Sul Ross State University

GALLEGO TO DELIVER AUG 9. COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

State Rep. Pete P. Gallego will deliver the Sul Ross State University summer commencement address, scheduled Saturday, Aug. 9.

Commencement exercises will be held at 10 a.m. in the Pete P. Gallego Center on the Alpine campus. A total of 125 students are candidates for degrees, 84 on the Alpine Campus and 41 from Rio Grande College.

Gallego, an Alpine native and Sul Ross graduate, has served the 74th District of the State House of Representatives since 1991.

Texas’ largest House district includes Brewster, Culberson, Edwards, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde and Ward counties. The 74th House district is also the largest Texas U.S.-Mexico border district, stretching nearly 39,000 square miles and containing over half of the Texas/Mexico border.

Elected in 1990, Gallego is the first Hispanic to represent this vast border district. In 1991, he became the first freshman member and the first ethnic minority member ever elected as chair of the House Democratic Caucus, a post he held until January 2001. In January 2001, Gallego was unanimously elected by his colleagues to serve as chair of the Mexican-American Legislative Caucus (MALC), a group of 43 House members who are of Mexican-American descent or who serve a significant Mexican-American constituency. He was re-elected as chair of MALC for the fourth time in 2006.

Now in his ninth term, Gallego’s career has included chairmanships of the General Investigating Committee and several select and subcommittees. He has also served as a member of the Sunset Commission and the Committees on Appropriations, Calendars, Criminal Jurisprudence, Higher Education, Elections, Government Reform, and Natural Resources.

Gallego graduated from Sul Ross in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in political science. In 1985, he earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from The University of Texas School of Law. He is a member of the Sul Ross State University Athletic Hall of Honor as an outstanding booster, and has been named a Distinguished Alumnus by the Sul Ross Ex-Student Association.

In the Legislature, Gallego is an expert in appropriations, law enforcement, criminal justice, campaign finance and victims' rights.

He served on the joint House/Senate conference committee on the state budget for five consecutive sessions from 1993-2001 and has received numerous awards, including the

Advocate for Justice award from a coalition of Texas victims' groups and the Star of Texas public service award by Common Cause of Texas. Following the 1999 session, he was selected as one of Texas Monthly’s Ten Best legislators. Most recently, he received the prestigious OHTLI Award from the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs for his contributions to the betterment of the Mexican community in Texas.

He and his wife, Maria Elena, have one son, Nicholas.

ADOLESCENTS' ANTI-SMOKING PERCEPTIONS WOODS' MCNAIR RESEARCH SUBJECT

Researching adolescent response to anti-smoking campaigns has served a several purposes for Sul Ross State University student Nitra Woods.

Woods, Andrews TX, gained insight on targeted age groups, as well as what age groups may need to be addressed. In addition, her work will better prepare her for graduate school projects. She is one of over 20 Sul Ross undergraduates participating in the McNair Scholars Program Summer Research Institute.

"I have looked up articles in different journals to see if there was any effect on adolescents and how they perceive smoking," said Woods, who will graduate in August with a bachelor's degree in Communication.

"How does family and peer pressure affect children's decisions? I also wanted to see if role models like Lindsay Lohan or Brittany Spears doing public service announcements (PSAs) will affect an adolescent."

The result?

"While these methods are a very positive way to get kids not to smoke, there are no conclusions, just so much information," Woods said. Subsequently, with the help of her McNair Program adviser, Dr. Esther Rumsey, Woods narrowed her scope.

"Nitra is doing a literary review that would lead to a research proposal," said Rumsey, associate professor of Communication and chair of the Fine Arts and Communication Department. "This in itself is fairly time-consuming, and anti-smoking campaigns are a fairly broad topic.

Consequently, she narrowed her focus to children, then to African American children."
Woods, who is considering pursuing a master's degree in the health communication field, is interested in conducting her own research as well. "I really want to do my own testing if time will allow," she said."I would like to survey some eight-to-12-year-olds and ask them questions about how they feel about smoking: Is it wrong? Have parents or friends influenced you? Later, I would show these children a video clip on the effects of smoking to see if their answers changed"

Woods' reviews thus far have discovered that most children start smoking at the age of 18, but African Americans have the lowest smoking rate in the 15-18 age group. However, African American males in the 18-24 age group have the highest smoking rate.
Why this group chooses to start smoking later is one of the points Woods seeks to address in future research.

