Sul Ross State University
A Member of the Texas State University System

News Release for Sept. 29, 2009

SERVICES SEPT. 29 FOR SUL ROSS PROFESSOR EMERITUS JAMES F. SCUDDAY

Graveside services were held Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Elm Grove Cemetery for retired Sul Ross Distinguished Professor Emeritus James F. Scudday, who died Sept. 24.

Scudday, an Alpine native who retired from Sul Ross in 1995 as a professor of Biology, taught 31 years at Sul Ross. He specialized in vertebrate biology and personally collected, identified and logged thousands of specimens.

In 1998, the Texas State University System officially designated the James. F. Scudday Vertebrate Collection at Sul Ross. Largely through his efforts, the collection is one of the largest of Chihuahuan Desert/Trans-Pecos specimens in the southwestern U.S. The Scudday collection features over 16,000 specimens, including more than 7,000 reptiles.

Scudday earned a B.S. from Sul Ross in 1952, a Master's of Natural Science degree from the University of Idaho in 1962 and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in 1971. He taught at Fort Stockton High School from 1952-54 and from 1956-62. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954-56.

He joined the Sul Ross faculty as an instructor in Biology in 1962, and was subsequently promoted to assistant professor (1969); associate professor (1973); and professor (1976). He retired July 31, 1995. Earlier that year, the Texas State University Board of Regents named him a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology.

He is survived by his wife, LaFerne, and three children, Jimmy, Marsha and Sharon.

ALPINE'S COLLIER, HOLMES, CLOUSE WIN PHOTO AWARDS AT SUL ROSS SYMPOSIUM

Three Alpine photographers, Bret Collier, Adam Holmes and Pam Clouse, received several top awards from the first Shooting West Texas Photography Symposium, held Sept. 24-26 at Sul Ross State University.

The event was attended by about 90 persons, almost all of whom were also professional or hobbyist photographers. Participants enjoyed two days of top photographers showing and explaining their work, portfolio reviews, opportunity for hands-on digital camera instruction, books, autographs, food, and a photo contest co-chaired by Jim Bob Salazar and Judith Parsons.

Thirty-two persons entered the photo contest. Collier's shot of Mattie Dunshee on horseback in a pen of cattle was chosen for two top awards. David Stoecklein, Canon Explorer of Light and Keynote speaker, chose Collier's photo for his "Speaker's Choice" award. Stoecklein said he admired the photo because the photographer seemed to disappear, allowing viewers to feel they were there. The same photo was also chosen for a Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine award.

Holmes's entry was chosen by Texas Parks and Wildlife's Chief Photographer, Earl Nottingham, for his "Speaker's Choice" award. Nottingham said, "This is a great example of a clean, well-done photo: great composition, excellent print quality, and beautiful presentation."

Clouse's photograph of snow covered Twin Peaks was chosen by Jason Hennington as his "Speaker's Choice." According to Hennington, "I've seen Twin Peaks a lot, but I've never seen Twin Peaks like that before! It is a beautiful photograph."

Out-of-town winners included: David Smith, Woodsboro, Keith Bowden Speaker's Choice; Macy Chionsini, San Angelo, Kathy Adams Clark Speaker's Choice; Lori Horn, Midland, Jay Dusard Speaker's Choice; Mari Lynne Johnson, Fort Stockton, Rocky and Monica McBride Speaker's Choice; John Harmer, Houston, selected by Dennie Miller; and Vicki Wiste, Houston, selected by Terry Nathan.

Vicki Mullins, Medina, received both the Diana Doan-Crider's Speaker's Choice and tied for the People's Choice Award with Chionsini. That award was chosen by attendees.

"Our evaluations were glowing and everyone says they will be back next year," said symposium organizer Dr. Barney Nelson,

"The first one is always stressful, but our mistakes must have been fairly minor. Our Canon representative, Bob Malish, was very impressed with the event, the audience we attracted, and our campus. He has promised to return next year with another top photographer and offer an all-day workshop on digital cameras. So, we will try to make it happen."

To stay informed about next year, check the web site at www.shootingwesttexas.com.

Photos:

Top, Bret Collier's shot of Mattie Dunshee horseback in a pen of cattle was chosen for two top awards at last weekend's "Shooting West Texas" photography symposium at Sul Ross. David Stoecklein, Canon Explorer of Light and Keynote speaker, chose Collier's photo for his "Speaker's Choice" award. Assisting with the awards is Joseph Roscoe, Sul Ross student and member of the new campus photography club, The Eyes of Nature.

Center, Adam Holmes's entry was chosen by Texas Parks and Wildlife's Chief Photographer, Earl Nottingham, for his "Speaker's Choice" award during last weekend's "Shooting West Texas" photography symposium at Sul Ross. Nottingham said, "This is a great example of a clean, well-done photo: great composition, excellent print quality, and beautiful presentation." Assisting with the awards is Joseph Roscoe (left), Sul Ross student and member of the new campus photography club, The Eyes of Nature.

Bottom, Pam Clouse's photograph of snow covered Twin Peaks was chosen by Jason Hennington as his "Speaker's Choice" during last weekend's "Shooting West Texas" photography symposium at Sul Ross. According to Hennington, "I've seen Twin Peaks a lot, but I've never seen Twin Peaks like that before! It is a beautiful photograph." Assisting with the awards is Joseph Roscoe (left), Sul Ross student and member of the new campus photography club, The Eyes of Nature. Story photos by Barbara Richerson.

