The National Wildlife Chapter of the Year award is given annually to schools with leadership in their community and shows active club membership as well as advocates of wildlife. "We are all really, really, really excited. We beat out a lot of big schools like Mississippi State, Texas A&M, and Arizona State, just to name a few," said Abel Guevara, Del Rio, club president. Guevara said the club has participated in various activities on campus, as well as in the Alpine community. "We are very big in the community," Guevara said. "We like to tell people what we enjoy doing." The Range and Wildlife club will be traveling to Tucson, Ariz. for the Wildlife Society's 14th annual conference and trade show Sept. 22-26 to accept their award. "This is definitely an accomplishment for the members of the club who worked hard," Guevara said. "It was very good for the club when the award was received." The Range and Wildlife Club has been a part of various events including their annual turkey shoot, a highway clean-up, spotlight counts at Elephant Mountain, the Sul Ross Range and Wildlife Wild Game Dinner and Big Game Awards, and booths at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo, staffed by Sul Ross club members. As a part of Homecoming activities, the club helps to collect wood donated for the annual bonfire. The club also placed second in last year's Homecoming parade. Dr. Louis Harveson and Dr. Bonnie Warnock serve as club advisers. "I'm very proud of our club and its membership and officers," Harveson said. "The Sul Ross State University and Alpine community has everything to do with our success. We are indebted to the West Texas landowners, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, biologists, the Nature Conservancy staff, and everyone else who has enlisted the help of our wildlife students." The Wildlife Society is an international non-profit scientific and educational association dedicated to excellence in wildlife through science and education. Their website (www.wildlife.org) provides information about the society including jobs, history of the society, and schools who are members. Guevara found Sul Ross through the Wildlife Society website, and enrolled here for hands-on experience. "What I've done here in a year put me ahead of the game," Guevara said. "We get to do the things you see on TV and get to see interesting things most people won't ever get a chance to see." Sul Ross is a member of the Southwest Section Chapter of the Wildlife Society, along with Texas State University, Stephen F. Austin University, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech University. The Range and Wildlife club has also participated in intramural sports at Sul Ross, calling themselves the "Wildlife Rangers." "We work hard and have a lot of fun and establish life long friendships. We have experiences that also last a lifetime," Guevara said. The Range and Wildlife Club is open to everyone and welcomes all majors. For more information, contact Guevara, (432) 837-8488.
COWBOYS, CHEFS AND CHILI HEADS: PHOTO EXHIBIT ON EXHIBITION AT MUSEUM
The Dallas photographers' exhibition opened Sept. 8 at the Museum of the Big Bend.and continues through Feb. 17, 2008. (Photo by Steve Lang) "Cowboys, Chefs and Chili Heads," featuring the photographs of Chris Regas and Andy Reisberg and celebrating the Terlingua Chili Cook-off, opened Sept. 8 at the Museum of the Big Bend. The exhibition continues through Feb. 17, 2008 at the Museum, located on the Sul Ross State University camps. Museum hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sundays. This photography exhibition pays tribute to the "Original Terlingua International Frank X. Tolbert – Wick Fowler Memorial Championship Chili Cook-off," founded in 1967 by Frank X. Tolbert. This two-person exhibition is comprised of approximately 100 color and black & white photographs created between 1968 and 2006. Regas presents a cross section of his best work from 1968-2005, and Reisberg presents contemporary imagery in black & white and color taken since first attending the Cook-off in 2003. The exhibit has three distinct sections; "Old Town," "Behind the Store" and "Cowboy Camp." Regas presents some of his vintage black & white photographs from the early years of this tradition. Andy Reisberg presents medium and large format black & white photographs of Cowboy Camp taken over the past three years. The rich textures of the south Texas landscape and romantic qualities of a bygone era are evident in this section of the exhibit. Regas (b.1926) is a fine art photographer, commercial photographer and teacher residing in Dallas, Texas. Regas' career in photography spans five decades in Texas. His first artistic foray into fine art photography occurred in 1968 while traveling in and around the Reisberg (b.1956), a photographic conservator and gallery director in Dallas, founded Photographic Archives Lab & Gallery in 1981. Reisberg specializes in the repair and reproduction of historical photography, and provides custom black & white darkroom services as well as state-of-the-art digital restorations. He was the recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities Grant in 1979 for his photographic project, 'Texas Neon, An Historical Survey of Our Cultural Artifacts', a visual and oral history documentation of neon sign making in Texas. And in 1990, he received a grant from the Friends of the Dallas Public Library to conduct a rephotography survey of the city, which resulted in a publication entitled 'Dallas, Then & Now.' In 2006, Reisberg was appointed the "Official Photographer" of the 40th Anniversary of the Terlingua Chili Cook-off. For more information, contact Liz Jackson, Museum of the Big Bend, (432) 837-8143; Reisberg, (214) 352-3167; Regas, (972) 247-2312; or Kathleen Tolbert Ryan, (817) 251-1287. EX-BANDERA BULLDOGS REUNITE AS LOBOS by Jason Hennington, News Writer Five Bandera High School graduates are on the 2007 Sul Ross State University football roster. Bulldogs turned Lobos are (from left): Jacob Warden, Westley Miller, Jimmy Farmakakis, Marland Harrison and Michael Van Wagner. (Photo by Jason Hennington)Michael Van Wagner and Jacob Warden led the way, and a year later, three Bandera teammates followed.