"Anti-smoking ads are different for 14-year-olds than 18-year-olds," said Rumsey. "There is a need to review the ads that target later ages, see what's there and what needs to be addressed." Rumsey praised both Woods' project and the McNair Program. "Nitra chose this project because students working toward a master's degree in health communication can typically do two to three literary reviews per semester. This helps them learn to read and assess the material, how to pull it together for a cohesive review and how to use the American Psychological Association (APA) format." "I think this is a good program," Rumsey said. "Knowing how to access literary material is a must for success in graduate school."

The McNair Program, named after African American astronaut Ronald E. McNair, who perished during the 1986 launch of the space shuttle Challenger, is designed to assist low income, first generation, and/or under represented students earn doctoral degrees.

The program assists students to prepare for and pass the GRE, LSAT, and MCAT tests, as well as apply for doctoral programs at other institutions. The McNair Program also sponsors travel to graduate fairs and symposiums, along with periodic workshops on how to find and secure graduate funding for involved students.

Each student receives free tuition, room and board, and a stipend for summer research.

Each student is mentored by a faculty member appointed depending on field of choice.
Recipients will receive three hours of college credit, and will engage in an intense research project in their field of interest.

For more information about the McNair Program, contact Mary Bennett, McNair Program director, (432) 837-8478 or mbennett@sulross.edu.

SUL ROSS STUDENTS "DIG" SUMMER ARCHAEOLOGY CLASS
by Jason Hennington, News Writer

Summer 2008 Field School on the site of their excavation. On Knee: Sam Cason
Front l-r: Leland Jones, Andy Cloud, Kristen Tyson 2nd row: Andrew Patterson, Casey Riggs, Caleb Waters, Meredith Wheelock Back: Candice Covington (cook), Dawnella Jarratt (works at the Center for Big Bend Studies)

This summer, six Sul Ross State University students literally dug into their assignments. And, they "dug" the experience.

Enrolled in an archaeology class, the group excavated in a rockshelter on the 02 Ranch, south of Alpine. The purpose of the class was to provide students with the opportunity to get hands-on experience with archaeological work in the field, and the rockshelter proved to be a good training ground. Students spent the first summer session excavating, researching and recording data at the site, which has been named Tranquil Rockshelter.
Andy Cloud, Senior Project Archaeologist at the Center for Big Bend Studies (CBBS), taught the class. During the six-semester credit hour course, students stayed in the field from Monday to Friday, being immersed in archaeology each day in the rockshelter and field laboratory, and in the evenings with lectures and presentations.

"Located within an important ecotone-the juncture of the mountain foothills and lowland desert-the site has proven to be a very good archaeological laboratory," said Cloud.
Enrolled were: Kristen Tyson, Madisonville; Meredith Wheelock, Austin; Casey Riggs, Fort Stockton; Wade Hall, Austin; Caleb Waters, New Braunfels; and Andrew Patterson, Midland.

The CBBS had tested the site in 2007, so the students were helping to recover additional data. Archaeological research typically consists of three different phases: surveying, testing, and data recovery.

During the course the students were instructed in each phase.
During the survey phase, students walked the area near Tranquil Rockshelter in organized transects and recorded several new sites that were found. Formal 1 x 1 meter units are used to test sites and, when deemed appropriate, the data recovery phase expands upon those excavations. Most of the coursework for the class would be classified as data recovery. During this effort the students helped to expand upon the three 2007 test units with an additional 10 units, meticulously recording discoveries they found while excavating.

Part of the rockshelter is completely dry and in this portion cultural items were found that are normally not preserved in open sites exposed to the elements. Included amongst these materials were painted cordage, stitched gourd fragments, portions of arrow shafts, and woven fragments from sandals, baskets, and other items.

The excavation has helped the students and researchers learn about the lifeways of the people who frequented the shelter as well as providing important information about the past environment. The arrow points recovered indicate much of the occupation in the shelter occurred between ca. A.D. 1100-1500. Cultural features documented include ash lenses, basin shaped pits lined with grass, and stone-lined hearths, all of which provide important clues about past activities at the site. During the excavation, students exposed profiles of the stratigraphy or layering of the deposits in the walls of the units, which is often the archaeologist's best way to glean temporal and spatial relationships across a site.

