Hall of Fame
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2008 Inductees
Mary-Dean Barringer is the chief executive officer (CEO) of All Kinds of Minds and the former national director for the Schools Attuned program. She was a founding board member of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and then served as vice president of Outreach and Mobilization. Barringer began her career in special education. She was hired to develop and teach in one of the nation's first public school programs for autistic children in Detroit. In addition to teaching, this challenge offered her the opportunity to develop innovative curriculum, inform district and state special education policy and lead teacher development throughout the country. After 13 years in special education, she received the first "International Teacher of the Year Award" from the Council of Exceptional Children. Barringer received her doctorate from Michigan State University, a dual-major master's degree from Wayne State University and a bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University.
Larry Warren has extensive experience in hospital administration. Currently the chief executive officer of the Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., Warren has been in several administrative positions in hospitals. He was the director and CEO of the University of Michigan hospitals, health centers and human services. He has been in the following positions at Michigan Health Corporation: vice chair, chief operating officer, interim director, CEO, senior associate director, associate director and administrator for acute care services. Warren serves on the District of Columbia Hospital Association Board of Directors and has served on a list of other boards. After receiving numerous awards and recognition, he was awarded the School of Public Heath Mentorship Award. Warren received both his master's degree and bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University.
Frederick Bartlett Fancher attended EMU when it was known as Michigan State Normal School. Records show Fancher received his teaching certificate, circa 1870. In 1871, he entered the insurance business in Chicago. After moving to North Dakota in 1881, he began a large farming operation near Jamestown. He also operated an insurance company and served as president on the board of trustees at the State Hospital in Jamestown. Fancher's first political venture was serving as president of the Constitutional Convention in 1889. He organized the Alliance Hail Association, and ran for state insurance commissioner and served two terms. Fancher became the seventh governor of North Dakota in 1899 and served until 1901. After governing North Dakota, he moved to Sacramento, Calif., and operated a wholesale and retail grocery business until he retired in 1925.
Thomas M. Gwaltney has a wide range of experiences in the field of education. His career began at Wyatt Elementary in Wyatt, Miss., where he first served as a seventh/eighth grade teacher before becoming the principal at the age of 19. Gwaltney is a member of many professional organizations, including the Alliance of Teachers of Foreign Languages and American Association of University Professors. During his 50-year-and-counting career, Gwaltney has presented more than 100 professional juried and non-juried presentations. Currently, he is working on research; writing and composing poetry that concerns the nature of teaching and learning. Gwaltney received his doctorate from Southern Illinois University and his bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University. He devotes time as an ordained minister of visitation at Crossroads Baptist Church.
2007 Inductees
William J. Bushaw is a former
middle-school teacher and high school principal. For several
years, he directed the North Central Association of Colleges
and Schools (NCA) program in Michigan. Following that, he
served as chief academic officer and deputy superintendent at
the Michigan Department of Education and as a director at
Merit Network, Inc. Bushaw also served in the U.S. Navy, both
on active duty and in the reserve, retiring in October 2000.
Bushaw received his doctorate and bachelor's degree from the
University of Michigan, and his master's degree from Eastern
Michigan University. His professional interests center on
education policy, student assessment, school evaluation and
the deployment of technology in classrooms and schools. He is
a strong advocate for public schooling.
John Mahelm Berry Sill graduated from EMU
in 1854, when it was known as Michigan State Normal School. He
remained here as a professor of English language and
literature until 1864. In addition, Sill served as
superintendent of Detroit Public Schools, principal of the
Detroit Female Seminary, principal of Michigan State Normal
School, president of the Michigan State Teachers' Association
and a regent at the University of Michigan. He was
consul-general and U.S. minister resident at Seoul, Korea,
under President Grover Cleveland from 1894-1897. He received
the honorary degree of Master of Arts from the University of
Michigan in 1870 and the degree of Master of Pedagogics from
Michigan State Normal College in 1892. Sill died in Detroit in
1901.