Sul Ross State University's football roster now boasts five former Bulldogs who left the pound to join the Lobo Pack. Kicker Van Wagner and wide receiver Warden returned to action this season are joined by high school teammates Jimmy Farmakakis, Marland Harrison, and Westley Miller. Van Wagner and Warden soon became recruiters after inviting three of their longtime friends to join them as Lobos. "They came and dragged me out of the oil fields," laughed Harrison. Harrison and Farmakakis spent their first years out of high school in the oil fields, while Miller, who graduated a year earlier than the others, attended different colleges before coming to Alpine. "I came to a game last season and talked to the coaches about playing here," Miller said. Prior to Sul Ross, Miller attended Hardin-Simmons University and later attended North West Vista Community College in San Antonio. He began his studies at Sul Ross in the spring of 2007. "I decided it was to time to get away from home again," Miller laughed. For the Bandera Boys, both location and positions changed at Sul Ross. "None of us play what we did in high school," Warden said. Warden, who now plays wide receiver, played cornerback in high school, but loves the change. "I hated playing corner, and I love playing receiver," he said. Harrison played defensive tackle in high school and was moved to the opposite side of the line once he got to Sul Ross. "I'm playing, so I don't care," he said. Farmakakis made the jump from defensive end to center, but says it does not bother him at all. "I'm agile so I can handle it," he laughed. Miller also moved from defense to offense, going from free safety to wide receiver. "We should have all been playing both ways in high school anyway," he said. Van Wagner did not change positions, but lightened his load as a player. In high school he played cornerback and wide receiver, in addition to handling the kicking chores. "It's still a load," he said. "I think the post got smaller or maybe it's just my vision" Van Wagner is chiefly responsible for the Bandera infusion. He convinced Warden not to join the Marines and to come to Sul Ross, instead. "I came here because the coaches called me back," Van Wagner said. "I came to meet the coaches and told Jacob to come play." The former Bulldogs spent most of their years together playing Little League, middle school, and high school sports. Van Wagner is a relative late-comer, joining the group in eighth grade. "I remember he was my back-up in middle school," Farmakakis laughed. He was easily accepted as a teammate and a friend, and has remained so since then. Even after high school, they remained close, and eventually ended up together again. During a visit from the oil fields, Harrison and Farmakakis attended a Sul Ross game, and after a conversation with Warden, they were persuaded to come and play football. "I knew they still wanted to play, and they wanted to go somewhere they knew they would play," Warden said. "I thought they had a good chance to play here." Like their high school days, there is a connection on the field as well as off the field between the friends. "Our two classes (Miller in 2005 and the rest n 2006) were close, and we all hung out together," Farmakakis said. "None of the other classes were close like ours." "It almost feels like high school again because we're all still together," Miller said. Their hometown roots do bring "We get a lot of crap, jokingly, from the coaches about being from Bandera," laughed Farmakakis. "When we were hurt they would say stuff like 'it must be something in the water down there.'" Having friends on the team made it that much easier for Harrison, Farmakakis, and Miller to fit in. "That makes it easier when you have someone on the team you already know," Harrison said. After two consecutive 4-6 won-lost seasons in high school, the Bandera Boys seek want another chance to be a part of a winning team. Sul Ross provides that opportunity. "It's good playing with these guys and knowing that we can make a good contribution to a college team," Warden said. "We're getting a chance to make a name for Bandera." Van Wagner said "family sticks together," and through thick and thin, the boys from Bandera have remained close. "Not a lot of people have come this far. We've stuck it out together," Farmakakis said. "It feels like home." "Playing with them, I don't get homesick," Harrison said. As Bulldogs, these five young men have seen ups and downs. As Lobos, they hope to have a positive impact on the team. Sul Ross club wins national award Sul Ross' Range and Wildlife Club recently won a national chapter of the year award from The Wildlife Society. Officers (from left) include: John Kinsey, Lockhart, vice president; Josh Popham, Strawn, vice president; Abel Guevara, Del Rio, president; Lisa Guevara, Joplin, Mo., secretary; and Stacy Duckett, Austin, treasurer. (Photo by Jason Hennington) LUCY REDE FRANCO SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT ESTABLISHED AT SUL ROSS