Although the class does not count toward her graduate degree in History, Tyson sought to gain experience for the future."I'm trying to be a curator. The hands-on experience in the field is a dual purpose type of thing for me," she said. For Wheelock, the class was a chance to learn more about archaeological terms and the history of the area.

"I'm connecting terms and names that I've always heard," she said.
She has also learned more about the rockshelter and O2 Ranch, and has found it very interesting. Along with learning terminology and the geographic history of the area, she has learned more about working with a group.

"I learned a lot about working with a group of people and working toward a goal in adverse conditions."

Patterson, who is also taking the class for fun, is trying to see what being an archeologist is all about.

He is not sure what he will do with this experience in the future, but hopes this class will help sway his decision.

"I'm trying to explore my options on staying in the area," he said. "It's a good experience. I'm not sure if it will help me in the future, but I'm enjoying it."
Waters has worked at the Center of Big Bend Studies for four years, and is now getting a chance to see a source of the artifacts collected and studied.
"I wanted to see what it was all about in the field," he said.

Working in the field has helped Waters relate his former lab work to the finds, and feels he now has another option in career fields.

"I've done a lot of lab work, and it was just a rock and a bag to me," he said. "It's neat to see where it all came from. The lab work makes more sense to me now. I'm not sure if I'll pursue archaeology, but I'm glad I took this class because it's open to me now."
Riggs is the only Anthropology major enrolled. He transferred from Sul Ross to Texas A&M after four semesters at Sul Ross.

While at Sul Ross, Riggs also worked for the CBBS. Although a field school course is offered at A&M, he returned to Sul Ross because of his familiarity with this program.
"They gave me the information, so I signed up," he said. "This is where the private research work I do is, the Trans-Pecos area."

In addition to credit, Riggs is gaining considerable field experience.

"I'm getting a lot of field work experience going towards becoming an archaeologist," he said. "If you don't have experience in the field, then you don't really get taken seriously."
The students were thankful to have stayed in the historic 02 Ranch house and have a lot of the conveniences of home, as opposed to braving the elements in tents as is often done by Center personnel. A field laboratory was set up in the ranch house which helped to round out the student's archaeological experience.

Center Project Archaeologist Sam Cason organized and oversaw the excavations at Tranquil and will be responsible for analyzing the findings and producing a report on the investigation.

"Sam has helped a great deal," Cloud said. "He has taken students under his wing, and given several evening lectures as well. His contributions to the field school being a success were immeasurable."

Cason enjoys the research, and is happy about the outcome so far.
"We are ecstatic to learn so much out here," he said.

The 2007 testing at the site indicated a high degree of preservation within the deposits and raised questions about what else lay buried there. While the features and artifacts uncovered this summer have helped to answer some of those questions, other questions have been raised and the Center for Big Bend Studies team is currently deciding if additional excavations at the site are warranted.

"There was so much information and archaeological features found, that's the reason we came back," Cason said. He added, "This is an exceptional opportunity afforded to us by the ranch owners, and these students have contributed to our knowledge of prehistory in the region. For more information, contact Cloud, (432) 837-8289, or wacloud@sulross.edu.

EXPANDING OUTDOOR LEARNING PART OF SUL ROSS’ FUTURE CURRICULUM PLANS

Lobo Stars hope to shine more brightly through enhanced outdoor learning and hands-on experiences at Sul Ross State University

Lobo Stars, Sul Ross’ 10-year Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is a joint project of faculty, staff and students to design more hands-on outdoor learning experiences with a focus on the greater Big Bend region.

“The strength of Sul Ross is in its location,” said Sul Ross President R. Vic Morgan. “Student engagement and learning can be enhanced through the unique cultural, historical, social, political, economic, and environmental qualities that make up this area.”

Dr. Barney Nelson, professor of English and chair of the 48-member QEP committee, said that Sul Ross has long used the outdoors as a learning laboratory; Lobo Stars seeks to expand the opportunities.