Marvin H. McKinney has been active in
education, mainly behind the scenes, for many years. He has
worked as an educational consultant for institutions such as
the Michigan Department of Education, the Kellogg Foundation
and the Family Research Initiative at Michigan State
University. In addition, he has served as the director of
early childhood education for Ann Arbor Public Schools, the
state coordinator of early childhood education for the
Michigan Department of Education and the program director of
youth and education for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. McKinney
has presented and published research on numerous issues,
including family resources, children of low-income families,
educating African-American children and child development. He
received his doctorate from the University of Michigan and his
bachelor's, master's and educational specialist degrees from
Eastern Michigan University.
Shirley J. Bryant has dedicated much of
her life to serving her community. She's been an active member
of Leadership Detroit, the Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber of
Commerce, Birmingham Youth Assistance, the
Birmingham-Bloomfield Task Force on Race Relations and Ethnic
Diversity, Orchards Children's Services and many other
community groups. She's received numerous awards for her
service, including Birmingham's "Woman of the Year" and the
Women of Achievement Award from the Anti-Defamation League.
Bryant received her master's degree from Eastern Michigan
University and her bachelor's degree from the University of
Florida.
She worked for Birmingham Public Schools as a community
education specialist, coordinator of community education and
executive director of community relations until her retirement
in 2005.
2006 Inductees
Floyd Clack, M.A., 1972. Clack served the Flint Public Schools as a counselor and teacher for twenty-two years. Additionally, he was also a member of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners for eight years, served as a State Representative in the Michigan House of Representatives for fourteen years, was a member of the Flint City Council for three years, and was a president of the Flint Branch NAACP. In 2005, he was appointed to the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.
Mary Lou Durbin, Teaching Certificate, 1947; B.S., 1952; M.A., 1960; Specialist, 1966. Mary Lou Durbin received her State Limited Degree and Certificate as well as her Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State Normal College in 1947 and 1952, respectively. She also received her Master of Arts and Specialist degrees from Eastern Michigan University in 1960 and 1966, respectively. Additionally, Durbin received a Doctor of Philosophy in Education from the University of Michigan in 1977. For over fifty years, she has been actively dedicated to helping elementary students in realizing their potential and self-worth, using professional experience joined with a background in classroom teaching and administration in special education. For her extensive contributions to education and the community, Durbin was given special tributes by George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, as well as Michigan Governor John Engler and three congresspersons.
Michael Flanagan, M.A., 1974. Michael Flanagan was appointed State Superintendent of Public Instruction by the State Board of Education on May 18, 2005. Previously, Flanagan served as the Executive Director of the Michigan Association of School Administrators, on the board of the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators. For the previous seven years, he served as the Superintendent of the Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency where he placed a strong emphasis on rising to the challenge of educating children living in poverty. Additionally, Flanagan served as Superintendent of the Farmington/Farmington Hills School District in Michigan for five years, was a member of former Michigan Gov. John Engler’s Reading Plan for Michigan Council; and was appointed Education Commissioner on the Detroit 300 Commission by former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer.
Sam Yarger, B.S., 1959. He dedicated his life to education, starting in the late 1950s as an elementary school teacher, school psychologist, and elementary school principal in Michigan. He then earned his Ph.D. in educational psychology at Wayne State University in 1968. Yarger served as dean and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, as well as associate dean at Syracuse University prior to becoming professor and dean at the University of Miami. Under his leadership, the education programs at these universities flourished, and continue to credit their success to him.
2005 Inductees
Patricia J. Dignan, M.A., 1970. Patricia Dignan received her Master of Arts degree in 1970. Before attending EMU, Dignan taught at the elementary and secondary levels, served as director of Headstart programs in Michigan and California, and co-founded Michigan’s first alternative education program for middle and high school students. In 1982, Dignan received an Ed.D. from the University of Michigan and in 1994 she earned a J.D. from Detroit College of Law. She was the first female superintendent in school districts in both Michigan and the greater Washington , D.C. area. After retiring from the superintendency, Dignan served as dean of Washtenaw Technical Middle School and as executive director for Student Achievement and Accountability in Detroit. Her career achievements have earned her numerous honors and awards.
