Fall 2005 Edition
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Who They Are
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From the Archives


Schreiner University
2100 Memorial Blvd.
Kerrville, TX 78028
(830) 896-5411
www.schreiner.edu

 

SFSA Class Notes

 


 


 


 




 






 





 

 





 

 






 

 









 

 

 



 

 

 

 




 

 



 

 





 






 



 


 

 





 



 




 

 


 


 


 




 










 

 

 







 


 

 


 

Vic Niemeyer ’37 received an award from the Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs in 2000, for his distinguished work in service to the Mexican community and those of Mexican origin. He writes, “I entered the U.S. Foreign Service in 1953 and served in Honduras, Peru, Philippines, Guatemala, Mexico City, Washington, D. C., and many other locations for a total of 24 years and a life of high adventure.

After retiring from the Foreign Service in the late 1970s, I taught at St. Edward’s University in Austin and the University of Texas at Austin (where I had also received my PhD in 1985 in Latin American Studies).”  Vic tried retiring again in 1990, but says there is no such thing as retirement, as he is still active in a Foreign Service Group at Central Texas, Rotary, International Good Neighbor Council, and U.S. Submarine Veterans of WWII.

 

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Thomas H. Miller ’40 in 2004, was named by the Marion Carl Squadron of the Marine Corps Aviation Association the honorary chairman of the 33rd annual symposium and convention. After attending Schreiner Institute in 1940, he went on to distinguish himself in a career with the United States Marine Corps in naval aviation. After graduating from the first test pilot school at Patuxent River, he served as a test pilot 1945-46 and went on to be one of the first naval aviators to fly the YP-59 jet fighter and many of the earliest helicopters. He was the first American to fly the Marine Corp’s new AV-8A jet, capable of vertical takeoff and landing. He also served with VMA-323 during the Korean War in 1953, and set the F4H-500 kilometer World Closed Course Speed record at Edwards Air Force Base in 1960. In April 1968, he was the first to fly the Phantom jet coast to coast without refueling. He served in the Republic of Vietnam 1969-71, where he was assistant chief of staff and later as chief of staff III, Marine Amphibious Force. He and his wife Ida Mai (Giddings) Miller married in May 1943 and have four children; Thomas, Jacqueline, Donald and JoAnn.

Robert Cunningham ’43 has been a lecturer at Rice University in mechanical engineering and material science courses since his 1985 retirement from Hughes Tool Company’s research and development department. He and his wife Elizabeth live in Bellaire, where they raised their six children. He says his family has continued to grow and now includes 13 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. “I am presently contemplating retirement, but maybe not just yet!” After leaving Schreiner, he served two years in the Navy air corps, one year in the Pacific, and studied engineering at Rice Institute, graduating in 1949.

Howard Chamberlain ’43 writes, “My eyesight now grows dim and my walk grows unsteady, but my memory of 64 years ago recalls the days of 1942–1943 at Schreiner. Education was our goal and Schreiner was the best. One cold day in February 1943, I walked from Hoon Hall to my campus post-box. There I found a draft notice and soon had to report for induction into the service, never to return to the campus. But the memories of Schreiner are with me to this day.”

Fred Junkin ’47 is enjoying his retirement from Victoria ISD, where he served as director of bands and music supervisor until 1985. His wife Don Beth was a public school teacher and son Jerry is director of bands at UT-Austin. Fred is often joined in his salt water fishing expeditions by his brothers Sam Junkin ’51 and Dick Junkin ’56. While at Schreiner for both high school and college, Fred’s main focus was the musical groups, including the Swingmaster Dance Orchestra, led by band director Pete Martinez. “I would be glad to hear from former band mates who shared the musical experience at Schreiner.”

 

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Sam Lanham ’51 is delighted to be involved with the Hill Country Special Collection in the William Logan Library. He is busy making recommendations for acquisitions that will aid in historical research and contributing items from his personal collection. Currently, he is examining, repairing and organizing a collection of pro-Southern antebellum pamphlets and speeches leading up to the Civil War. Sam and his wife Missie live in Fredericksburg and are enjoying the time retirement gives them for visiting their children and grandchildren. Sam continues his interest in nautical knot work and has most recently completed a processional cross for St. Philip Presbyterian Church in Houston, where he was pastor in the 1970s.

