Class Notes

Bill McElwee* (’52 civil engr.) and his wife, Mary McElwee, visited Iowa State for the first time in about 50 years on June 30, 2006. They were pleased to see what was the same and what had been added. They used to be active in the ISU Alumni Association Club of Milwaukee. The McElwees live in Waukesha, Wis.

Ray Lett* (’56 farm op.) has just had his first historical novel published. Patriot Rebel features Ray’s great-great uncle, who was a leader in the 1837-38 Canadian Rebellion to gain freedom from the British. He was involved in battles from Detroit to Montreal. The complications of war and romance make his life traumatic and dangerous. You may purchase Ray’s book on Amazon.com or contact Ray directly at lettr@sbcglobal.net Ray lives in Plano, Ill.

Richard Ford* (’56 botany) retired from and became Professor Emeritus of plant pathology at University of Illinois, Urbana, Ill., in 1998. In 1999, Richard was hired as executive director of CICP (The Consortium for International Crop Protection), which has a membership of 11 major land grant universities and the U.S. Dept of Agriculture. Richard “re-retired” from that position in 2005. More than 200 scientific publications, a major handbook of plant virus diseases, and many book chapters resulted from his research career on both applied and basic research on corn, soybean, and pea viruses. Richard established the plant virology research program at ISU, and also served as the head for the plant pathology department at University of Illinois from 1972 to 1992. Richard’s research publications are dated 1959-2005. Richard is happily retired on a 40-acre timber property in Corvallis, Ore.

Robert Scott** (’50 aero. engr.) was in the U.S. Air Force and retired in 1970 with rank of Colonel with command of Cannon A.F.B., Commander of Tactical Air commands (TAC) 832 Air Division. Robert flew 54 missions in WWII, 117 missions in Korea, and 134 combat mission over north Vietnam. He has more than 16, 000 hours in 65 types of air machines, 5,000 of which are in single engine jet fighters. Robert is a member of the elite American “MIG Killers.” For three years and held the transcontinental speed record in a F84F from LAX to Floyd Bennet in New York. To celebrate his 85th birthday, friends and family gave the 10,000-acre cattle rancher a surprise party. The high point of the party was a call from Pres. George W. Bush, who thanked Robert for being a true American hero. He received a happy birthday wish from Mrs. Bush also. Robert lives in Tehachapi, Calif.

Jean (Wendorf) Robinson** (’53 institution mgmt.) wrote a book to help people affected by Alzheimer’s. The title is, “Help for Alzheimer’s Caregivers, Families, and Friends." Jean lives in Ormond Beach, Fla.

Mary Kelleher Nelson** ('50 home ec. ed.) will be inducted along with her husband, R.W. Nelson, into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame for her role in the creation and growth of Des Moines-based Kemin Industries. The Greater Des Moines Committee honored Mary and R.W. Nelson at its annual Black Tie Dinner that was held on Dec. 7, 2006. The Nelsons live in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Kay (Kretschmar) Runge** (’69 history) is director of the new Des Moines Central Library and has been named as a winner of a Central States Region (CSR) Award from the American Institute of Architecture (AIA). The CSR includes Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Awards are given annually for architecture, interiors, and planning. This year’s winners were selected from among 200 entered projects. Projects entered must have been constructed in the last five years. Kay lives in Des Moines, Iowa.

R. Dean Riess** (’63 math, ’65 MS, ’65 Ph.D.) was recently given the title “professor emeritus” by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. Dean is a professor of mathematics in the College of Science at Virginia Tech. Dean lives in Blacksburg, Va.

Robert Manders** (’62 aero. engr.) retired from United Defense in March 2005. Robert is now living in West Des Moines, Iowa, and is happy to be back in the state.

John Franklin** (’62 animal husb.) was appointed to a three-year term to the board of directors of the Helena, Mont., branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. John is chairman of the board of directors, chief executive officer and president of the 1st Bank, Sidney, Mont., where he currently resides.

William Orville Thom** (’61 farm op.) recently became the director of regulatory services in the College of Agriculture at the University of Kentucky after 27 years as extension specialist in soils. William lives in Nicholasville, Ky.

Kenneth L. Campbell* (’67 ag. engr., ’70 MS, ’73 Ph.D.) was named winner of one of the most prestigious awards from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers: the Hancor Soil and Water Engineering Award. The award is given in recognition of noteworthy contributions to the advancement of soil and water engineering. Kenneth lives in Gainsville, Fla.