Julia Ann King, Teaching Certificate 1858. Born in 1838, Julia Ann King graduated from Michigan State Normal School in 1858. Shortly thereafter, she was appointed by the State Superintendent to organize a graded school in St. Claire , Michigan, where she served as high school principal. King then became high school principal in Lansing and soon led all the Lansing area schools. Later, she was appointed head of the Ladies Department at Kalamazoo College. In 1881, King was named Preceptress at Michigan State Normal School, a position comparable to Dean of Women. She also was named head of The Normal’s History Department, a position she held for 27 years. King retired in 1915 and died in 1919. The first residence hall on campus, completed in 1939, is named in her honor.
Dean Rockwell, B.S. 1935. Dean Rockwell graduated from Michigan State Normal College in 1935. While at MSNC, Rockwell competed in football, track and wrestling and was president of Phi Sigma Epsilon and the Men’s Union. After graduating, he taught and coached various sports at three Michigan high schools. Rockwell joined the U.S. Navy in 1942; on June 6, 1944, he successfully led a group of soldiers in the Normandy invasion, earning both American and French awards for valor. In 1945, Rockwell returned to Michigan and earned a graduate degree from the University of Michigan. He continued to coach, leading the U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling team in the 1964 Olympics and chairing the National AAU Wrestling Committee from 1966 to 1968. From 1985 to 1991, Rockwell chaired the committee responsible for bringing the Geddes Town Hall School to EMU’s campus, a project he considers his major EMU achievement.
Gerald F. Tape, B.A. 1935. Gerald F. Tape received his B.A. degree from Michigan State Normal College in 1935. He then attended the University of Michigan, earning an M.S. and Ph.D. in physics in 1936 and 1940, respectively. Tape began his career in 1939 as an Assistant Professor of physics at Cornell University. During the 1960s, Tape became involved in all facets of nuclear power, advising the U.S. Government at the most senior levels. From 1963 to 1969, he served as the AEC Commissioner responsible for the United States ’ nuclear weapons program. From 1973 to 1977, he was the U.S. Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria. Tape’s services have consistently been in high demand by various governmental organizations. His untiring attention to details, constant integrity, and ‘common sense’ approach have been important components in the success of the modern relationship between government and science.
Ingrid Saunders Jones, M.S. 1973. Ingrid Saunders Jones is senior vice-president of Corporate External Affairs for The Coca-Cola Company and chairperson of The Coca-Cola Foundation. Prior to attending Eastern Michigan University, Jones received a bachelor’s degree in education from Michigan State University. In 1973, she earned a master’s degree in education from EMU. Before moving to Atlanta, Jones taught at Detroit area schools and served as the executive director of the Detroit / Wayne County Child Care Coordinating Council. A teacher by training, Jones has remained committed to education and community development. Through the Coca-Cola Foundation, Jones leads the Company’s philanthropic commitment to education. Under her leadership, the Foundation contributed more than $100 million to education, including scholarships and initiatives to increase the academic success of students in public and secondary schools.
2004
Inductees
Barbara
Forker B.A., 1942. Barbara
Forker graduated from Michigan
State Normal College in 1942. After
teaching high school and elementary
school physical education, she
served 22 months in Europe with
the American Red Cross during World
War II. In 1948, Forker joined
the Iowa
State University faculty, where
she received her M.S. degree. In
1957, she obtained a Ph.D. from
the University
of Michigan. In 1958, Forker
returned to ISU where she was appointed
Head of the Women's P.E. Department.
In 1974, she became Department
Head for both the Men's and Women's
P.E. Departments. During the 1970s,
she served on the U.S.
Olympic Committee and the President's
Commission on Olympic Sports. Forker
has received numerous awards throughout
her career to honor her achievements.