John Casbergue ’51 made a second polio immunization trip to Calcutta in 2004 (his 2003 trip was detailed in a 2003 Scene article), an endeavor which included Rotarians from the United States, Canada and India. His team gave immunizations in West Bengali, and had participation from Moslems. Polio cases dropped from 1,525 to 40 after that immunization drive. “My wife, Helen, and I were among the fifteen that traveled to Okaya, Japan, our sister city, for 10 days in August 2005 to celebrate our 40th anniversary. We have an exchange of high school students to and from Okaya, which has been a really exciting experience for both students and parents at home.  Citizens from Okaya visited with us, and that looks like a new opportunity for global cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.”

William G. “Bill” Collenback ’51, a retired insurance agent, serves on the SFSA board of trustees and is vice president of the SFSA San Antonio chapter. Bill attended Schreiner from fall of 1950 through spring of 1951 on a track scholarship. He became the 440-yard run Pioneer Junior College Champion, anchored the mile relay championship team and became a Schreiner letterman. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, Bill joined the Army and served overseas in the European theater. He retired from the service in 1983 as a Lt. Colonel. He and his wife, Loyce Lee Brown, have three children and nine grandchildren. “God had truly blessed me and my life, and that of my family!”

The Rev. Dr. Charles H. Morris ’52, a native of Kerrville, and Janet, his wife of 48 years, have lived in the St. Louis area since 1965. Parents of three and grandparents of seven, they are grateful for all life’s blessings. A retired Episcopal priest, Charles still leads worship services and preaches on occasion. Both of them are active in their local church and volunteer in Therapeutic Horsemanship (Charles) and Reading Is Fundamental (Janet).

Ben Keith ’53 writes, “Last May I married a lady who attended high school with me. We played in the band together and graduated together. I had lost my wife and she was a widow. We love to travel by car across the USA.” Ben says he and wife Pat play (he on drums and she on banjo and piano) in the Happy Strings Band for the First Baptist Church in Conroe where the average age of the 35 band members is 74.

Pete Hamel ’59 is a proud first-time grandfather. His granddaughter’s name is Macey.

   

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Robert T. (Tommy) Mansker ’61 just returned from an international cruise where he served as the bridge game director. The cruise visited the ports of Dover, England; Oslo, Norway; St. Petersberg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; Gadansk, Poland; Berlin, Germany; and Copenhagen, Denmark. Tommy is a Life Master of bridge play and says he played a few games while at Schreiner.

Don Bishop ’61 is completing a two-year stint as a consultant to DFW Airport, overseeing the $150 million upgrade of the airport’s central utility plant. This project was part of a $2.5 million airport expansion that included a new international terminal and new automated people mover. He is currently living in Grapevine and doesn’t yet know where his next assignment will be.

Lee Weathersbee ’63 and wife Najla were married on October 29, 1999. He graduated from Sul Ross College and ranched in the Sanderson, Comstock and Del Rio area until retiring in 1999. Lee served twelve years as a councilman on the Del Rio city council. He has two children and three grandchildren. “I am really enjoying life, and remembering the great times and people at Schreiner.” Lee attended Schreiner on an athletic scholarship from 1961 to 1963 and was a member of the track team and was the 1963 Texas Junior College State High Jumping Champion the year Schreiner won the state title.

David Barker ’64 works for Dril-Quip, Inc. in Houston. “We are a designer and manufacturer of sub-sea oil development and production equipment. I am responsible for manufacturing for the Western Hemisphere.”

   

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Mike Miller ’72 retired from Waller Independent School District on June 30, 2005 after 31 years as a teacher, coach and administrator. His retirement was short-lived, ending when he was hired as assistant football coach and district textbook coordinator with Waller ISD in August. “I hope to do this for three years until my wife can retire; then we plan to travel.”

Fred “Truck” Gamble ’73 is Schreiner University’s vice president for administration and finance, and previously served on Schreiner’s board of trustees. He is married to Brenda K. Gamble, and they have one son, Preston Lawrence Gamble.

Suzi (Gee) Schneider ’74 lives in Krum, Texas and has a 24-year career as the office manager for a dermatologist in Denton. “On September 12, my husband Vic and I celebrated our 30th anniversary. The joys of my life are my two grandsons, Christian, 4, and Kayden, 14 months. It’s like a whole new excuse to play! I am very involved in Lions Club International, where I am serving as president for my club and leadership chairman in my district. I would love to hear from other former students from my years at Schreiner.”

