Chronicles – Summer 2011
1950s
Nan Waters Peacocke (`55) has completed her historical fiction trilogy, Savannah Spell to Yorktown, which pits loyalists versus patriots in the American Revolution. “Care has been given to credit the USA Southern states with the dogged determination they bravely put forth, but which too often gets glossed over,” she wrote. The book is available at Amazon.com.
1960s
Tommy Drew (`69) has been named vice president for sales and development with S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. He is the former director of business development for Landmark Newspapers, and now specializes in grocery tenant representation, shopping center leasing, sales, and identifying retail development opportunities in Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia. In addition to his B.A. from Georgia Southern, Drew received community development certifications from the University of Georgia and Georgia Institute of Technology and has attended the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. He was recently named Retail Dealer of the Year by the Hampton Roads Association of Commercial Real Estate.
1970s
James Osterman (`78) writes, “To celebrate five years of writing a weekly column in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution a collection of some of my essays – I Was Just Sayin’ – has been published as an e-book on Amazon. It’s about heroes, villains, politicians, strippers, soldiers, firemen, mothers, athletes, dogs, hooligans, rascals and roues.”
1980s
Amelia Castilian-Moore (`83) was honored with the Georgia College Counseling Association’s Counselor of the Year Award for 2011. She works as the coordinator of disability services at Savannah State University.
John E. Lavender (`86) has been named to the board of directors for Sea Island Bank. Lavender is president of Lavender & Associates Inc., a commercial construction company that has served the region since 1989. “John has a keen understanding of Bulloch County’s residential and commercial real estate and construction sectors. His insight will be a tremendous asset to the bank as we begin looking forward to future growth,” said Wayne Akins, president and CEO of Sea Island Bank. John and his wife, Pam, have two children: Nick, a junior at Georgia Southern, and Emily.
Mike Davis (‘87) has been named executive director of The United States Golf Association. Davis becomes the seventh executive director in the 116-year history of the Association, after serving as senior director of rules and competitions since 2005.
Darron Burnette (`88) executive vice president of Sea Island Bank of Statesboro and Savannah, received the William B. Turner Humanitarian Award, one of Synovus’ three Chairman’s Awards for leadership and service. Burnette’s long list of community service includes his work with the Kiwanis Club of Statesboro; the Statesboro-Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce; and as a board member of the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation. Recently, Burnette was invited to become an Entrepreneurial Fellow of the Center for Entrepreneurial Learning and Leadership at Georgia Southern. He and his wife, Kim (`88) have two children, Caroline and Courtney.
1990s
Clint Clouatre (`90) has been named vice president of marketing at Embraer. Before joining Embraer in 2006, Clouatre held marketing positions at other executive aircraft manufacturers. He has a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Tech and an MBA from Georgia Southern. He started his career as a flight test engineer.
Russell McMurry (`91) has been named division director of engineering for the Georgia Department of Transportation. A 20-year veteran, he will oversee much of the preconstruction work statewide for bridges and roadway projects. McMurry is a Cum Laude graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering technology. He and his wife, Michelle (Satterfield `91), are the parents of three sons, Zacharey, Nicholas and Andrew.
Melinda Dennis (`92) has been named superintendent of schools for Dodge County. She is a native of Dodge County and was formerly the principal of Wheeler County Middle School.
Kim Brannen (`94) has been named a senior vice presidents of Sea Island Bank, a division of Synovus Bank. Brannen serves as manager of the Private Client Group and manager of business banking in the Statesboro market.
Veleka Dudley (`96) was named Teacher of the Year at Edwards Middle School in Conyers, Ga., where she as a math teacher and support services coordinator.
Sean M. Knox (`98) has been selected for the 2011 Class of Leadership Georgia. Knox is V.P./operations and owner of Knox Pest Control, based in Columbus, Ga.
Skip Morina (`99) was recently awarded a Ph.D. in education from Capella University. The title of his dissertation was Mentoring and Retention in First-Year Teachers: A Mixed-Methods Study. He is employed by General Dynamics Information Technology as a Training Specialist in Brunswick, Ga.
Joseph Phillips (`99) recently accepted a position at BRUSS North America, Inc., in Russell Springs, Ky., as plant technical director. Phillips recently was employed at Freudenberg-NOK as process development supervisor.
April d. Vasilatos Little (`99) has been promoted to director of the Tax Accounting & Risk Advisory Services practice at Grant Thornton, LLP and National Tax Practice Leader for International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). She lives in Houston, Texas.
Athen Walden (`99) has joined Citizens Bank of Swainsboro as chief credit officer. Walden will be overseeing the lending platform for the Swainsboro and Dublin offices. He is a graduate of the Georgia Banking School at University of Georgia, Leadership Emanuel, and the Georgia Academy of Economic Development. Walden serves as chairman-elect of Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce, deacon at First Baptist Church of Twin City, co-chairman of the Pine Tree Festival, president of Emanuel County Eagle Club, and is a member of Rotary Club of Swainsboro. He and his wife, Abby Barnett Walden (`02), have two children, Ally and Jack.
2000s
Richard Horah (`02) graduated from the University of North Texas in December with a Master of Science degree in library and information science. He has been initiated into Beta Phi Mu, the national library and information science honor society.
Leah Baker (`03) and Chuk Vinson were married Feb. 15 in Las Vegas. They reside in Atlanta.
Allen Akins (’06) and Heather Happoldt (’06) were married last June in Jekyll Island, Ga. They honeymooned in the Mediterranean, and now reside in Savannah.
Heather Cason (`06) is a biology instructor at Waycross College. She has previously conducted research with loggerhead sea turtles with the South Carolina Department of Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Victoria Westmoreland (`06) has relocated to Charlotte, N.C., following a promotion with her company, Electrolux. She is also working toward her Master’s in instructional technology at AIU.