Most notably, in 1997, the Physical
Education building at ISU was renamed
in her honor.
Bert I.
Greene, B.A., 1955. Bert Greene,
a long-time faculty member at EMU in Teacher
Education, graduated from Michigan State
Normal College in 1955. Prior to teaching
at EMU, Greene taught in the Michigan public
school system at both the middle and elementary
school levels. He received a Ph.D. from
the University
of Michigan in 1961 and joined the EMU
faculty in 1963. Greene has been instrumental
in enhancing learning technologies at EMU,
and was one of the first professors to integrate
the use of the computer in his courses.
He has initiated several courses in technology,
including the first course at EMU about
the Internet. Greene has also served as
chair of the COE Resource Development Board
and is still very involved in the University's
advancement activities.
Theo Hamilton,
B.A., 1955. Theo Hamilton entered
Michigan State Normal College in 1941, and
shortly thereafter left to serve in World
War II. In 1955, Hamilton became the first
African-American teacher in Michigan's Upper
Peninsula . Upon becoming an assistant principal
and principal with the Highland Public Schools,
he became one of only a handful of African-American
school administrators in Michigan . In 1967,
Hamilton returned to EMU to launch a career
that has made him one of the University's
most respected and beloved staff members.
Over the ensuing four decades, Hamilton
has helped tens of thousands of students
and alumni prepare for and find teaching
and administrative positions. His unique
combination of optimism, professionalism,
and genuine concern for people has made
him someone who has had a positive influence
on everyone, resulting in countless awards
from the University, the community, and
his profession.
Nora Martin,
B.A., 1963, M.A., 1965. Nora Martin
received both her B.S. and M.A. degrees
from EMU and a Ph.D. from the University
of Michigan . She spent four years teaching
in the Wayne/Westland
Schools, but returned to EMU in 1967
as an Assistant Professor in Special Education.
Martin is a member of the EMU faculty, coordinator
for the Comer
Schools and Families Initiative and
is in demand throughout the country as a
speaker and workshop leader. She is also
an education consultant for school districts
in both Michigan and Ohio. Her career at
EMU has earned her many honors, including
the Distinguished Faculty Award, Teaching
Excellence Award, and the Gold Medallion.
Martin is considered a pioneer in the area
of learning disabilities, and has earned
tremendous respect from students, staff,
and peers at both EMU and the Detroit Public
Schools .
Ron Oestrike
B.S., 1954. Ron Oestrike received
his B.S. from Eastern Michigan University
in 1954. In 23 years as EMU's head baseball
coach, Oestrike turned the baseball program
into one of the nation's finest. During
his career, he led his teams to the 1970
NAIA national title as well as two NCAA-Division
I World Series. In addition, he received
numerous individual awards throughout his
career, including NAIA National "Coach of
the Year" in 1970, MAC "Coach of the Year" four
times and Mid-East Regional "Coach of the
Year" four times. Oestrike retired from
his coaching duties in 1987, but stayed
on as a physical education instructor at
EMU until officially retiring after the
1998 fall semester. He was named to the
National Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in
1990. EMU's baseball stadium was officially
named Ron Oestrike Stadium, August 26, 1987
.
Lloyd Olds,
B.A., 1916. Lloyd Olds graduated
from Michigan State Normal School in 1916,
and later earned an M.S and a Ph.D. from
the University
of Michigan . In 1921, Olds joined the
Normal School's Department of Physical Education.
Coaching track and cross country teams for
25 years, he established one of the most
extensive intramural programs in the Midwest
. In both the 1932 and 1936 Olympics, Olds
served as Assistant Track Coach for the
U.S. Track & Field squads. Olds was
the head of EMU's Department of Physical
Education (1956-63), Chairman of the National
Track and Field Association (1946-1950),
and President of MAHPERD.