Geoff Stoner ’74 will be fishing again this winter for the Pan Fish World Championship held in Alexandria, Minn. Stoner is a fishing guide and lives in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. He is married to Kathi and has two children, James, 22, and Leslie, 24. Geoff has been a fishing professional for the last 14 years. Look for him on ESPN come January.

   

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Andy Edinburgh ’88 went to work for Southwest Airlines as a flight attendant in 1996, after being in the banking industry for many years, “It has been a great adventure. With all the flexibility and time off, I have developed a love for cruising. I take about 3 cruises a year. I have cruised Alaska, the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Bahamas.” He currently lives in Galveston.

Aubrey Frank-Gutierrez ’89 writes, “Things are going very well for me and my family here in Dallas. My oldest son, Rian, just started first grade. Jacob is now a very active four-year-old, and our youngest son, Matthew, is an 18-month-old speedster on two feet! Frank is enjoying his job as a security supervisor As for me, I am busy! I am working for a realty management company as a leasing/marketing coordinator for one of their properties in Dallas.”

   

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Carl Davis ’91 left his job as a pilot for Delta Airlines in March to join the Boeing Company as an instructor pilot. He is currently teaching on the B-737 Next Generation and will be teaching the B-777 by next summer. “The job is very rewarding and involves travel to all parts of the globe. We have relocated from Lawrence, Kansas to the Seattle area and really are enjoying it.”

Richard Alan Garrett ’91 lives in Mission, Texas. He works as a director of special education during the school term. During the holidays he flies crop dusters and flies advertisement banners from his airplane.  Richard is a consultant to various drilling companies in California, the Philippines and sometimes Singapore during the summers. His wife works for a paper company. He writes, “I am grateful for my college education at Schreiner University. My life is full of adventures! I plan to live on the island of Mindoro, Philippines, or Palwaan when I soon retire.”


Arnetta Yardbourgh ’92
is a certified professional co-active coach; she publishes greeting cards about college life and loves writing. She has a 9-year-old daughter, Taahirah, and two very spoiled Shih Tzus. She ran her first marathon for the American Stroke Association in 2003, and would love to hear from former classmates. Visit with Arnetta at www.otrlifecoaching.com.

 

Elizabeth Schopmeyer ’92 was honored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society when she was invited to join the Tour of Champions in Rhode Island. “We will be touring Martha’s Vineyard on our bikes. This honor comes from the Lone Star Chapter as the “Secret Champion” for all the efforts of starting the CitiSlickers cycling team on the MS150. Wow! What fun we had on the Red River Challenge, and the team raised over $32,000 to fight MS! I have also been chosen to join the Dallas office employees at the National MS Conference in Atlanta in November. Come join the team and the fight: www.citislickers.org.

Jennifer (Gonzales) Morris ’96 and Shawn Morris ’94 just celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary this past August. They live in Coppell, Texas. Shawn works for a rock radio station, and Jennifer stays home with their two children, Justin, 6, and Isabel, 2. Jennifer says, “I have been home ever since Justin was born, have loved every minute of it, and consider it such a blessing. I am very involved with church and school activities, plus Shawn and I coach Justin’s soccer team.”

After graduating from Schreiner,
Maria Jimenez-Corredor ’94 moved to Houston where she and her family currently reside. Maria married Edison Corredor in 2002 and they have two daughters, Daniela and Camila. Maria is now a project specialist for an HVAC manufacturing and distributing company.


Lea (Siebold) Nye ’92 and Kyle Nye ’94 wanted to share their joy at the arrival of their new son. Kyle Samuel Nye was born on September 9 at 2:53 p.m.. He weighed 7 lbs. 9 oz. and was 20 inches long.

 

Jeanette Ball-Reyes ’95 was promoted to director of staff development with the Southwest Independent School District. Jeanette received her bachelor’s degree from Schreiner and her master’s degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Currently she is pursuing a Ph.D. at Texas A&M University. “I thank Dr. Adele Junkin and the rest of the education department for the superior foundation in education that they provided to me.”

Adelle Brandenstein ’95 is employed at the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum where she works three days a week as a theater host. She lives in Austin, next door to best friend Elizabeth Cavner, also a Schreiner alum. “We are both doing well and we love life in Austin.”