Family members established an endowment in honor of Lucy Rede Franco, longtime Presidio educator and the first Hispanic student to enroll at Sul Ross State University. From left are: Delfina Anderson, Yvonne Franco Hinojos, Rene Franco, Sr., Sul Ross President Dr. R. Vic Morgan, Carmelina Holloway and Rachel Roberts. (Photo by Jason Hennington) Family members have established a scholarship endowment in honor of Lucy Rede Franco, the first Hispanic student enrolled at Sul Ross State University. The Lucy Rede Franco Scholarship Endowment and Fund will provide scholarships to Presidio High School graduates enrolled in teacher education at Sul Ross. Eligible applicants must be fully admitted to Sul Ross if beginning freshmen. If returning students, applicants must be making normal progress toward a degree and have an overall grade point average of 2.5 or higher. Family representatives Delfina Alicia Anderson, Presidio; Rene Franco, Sr., Presidio; Yvonne Franco Hinojos, El Paso; Carmelina Holloway, Decatur; and Rachel Holloway Roberts, Keller, along with President R. Vic Morgan, established the endowment Sept. 21. Other contributors who are family members are Abelardo Franco, Presidio; Adalberto Franco, El Paso; and Rede Franco, El Paso. Lucy Rede, daughter of Eusebio and Mary Ann Rede, was born Feb. 3, 1902 in Shafter. The family moved to Redford, where Lucy's mother worked as postmistress and also taught English. Lucy Rede enrolled at Sul Ross Normal College in Alpine in 1920. Following one year of study, she passed her teaching exam and began teaching in Redford. She received her B.A. degree from Sul Ross in 1956. Her teaching career continued until 1972, when she retired after a long career in the Presidio Independent School District. In 1985, the Presidio ISD named the Lucy Rede Franco Middle School in her honor. She married Manuel Franco in 1924 and the couple's eight children all received college degrees. A total of 11 degrees were conferred on family members from Sul Ross. In 1959, Luce Rede Franco was chosen Texas Mother of the Year by the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs. In 1960, she was named Texas' Mother of the Year by the American Mother's Committee in New York. She died in 1977. "This endowment is a true testament to a woman whose love of and belief in higher education was an inspiration to both her family and countless other individuals," said Morgan. "We are deeply grateful to the Franco family for their generosity in keeping the Franco legacy a part of Sul Ross for future generations." Sul Ross endowments now exceed $12 million. For more information on endowments, contact Leo Dominguez, associate vice president for Advancement and University Relations, (432) 837-8033 or leodo@sulross.edu. FALL SEMESTER ENROLLMENT SHOWS SLIGHT INCREASE Sul Ross State University's fall semester preliminary enrollment showed a one percent increase, up 20 students from last year. As of the 12th class day, 1,849 students were enrolled, compared to a final enrollment of 1,829 for Fall Semester 2006. Semester credit hours dipped 1.9 percent, from 20,476 to 20,082. Class breakdowns showed 508 freshmen, 267 sophomores, 202 juniors, 286 seniors, 45 post-baccalaureate and 541 graduate students. This fall, 958 female and 891 male students are enrolled, with a total of 1,760 in-state students and 89 non-residents. Figures fluctuate because some students are dropped for non-payment of tuition and fees. Many pay and are reinstated, but sometimes this occurs after the official reporting deadline. "Each semester, about 100 students wait until the last minute to pay their tuition and fees," said Dr. David Cockrum, provost and vice president for Academic and Student Affairs. "We are conducting a major telephone and e-mail reminder to students to have tuition and fees paid on time." OCT. 25 DOYLE BRAMHALL CONCERT TO BENEFIT BLANTON FOLKLORE FUND Texas blues legend Doyle Bramhall and his band will perform in concert Thursday, Oct. 25 at Sul Ross State University. General admission is $3 per person for "An Original Night With Doyle Bramhall," a 7 p.m. concert in Marshall Auditorium. Students, faculty and staff will be admitted free with Sul Ross ID. Proceeds from the concert go to the Ira Blanton Folklore Excellence Fund, which is used for folklore scholarships. Blues music, an American original, plays a major role in folklore studies. Bramhall, who performed with the late Stevie Ray Vaughn as the Nightcrawlers, will be playing songs from his latest album, "Is It News." The Sul Ross concert is billed as the second CD release party, the first scheduled Oct. 6 at the Continental Club in Austin. Bramhall wrote or co-wrote many of the songs on his new album and recorded several in New Orleans just a few months after Hurricane Katrina. As a singer, songwriter and drummer, Bramhall has been an integral part of Texas blues for nearly 40 years. He and his band, the Chessmen, first opened for Jimi Hendrix in Dallas in 1968. He moved to Austin with the band's guitarist, Jimmie Vaughn, and they formed Storm. Later, Bramhall left and formed the Nightcrawlers with Jimmie's younger brother, Stevie Ray. Two of Bramhall's compositions, "Change It" and "Lookin' Out the Window" became staples in Stevie Ray's repertoire, and the pair collaborated on several more classics as well. He released his debut album, "Bird Nest on the Ground," in 1994. His triple-threat abilities (singing, songwriting, drumming) have been widely acclaimed by critics. Find more information on Bramhall at My Space.com and at Doyle Bramhall.com. |
Alpine Elementary School teacher and Sul Ross graduate Sara Tandy teaches a phonics lesson to first graders Macy Molsbee, Jacque Marquez, Michael Muniz and Hannah Beasley. Tandy was recently named the Region 18 Elementary Teacher of the Year. (Submitted Photo)
Sul Ross State University's Range and Wildlife Club was recently recognized as the National Chapter of the Year by the Wildlife Society.
Chris Regas (left) and Andy Reisberg reminisce at the opening of their exhibition, "Cowboys, Chefs and Chili Heads," photographs celebrating the Terlingua Chili Cook-off.