Allison Brown Wilkinson (`06) obtained her Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) from the American Payroll Association in April. Wilkinson is a payroll analyst for the University System of Georgia Shared Services Center which processes payroll for over 34,000 employees within the University System, including Georgia Southern. She has been employed with the Shared Services Center since its opening in spring of 2009.
Leroy Bagley (`07) has received an honorary membership from the Georgia Association of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). Bagley serves as educational program specialist at the FFA-FCCLA Center in Covington. He was honored for his support of the FCCLA organization and his constant efforts to add and improve leadership opportunities available at the Center.
Andrew Harris (`07) and Emily Pope (`11) were married in May.
Consuelo Hart (`07) and Lee Davis are happy to announce their marriage. The wedding ceremony was in August. Consuelo is from Augusta, Ga., and Lee is from Blackpool, England. Consuelo and Lee reside in Atlanta.
Robert Schorr (`07) has accepted a position at the Coastal Center for Developmental Services/Quantum Inc., in Savannah as the business development manager. Schorr was recently employed at the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce.
Marc Jason (`09) took command of Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment in February. He is directly responsible for the training and welfare of over 90 soldiers and over $38 million worth of equipment. “It’s an exciting time as we prepare for future operations in support of Operation New Dawn,” he writes. “Go Eagles! “
Carter Sample (`09) and Eric Engel (`09) were married on October 2, 2010. They live in Tulsa, Okla., where Carter works as a registered nurse and Eric works in the supply chain industry.
Matthew S. Bean (`10) recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N. J., joining 36,000 other men and women who comprise the Coast Guard’s workforce. During the eight-week training program, Bean completed a vigorous training curriculum consisting of academics and practical instruction on water safety and survival, military customs and courtesies, seamanship skills, physical fitness, health and wellness, first aid, firefighting and marksmanship.
Kelli A. Krakowiak (`10) has graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N.J., joining 36,000 other men and women who comprise the Coast Guard’s workforce. During the eight-week training program, Krakowiak completed a vigorous training curriculum consisting of academics and practical instruction on water safety and survival, military customs and courtesies, seamanship skills, physical fitness, health and wellness, first aid, firefighting and marksmanship.
In Memoriam
Dr. John Boole
Retired professor of biology John A. Boole, 89, passed away April 2 at his residence under hospice care.
A U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, Dr. Boole earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia, his Master of Science degree in botany at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and his Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Boole joined the University’s biology faculty in 1955 and taught for more than three decades. He retired in 1988.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene Burt Boole. Survivors include two daughters, a son and a grandson.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ogeechee Area Hospice, Pittman Park United Methodist Church, or the Irene B. Boole Scholarship Fund at Georgia Southern.
Tony Byars
Mr. Charles Anthony “Tony” Byars, (`71) age 61, of Barnesville, Ga., passed away January.
Mr. Byars was retired as a deputy warden from the Georgia State Department of Corrections and was a probation officer through ZSI Probation for the City of Barnesville. He was a veteran, having served his country in the U.S. Navy Reserves, and the National Guard. Mr. Byars was a member of the First Baptist Church of Barnesville.
Survivors include his wife, Susan, his son, Jason, daughter Kristen, two grandsons and a granddaughter. Memorial contributions can be made to The Barnesville – Lamar Community Foundation, P.O. Box 601, Barnesville, Ga., 30204.
Dr. Marcia Jones
Dr. Marcia Jones, former business professor and later associate vice president for institutional compliance, died March 20 in Athens, Ga., after a brief illness.
She was born in Castries, St. Lucia, West Indies, was educated in the West Indies School System and received her B.S. in economics from the University of West Indies in 1980. She received her Master of Science and doctorate in agricultural economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
At Georgia Southern, she was recognized with a Faculty Award for Excellence in Outstanding Service. She had a broad involvement with world food issues and economic development. Dr. Jones’ survivors include her husband, Luther, and two sons, Jeremy and Ian.
Penny Quick
Mrs. Evelyn “Penny” Quick, wife of former dean and acting president Nicholas W. Quick, died April 11 in Dallas, Texas. She was 91.
Survivors include her husband, a son, a granddaughter, and two great grandchildren. Mrs. Quick was a retired educator.
The family requests that donations be made to The Foundation for Public Education in Bulloch County, in care of The Board of Education, 150 Williams Road, Statesboro, Ga., 30458.
Eugene M. Bishop
Longtime Georgia Southern friend and supporter Eugene M. Bishop died March 23. Bishop, of Dawsonville, Ga., played a pivotal role over the years during the University’s growth to nearly 20,000 students.
Mr. Bishop was the largest individual contributor to the University’s athletics program and the field house at Paulson Stadium bears his name. He also made numerous donations to the College of Business Administration and Office of Alumni Relations. In 2009, he provided the lead gift to construct the Eugene M. Bishop Alumni Center, a 12,000-square-foot home to the University’s Office of Alumni Relations, Advancement Services, Annual Giving, Governmental Relations and the Office of Development.
He served on numerous boards and committees within the University including two years as chairman of the University Athletic Foundation. In 2003, he was named Georgia Southern’s recipient of the Southern Conference Distinguished Service Award. In 2000, he was awarded a Georgia Southern University Honorary Doctor of Letters to honor his service, support and contributions. He is a past recipient of the President’s Medal recognizing extraordinary contributions to Georgia Southern and the Friend of the University Award presented by the Alumni Association.
The Bishop family has requested that honorariums and memorial contributions be made to a Georgia Southern University Foundation scholarship in his memory. Contributions may be sent to the Georgia Southern University Foundation, P.O. Box 8053, Statesboro, Ga. 30460.