Billy Wilkinson ’96 was just promoted to private banking manager for the greater Austin region at one of the nation’s leading banks. He also serves on the advisory board of trustees for Schreiner University and is the development chair for YouthLaunch, a non-profit organization based in Austin that seeks to empower youth through community service.


Jodi (Young) Slaughter ’96 and Ernie Slaughter ’96 live in Austin with their two children, Brooke and Jackson.   Ernie is the owner of Texas Truck Tops www.texastrucktops.com, a truck accessory and trailer retailer with two stores in San Antonio and one in Austin. Jodi writes, “I’m a busy stay-at-home mom. I love my kids and I pick up a paint brush every now and then when I get the chance!”

Julie Putnam ’97 is currently working on her master’s degree in library science at Sam Houston State University. She is the librarian at Robert Wilson Elementary School in Corpus Christi where her daughter, Katie, goes to school. Before moving into the library job last year, Julie was a classroom teacher on the same campus for seven years.

Leslie (Swanson) Quinn ’98 writes, “My husband and I are in the middle of an adoption of one of our former foster children. She is 13 years old, and her name is Skylynn. I was thinking about my time at Schreiner and the time I spent in Kerrville, and remembered that I worked a short time at K’Star. I believe that had a huge influence on my decision to become a foster parent. Anyway, everyone in our family is so excited to welcome Skylynn to our family permanently. Also, I did get an assistant volleyball coaching job with Blackfoot High School. However, I will not be there long, as my husband is being transferred to Elko, Nevada.”

Jenna (Rigsbee) Parsons ’98 and Stephen Parsons ’98 have two children—a son, Kaleb, 5, and a daughter, Taylor, 2. “Stephen has his own business called Showroom Finish. The business restores the interior and exterior of vehicles. I work for our church, Brookwood Church, in Simpsonville, South Carolina. We still have our dog, Topaz, that we got when we were at Schreiner our senior year.”

Caressa (Inman) Vajdos ’99 writes, “After the ’97 spring semester at Schreiner, I transferred to Texas A&M University and graduated in 2000 with a degree in geography. In August 2001, I married Brian Vajdos, and moved to New Braunfels. We bought and remodeled a historic home. I am a realtor with Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper and love my job! This past February we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Caressa Ella. So life in New Braunfels is good!”

Ryan Stelter ’99 has been married to Tanya Stelter for three years. He owns a master franchise with Jan-Pro Cleaning Systems of Southeast Georgia, which is an international janitorial franchising company. He is based in Augusta, Ga., and looks forward to reading SCENE magazine to follow the tremendous progress Schreiner continues to make.


Cindy (Hinojosa) Hughes ’99
graduated from Dedman School of Law at SMU in 2002, and currently practices law in Dallas. She married Troy Hughes on March 19, 2002, and three of her bridesmaids were also graduates of Schreiner.

   

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Courtney (Bowers) DeHoyos ’00 and her husband Anthony welcomed their first child, Delanie Frances DeHoyos on June 20, 2005. She weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce and was 19 inches long. They live in Minnesota.
 

Philip Read ’00 works for American Standard Kitchen & Bath and his wife Amy (Carroll) Read ’03 teaches third and fourth grade in Pleasanton.

Stacey (Harlan) Philips ’00 is happily married and recently received a degree in pharmacy. She and her husband live in Dallas where they just purchased a house.

Gretchen (Goebel) Peterson ’01 and her husband Brian Peterson celebrated their second wedding anniversary July 26, 2005. They reside in Round Rock, where Gretchen is in her second year as head volleyball coach and a teacher at Liberty Hill High School. Brian is currently a lab manager for Severn-Trent Laboratories in Austin.

Miranda Trussell ’02 completed her Master of Divinity degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia in August 2005. She now resides in Richardson, Texas with her new puppy Frankie.

Mary (Black) Suarez ’02 married Frederick Lee Suarez on July 16, 2005. They live in Beaumont, Texas, where she works for a doctor.

Anna Iris Cerda ’02 writes, “After graduating from Schreiner in ’02, I was accepted into the Master of Physical Therapy program at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas. I graduated with my master’s degree in physical therapy from ASU in December 2004. I accepted a position with the Christus Spohn Shoreline Hospital in Corpus Christi in January 2005. I am happy and my family and I are doing great. I love my job; physical therapy is a rewarding field. I am currently searching for a doctoral program in physical therapy, and so far Boston University is my number one choice.”