“Hands-on learning is popular with our students and this area really lends itself to these concepts,” Nelson said. “The more often that our students can apply practical aspects to what they learn, the better they understand.”

Nelson noted that current research in higher education “also stresses the importance of skills and subjects that the Sul Ross location can offer: cultural awareness, international trade, environmental issues, geological and hydrological exploration, conservation, preservation of unique historical, anthropological, and natural features, and the celebration or critique of these subjects through arts and letters. These also represent the fastest growing job markets, and many Sul Ross professors are already nationally known in these fields.”

To augment the expansion of outdoor learning opportunities, Sul Ross has created a new position: coordinator of the Faculty Support Center and Outdoor Learning. The new coordinator will oversee part-time graduate student staff, be responsible for organizing and facilitating faculty development seminars and Pilots of Engagement – ideas for outdoor learning designed to enhance student engagement, critical thinking and learning.

“As an example, can an outdoor activity like ROPES, working on a construction site, or using a transect to count native grasses foster better understanding of mathematics?” Nelson asked. “Pilots of engagement advocates proof rather than opinion. We want to test each idea to determine if it actually helps students learn.”

Lobo Stars participation is voluntary, not mandatory, Nelson emphasized.

“Overall, we are trying to encourage more student interest in learning by using the outdoors and the cultural interests that exist,” she said. “The Big Bend area is our greatest asset, and many disciplines, including Wildlife Management, Earth Sciences and others are already using it.” Nelson teaches a graduate course in reading and writing the Big Bend that includes a weekend field trip.

“We’re not reinventing the whole class concept,” she said. “We’re encouraging more of what we already have, what we [as faculty] are good at, and to offer more hands-on opportunities to our students.”

“Once students learn to think about and understand the life and landscape of the area immediately surrounding them, they are then ready to transfer those skills to similar issues in other places,” Morgan said.

The plan was originally part of the Sul Ross reaffirmation of accreditation review this past April.

“The visiting representatives from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools were highly complimentary of this beautiful area, our beautiful campus, and our plan to bring those two together,” Nelson said.

“The process encourages individual initiative and says, ‘What do I want to do?’ It places the initiative and responsibility onto the person who has the idea.”

For more information, contact Nelson, (432) 837-8154, or bnelson@sulross.edu.

In Memoriam

Marty William Acton

OZONA Marty William Acton, 42 went to be with his Lord and Savior suddenly on July 19, 2008, while participating in one of his favorite pastimes, ranch rodeo steer roping. Marty grew up in Ozona, Texas and was a graduate of Ozona High School and Sul Ross State University. He entered the family ranching business and became well known and respected through out the West Texas ranching community. He was a dedicated supporter of multiple youth programs and Rodeo Cowboy ministries. He was also an active member of the Farm Bureau, Farm Service Agency, Crockett Soil & Water Conservation District, Sul Ross ANRS & Rodeo Exes Association and San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Foundation.

He is survived by his wife, Day; mother, Pam Acton; grandmother, Esther Kate Jones; twin sister, Bobbie Renfroe and her husband, Billy Dell; niece, Kelbie; and nephew, Aaron Renfroe; aunt, Shelley Conner and husband, T.C.; first cousins, Tommy Conner and Robin Campbell and husband, Jason.

Marty was preceded in death by his father, Earl Acton; grandfather, Dempster Jones; grandparents, Ernest and Preble Steadman Acton; and aunt, Robin Jones.

Marty loved helping people. He always had a ready smile and a hearty laugh, even for the toughest jobs. He was affectionately called “Ka Ka” by his niece and nephew. His family and many friends will remember and miss the friendly, positive way Marty lived his life.

Funeral service were held at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 24, 2008, at the Ozona United Methodist Church with burial in Cedar Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are by Preddy Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested sending memorials to: Sul Ross ANRS & Rodeo Exes Association, P.O. Box 539, Fort Stockton, Texas 79735 or San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Foundation, 200 West 43rd ST, San Angelo, Texas 76903.

Herschel John Fulbright

Herschel John Fulbright, 64, of Three Rivers died Wednesday, June 4, 2008, at his home in Emory.
He was born on December 16, 1943, to Herschel and Dorthy Allen Fulbright in Bosque Farms, New Mexico.