RAKU POTTERY WORKSHOP OCT. 3, 17 AT MUSEUM OF THE BIG BEND

The Museum of the Big Bend will host a Raku pottery workshop on Saturdays, Oct. 3 and 17, 9 a.m.-noon in the Education Center.

Raku is a process that uses both smoke and fire to create unique patterns and designs in pottery. Each student will have the opportunity to create three pieces. Students will learn aspects of the Raku process, including sculpting, glazing, and firing.

Students must be at least 12 years of age and adults are welcome. All supplies will be provided and the cost of the workshop will be $30 per person.

For more information or to make a reservation, call (432) 837-8815.

MARSHALL LECTURER PROVIDES PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY

by Jason Hennington, News Writer

Guggenheim Fellow Jay Dusard traced his photographic journey west from the Gulf of Mexico during the 21 st annual Mary Thomas Marshall Lecture Sept. 24.

Dusard addressed "La Frontera and the West" to his audience in the Espino Conference Center of the Vic and Mary Jane Morgan University Center. Dusard, one of the featured presenters at the "Shooting West Texas" photography symposium held last weekend, has distinguished himself as a photographer of the American West. His large format black and white photographs of cowboys, border subjects and abstractions have received several awards and many gallery showings. His presentation featured photos from the book La Frontera shot in 1985, taken along the Mexican-American border with his large format camera.

"These photos start from the Gulf of Mexico and move west," Dusard explained during his introduction.

Dusard accompanied Alan Weisman, the writer of La Frontera, along the border. He explained he agreed to be the photographer because he was hoping the landscape would be beautiful, but then learned he would not just be shooting landscapes. The project became an opportunity for Dusard to photograph the Mexican-American border.

"Stories about the border become stories about people," he said.

During his presentation, Dusard displayed photos involving the Day of the Dead Celebration in Mexico, nuns, musicians, fruit pickers, and people who crossed the border illegally, drug kingpins, etc. Dusard spoke about how instrumental Wiseman was in obtaining people for photos.

"Alan Weisman found all the people I shot. I was lost the whole time," Dusard said. "Alan said if I had tried communicating with everyone I shot that I would have slowed him down."

With each photo Dusard displayed, he told a short story about the picture and how it came about. He recalled one picture of a border town where the people were out of focus, but the town was still in focus.

"This picture symbolized how I felt in some of the border towns," he said. "I felt claustrophobic in these border towns."

During the presentation, Dusard showed a mixture of photos and drawings. He said when he did not feel like making a photograph, he made a drawing. The photographs and drawings also included artists depicting their thoughts about border towns. One particular photograph featured border patrol agents, and Dusard spoke about being able to ride along with the agents prior to the picture.

"We rode in the Border Patrol helicopters and we got a chance to see how the Border Patrol does their job," he said.

Dusard closed his La Frontera lecture with photos of the southwest border fence in 1985 and present day photos of the fence.

"I liked it better back then," he said.

Although Dusard uses the large format camera for most of his work, he has learned some digital photography and even collaborated with some digital photographers for projects.

"I never loved the dark room as much as I should have," he laughed. "I have one foot in the digital age, and I have always believed in collaborating in the arts. I'm happy with what we have now."

Dusard studied with renowned photographer Ansel Adams and feels that was a great experience.

"He was important as a photographer, and also important as a teacher," he said.

A reception and book signing followed Dusard's lecture.

The Sul Ross State University Lecture Series was renamed in 1985 to honor Mary Thomas Marshall, a good friend of the University. On Feb. 21, 1992, the Board of Regents, of the Texas State University System approved renaming the Main Auditorium of Sul Ross to the Marshall Auditorium in recognition of her many contributions to the University.

Photo: Guggenheim Fellow Jay Dusard begins his presentation during the 21st annual Mary Thomas Marshall Lecture, "La Frontera and The West," Sept. 24 at Sul Ross State University. Photo by Jason Hennington.

SRSU Rodeo Queen Crowned

Photos: right, Hannah Magnuson, Deming, N.M, was crowned Miss Rodeo Sul Ross 2009 during the Sul Ross Rodeo Sept. 26. Magnuson, a sophomore agricultural business major, was sponsored by Hamby Construction.

She succeeds Amanda Renfro, Fort Worth. Magnuson also won the Interview, Appearance, Modeling and Congeniality portions of the judging. First runner-up is Ashley Buffington, Carlsbad, N.M., sophomore animal science major, sponsored by B&H Construction. Buffington also won the Horsemanship, Impromptu and Personality categories.

Victoria Rayborn, Burleson, freshman equine science major, sponsored by Comet Cleaners, won the Photogenic and Cowgirl Up competition; while  Stephanie Rodriguez, Seminole, senior equine science major and member of the Sul Ross Rodeo Team, sponsored by Big Bend Saddlery, won the Test and Speech competition.

Left, Stephanie Gonzales waves to the crowd prior to the crowning of Miss Rodeo Sul Ross 2009. Also pictured are fellow contestants (from left): Ashley Bluffington, Hanna Manguson, Victoria Rayborn. Photos by Peter Dindinger