Missy Brock ’03 and her husband Chris welcomed a daughter, Kaidanse Jo Pump, into the world on August 19, 2005. The baby weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and was 20 inches long. “She is beautiful and healthy and we are all doing well.”

Bryce Vincent ’03 recently began work on his Ph.D. at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Prior to beginning classes in August 2005, he worked at Baylor College of Medicine in a neurology lab conducting research exploring lower urinary tract dysfunction at the cellular and molecular level. He hopes to develop his own areas of research over the next several years and be able to make a contribution to science with his efforts.

Jennifer Hardy ’03 is currently teaching at B.T. Wilson Middle School in Kerrville as a 6th grade reading, study skills and computer productions teacher. She is also the assistant coach at Tivy High School for soccer and cross country. She lives in Boerne.


Lindsey (Brotherton) Kunz ’03
married David Kunz November 27, 2004 in Brackettville, Texas. Schreiner graduates in the wedding included April Patrick ’02, Amy Carroll Read ’03, and Misty Kneten ’03. Lindsey and her husband live in Freer, Texas.
 

 

Amanda Mueller ’04 is currently attending the University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is also in the U.S. Air Force.

Gabrielle (Vogler) Calvert ’04 and her husband Aaron have been married for over a year. He is farming organic cotton and peanuts with his family and she is working as an internal auditor at a bank in Lamesa, Texas.

David A. Peeples ’04 is starting his second year of graduate school at UTSA on his master’s degree in American history. He is also a member of the Schreiner Former Student Association San Antonio Chapter.

Kimberly Scharmann ’04 was published in the June/July issue of “Advocate Literary Journal.” She is currently teaching 10th and 11th grade English at AC Jones High School in Beeville and working on her writing.

Diane (Delery) Earhart ’04 and her husband Charles Earhart announce the birth of their son, Fred Robert Earhart. Fred was born May 30, 2005 and weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces. She says he is a healthy, bouncing bundle of joy and she and Charles could not be happier. Charles is the owner of River Oaks Framing in Kerrville.

Nancy Nixon ’04 married Larry Garcia October 8, 2005. She is teaching second grade at Hewitt Elementary in Midway ISD. “I love my job and my life. It is all going great. I also graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor with a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in educational psychology.”

Claire (Balsley) Turner ’05 married Travis Turner ’04 on July 16, 2005 in Arlington. They reside in Stafford.

Allison Staley ’05 is attending Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio. She is working on a master’s degree in counseling psychology and plans to coach a San Antonio volleyball club team while attending school.

Amanda Crenshaw ’05 graduated from Schreiner University in May 2005 and works for Schreiner University as the administrative assistant to the School of Liberal Arts, taking over for M.A. Parker.

Christi Thompson ’05 is an accountant for Phillips & Company, LLP, which is ranked third in Abilene accounting firms and was recently named “Business of the Quarter.” Christi resides in Abilene.

Michelle Leija ’05 is employed by Child Protective Services and started working in New Braunfels in October.

Trey ’05 and Rosalyn ’03 Leech, live in Tallahassee, Florida, with their daughter Rebecca. He is beginning his master’s degree in physical education while working as a graduate teaching assistant in the department of sports management, recreation management, and physical education this fall. Rosalyn is working on her bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

Kay Bruce ’05 lives in Kerrville and is very busy with the Friends of the Library book sale room, for which she is responsible. She also has two new kittens that take up some of her time and she is making quilts.

Lisa Christiansen ’05 moved to Richland Springs, Texas, to teach in the Richland Springs School District. She was assigned to the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students, teaching reading and language arts. She writes, “This school is small, as is the town, but I love it. I lived here briefly as a child, and have always had family here, so I have some roots and connections here. Those factors have helped to make my transition from Medina much easier than I expected.”

Emily E. Houghton ’05 had her directorial debut with “Taming of the Shrew” at the Point Theatre in October. Emily said, “I feel privileged to have learned the art of directing from two amazingly gifted directors: my mother, Roslyn Houghton and my teacher, Dr. Claudia Sullivan.” Emily is currently taking teacher certification courses at Schreiner University and hopes to teach English and theatre on the high school level after graduation.

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