Mr. Fulbright was a rancher and horse trainer as well as an instructor of agri-science for over 27 years. He taught in the Rio Grande Valley and Houston area.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jane Fulbright; and brother, Charles Mann.  He is survived by two daughters, Aimee Lawson and husband Sean of Emory and Ginee Drennan and husband Andy of Brookshire; sisters, Guylynn Chapman of Huntsville, Ala, Billie Russo of Midland, MI and Evelynn; grandchildren, Hailey Lawson, Drew and John Drennan; and a multitude of friends and former students.

Services were held July 12, 11 a.m. at Good Hope Baptist Church in Three Rivers.

Hazel Johnson

MIDLAND - Hazel Cleo "Mo-mom" Johnson, 89, a Sul Ross graduate and former resident of Davis Mountains Resort, died Thursday, June 12, 2008, at the Mabee Center at Manor Park in Midland.

A memorial graveside service was held at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Resthaven Memorial Park, officiated by Father Jonathan Hartzer of Christ Church Midland. Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home and Crematory handled arrangements.

Cleo was born Aug. 18, 1918, in Sulphur Rock, Ark., to Mary Annie Montgomery and Henry C. Hunter. Orphaned at age 2, Cleo was reared in Arkansas and Texas by various family members.

She married Noel E. Johnson on Dec. 7, 1938, in Lovington, N.M.

Cleo, who was the 1935 Coahoma High School valedictorian, received undergraduate and graduate degrees from Sul Ross State College in 1961 and 1968, and was a member of Kappa Delta Pi and Alpha Chi honorary societies. She taught fourth grade in Fort Stockton for 27 years before retiring in 1983. She took great pride in her work as an educator and cared deeply for her students, family members said.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Mae Ray, Merle Runyan, Mildred White, Pearl Gleghorn Cook; and brothers- and sisters-in-law.

Cleo and Noel were longtime Fort Stockton residents. After retiring, they lived in the Davis Mountains Resort before moving to Irion County to be near family members. In 2000, they moved to Midland. Noel died Oct. 31, 2003.

Survivors include two sons, Noel D. Johnson and wife Sally of Irion County and Norman L. Johnson and wife Louann of Midland; one granddaughter, Kayla Rogers and husband Keith of Midland; great-grandchildren Brennan and Hannah Rogers; and several nieces and nephews.

The family thanks Dr. Raj Patel, Dr. Robert Vogel, the staff of Saddleridge Lodge and care partners, the staff of Home Hospice and Manor Park. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or a charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

Tommy Dale Seale

Services for Tommy D. Seale were held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 7th, 2008 at First United Methodist Church in Claremore.  Tommy passed away Tuesday, July 1, 2008. He was 59.

Tommy Dale Seale was born April 22nd, 1949 in Monahans, Texas to Chester and Mertice (Hammit) Seale, Tommy was reared and educated in both Monahans and Odessa, Texas. Following high school graduation, he earned his bachelors degree at Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas. Responding to a call to the ministry, Tommy went on to obtain Master of Divinity and Master of Biblical Literature degrees at Oral Roberts University.

While at ORU, Tommy met and later married Carol Holford in August of 1991. With Tommy’s first appointment to Foyil United Methodist Church, the couple made their home in that community prior to a move to Claremore. Tommy’s current appointment is with Meadowcreek United Methodist Church in Collinsville where he has shepherded his congregation for the last three years. Faithful and obedient to his divine calling, Tommy’s reliance on the Lord and commitment to His work never wavered.
Dedicated to his lifework, Tommy nevertheless found time for his hobbies which included first and foremost, hunting and fishing. Annual vacations were planned around pheasant season when Tommy and his bird dogs escaped to the country. An accomplished woodworker, he also remodeled his home, crafting all of its cabinetry and moldings.

Compassionate and selfless, Tommy left an indelible imprint on his church, community and family. He is survived by his loving wife, Carol, of their home in Claremore; his sons, Robert Holford and his wife, Meg, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Chris Holford and his wife, Kristin, of Scottsdale, Arizona; grandchildren Jace, Jesse, Zoe Celeste, Sean, Jeremy and Katie; and his sister, Margaret. He was preceded in death by his parents.