Zaid Abdul-Aziz* (’69 sociology) has written an autobiography, Darkness to Sunlight, which details a journey that begins in Brooklyn, enters America’s heartland, and winds into collegiate and NBA fame. Darkness to Sunlight is not a story just about basketball, but about a man who overcame daunting personal, racial, professional, and spiritual hardships. Zaid is an Iowa State University Athletics Hall of Fame inductee and lives in Seattle, Wash.

David Smith* (’60 forestry, ’68 MS, ’70 Ph.D.) of Blacksburg, Va., emeritus professor and former associate dean in the College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech, was presented the Society of American Foresters’ (SAF) John A. Beale Memorial Award, which recognizes outstanding efforts over a sustained period in the promotion of forestry through voluntary service to the society.

Charles Stewart, Jr.* (’00 ag) is one of three recipients of The American Society of Plant biologists’ (ASPB) Pioneer Hi-Bred International Graduate Student Prize. This award recognizes and encourages pioneering graduate research in plant biology relating to key commodity crops. Charles lives in Ithaca, N.Y.

Carol Britson* (’89 fisheries & wildlife biol.) was recently invited by past students to receive Distinguished Membership in the National Society for Collegiate Scholars at the University of Mississippi, where Carol is an instructor in the department of biology. Carol lives in Oxford, Miss.

Steven E. Zumbach** (’73 ag., ’80 Ph.D. econ.) was inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame at its annual Black Tie Dinner on Thursday, Dec. 7. Born and raised in Manchester, Iowa, Steven is now a partner in the Belin Lamson McCormick Zumbach Flynn law firm in Des Moines. He is a past chair of BRAVO Greater Des Moines (an arts and culture organization), the Greater Des Moines Committee, and the Greater Des Moines Partnership, and is a former member of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa. Steven has been involved in a leadership capacity in numerous other boards, commissions and economic development efforts. Steven lives in Des Moines, Iowa.

Ann E. Glime** (’74 elem. ed.) was awarded the Stephen Tsai award for excellence in Autism Education at the spring conference of the Autism Society of Iowa. Ann lives in Colesburg, Iowa.

Bill Cary** (’75 civil engr., ’77 MS) was elected chair of the board of trustees at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, a 7,200-member organization in Decorah, Iowa. This organization is the oldest and most comprehensive museum in the United States dedicated to a single immigrant ethnic group. Bill lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Leann (Little) Willis** (’79 animal sci.) completed her master of science in nursing – family nurse practitioner in January 2005 with University of Phoenix. Leann started work as a family nurse practitioner at the Waterfall Clinic in North Bend, Ore., serving primarily the uninsured and under-insured residents of the surrounding communities. Coos County is one of the 200 poorest counties in the United States, so the needs are great and the resources are tight. Everyday, she says, is a new adventure in the medical economy. Leann lives in Coos Bay, Ore.

Jeff Plagge* (’78 ag bus.) is the 2006 Iowa Bankers Association (IBA) James A. Leach Leadership Award recipient. U.S. Rep. Jim Leach presented the award to Plagge during the opening ceremonies of the IBA Convention. Jeff is president and CEO of First National Bank and First Insurance Services, which are part of the First of Waverly Corporation—a community and employee-owned financial services holding company. Jeff lives in Waverly, Iowa.

Barb (Riedesel) Iverson** (’76 journalism) was recently named president of the North American Financial Services’ industry to practice group for Weber Shandwick, one of the world’s largest public relations firms. Barb continues to work from Weber Shandwick’s Minneapolis office, but she also spends considerable time at Weber Shandwick’s New York City headquarters. Barb lives in Minneapolis, Minn.

Stephen B. Veitch* has been named to the newly created position of regional director of administration at Bryan Cave LLP. Stephen will serve as liaison between the chief administrative office and other directors of administration. Stephen lives in Chandler, Ariz.

Steven Crawford** (’74 indus. admin.) has been promoted to the newly created position of senior vice president reinsurance/chief operating officer (COO) at Grinnell Mutual, where he has been employed for more than 30 years in the reinsurance and marketing departments. Steven lives in Grinnell, Iowa.

Randy Christoffersen** (’79 indus. engr.) has taken a new job, as of late 2005, as vice president of global sourcing for Imation Corporation, St. Paul, Minn. Randy lives in Shoreview, Minn.