After retirement, he was elected to the
NCAA Track and Field Hall of Fame and the
EMU Sports Hall of Fame. Olds is also credited
with the invention of the striped referee
shirt, as well as ribbon awards in intramural
games
2003
Inductees
Frank
J. Manley, 1928. Frank Manley
is considered by many as the founder
of the "community school" movement.
He began his career in the Flint schools
as an athletic coach and teacher.
With the aid of philanthropist Charles
S. Mott, Manley initiated an after-school
and Saturday activity program in several
Flint-area elementary schools in 1935.
This modest beginning grew into a
national and international movement,
supported for years by the Charles
Stewart Mott Foundation. Manley
rose to become the Executive Director
of the Mott Foundation. His work led
to the creation of the Mott Fellows,
the National Network of University-Based
Community Education Centers, the National
Center for Community Education,
and the National
Community Education Association,
among other organizational entities.
Manley's vision has reached to touch
the lives of millions of youth.
William
P. Morris, 1964, 1968. During
his 31 years in public education,
William Morris served as an elementary
teacher, coach, high school principal
and, for 22 years, as a superintendent
in Summerfield and of the Monroe County
Intermediate School District. He was
active in professional organizations,
holding numerous leadership roles
at all levels, including serving as
the president of the Michigan
Association of School Administrators.
In 1991-92 he was president of the American
Association of School Administrators.
He holds the EMU Distinguished Alumnus
award and the AASA Distinguished Service
Award and he is a member of the Michigan
Education Hall of Fame. Currently
in the private sector as a founder
and president of the Monroe
County Industrial Development Corporation,
William Morris continues to support
education in a wide variety of ways.
Robert
C. Parks, 1952. Robert C. "Bob" Parks
was a track star in high school and
at Michigan
State Normal College. He taught
and coached at several Michigan high
schools and at Western Michigan University,
with his track and cross country teams
receiving many awards. He came to
EMU in 1967 and coached here for 34
years, during which time he also taught
in the College
of Education. Parks was named "Coach
of the Year" for the Mid-American
conference 26 times and NCAA Division
I "Coach of the Year" in 1990, among
dozens of other coaching recognitions.
His teams won 45 MAC conference titles
and seven NCAA Division I individual
titles, plus two relays. Ten of his
athletes made 15 appearances in Olympic
Games, winning gold, silver and bronze
medals. Parks in a member of the EMU
Athletic Hall of Fame and the United
States Track Coaches Association Hall
of Fame.
David
E. Smith, 1898. Born in Cortland,
New York in 1860, David E. Smith was
admitted to the bar in 1884. He studied
mathematics at Syracuse University
and served on the faculty of Michigan
State Normal School from 1891-1901,
before joining Teachers College, Columbia
University. He served as a professor
of mathematics there until his death
in 1944. He also served as the Teachers
College librarian, 1902-1920. The
author of more than 500 publications
(including 50 books) in the history
of mathematics and in mathematics
education, several of Smith's books
are still in use. He served as editor
of several journals and as president
of the History
of Science Society. He was inducted
into the Kappa Delta Pi Laureate chapter
in 1936. His personal collection of rare
books and apparatus related to
mathematics is in the Columbia Library.
James
A. Wilsford, 1970. James
Wilsford was a teacher of English,
principal, and associate superintendent
in Savannah, GA. He became one of
the early advocates of the extensive
use of computers in schools. As superintendent
of the Orangeburg, South Carolina
district-a district with a very high
proportion of at-risk children-he
used computers, software, and multimedia
to accomplish many goals simultaneously.
These included dramatic increases
in test scores, a great reduction
in dropouts, increased college attendance
rates, and substantial parent and
community involvement, among many
others. The American Association of
School Administrators honored him
as national "Superintendent
of the Year" in 1989. He received
the ComputerWorld Smithsonian Award
and he was honored by the South Carolina
state legislature, among many other
recognitions. Since retiring from
the superintendency, he continued
his work in the private sector as
a developer
and publisher of multimedia, interactive
educational software.
2002
Inductees
Marylyn
Lake, '64, '66. Marylyn Lake taught
children with mental impairments and
learning disabilities in the Birmingham
Public Schools from 1964-1966. In
1967 she returned to EMU as a faculty
member and as a teacher of the mentally
impaired in the Rackham School. Dr. Lake
remained a faculty member in the Department
of Special Education until the time
of her death in 2001, along the way receiving
her doctorate form the University of
Michigan in 1978. Having touched the
lives of thousands, she received the
Distinguished Faculty Award of the Michigan
Association of Governing Boards in 1996.
Dr. Lake was one of the founding members
of the EMU Collaborative
School Improvement Program (C-SIP)
and she later served as the facilitator
for the EMU Consociate School Partnership
with Estabrook
Elementary School in Ypsilanti.
William
Mays, Jr., '54. William Mays, Jr.
was a teacher and administrator in the Ann
Arbor Schools from 1958 to 1975.
He then became Executive Director of
the Michigan
Elementary and Middle School Principals
Association, where he served for
22 years. In his role, he was highly
influential in many state and national
policy determinations and he provided
numerous professional development activities.
Mr. Mays able represented Michigan and
the constituencies of his organization
through his many professional linkages.
A friend and mentor of a large number
of present and former school administrators
in the state, he has received numerous
honors and recognitions in return, including
the EMU distinguished Alumnus award.
Mr. Mays has served EMU through the years
as a strong supporter of the track program
and as an active member and president
of the Alumni
Association.
Wilbert
J. McKeachie, '42. Wilbert J. McKeachie
began his career as a teacher of mathematics
in the Upper Peninsula. Following service
in World War II, he earned his master's
(1946) and Ph.D. (1949) in psychology
at the University of Michigan. He remained
on the UM faculty, eventually becoming
the chair of the Department
of Psychology. Dr. McKeachie has
received eight honorary degrees and numerous
teaching and research awards. Including
the Gold
Medal for Lifetime Contributions to Psychology.
He served as president of the American
Psychological Association (1976-1977)
and the American
Association for Higher Education (1978-1979),
among many other organizational leadership
roles. Dr. McKeachie has served on a
variety of government advisory committees.
A prolific scholar, he is the author
of numerous works on topics in psychology
and in research on college teaching.
Jack
S. Price, '52. Jack S. price taught
mathematics and science for 13 years
in Detroit schools at all levels. He
then spent 11 years in California schools
as a curriculum leader, followed by 14
years (in two California districts) as
superintendent. Since 1990 he has been
the co-director or director of the Center
for Education and Equity in Mathematics,
Science, and Technology at California
State Polytechnic University in Pomona,
also teaching mathematics and mathematics
education courses for prospective teachers.
He has held many state and national leadership
roles in mathematics education, including
serving as president of the National
Council of Teachers of Mathematics (1994-96.
He is the author or coauthor of 16 textbooks
in science and mathematics.
2001
Inaugural Inductees
Carol
Lynn Babcock, '66, '69, '78.
Since assuming her first principalship
in 1978, Babcock has been highly
involved in state, local, and national
school leadership organizations,
capped by her term of service as
president of the National
Association of Elementary School
Principals. She received her
B.A. in elementary education from
EMU and began teaching in 1966.
After earning an M.A. in guidance
and counseling, also from EMU,
she became first a counselor, then
a principal. She later earned her
Sp.A. from EMU as well. Since 1989
she has been principal of Grant
Elementary School in Livonia. Babcock
has won numerous awards as an educator
and school leader, including an
EMU Outstanding Alumnus Award and
placement on the 1988 National
School Boards Association "Executive
Educator 100" list.
Ruth
Boughner, '17, '23. The
first woman inducted into the EMU
Athletic Hall of Fame, Boughner spent
a long and notable career at EMU.
She received a teaching certificate
from MSNC in 1917 and began teaching
at the College in 1920. After earning
a B.A. from the College in 1923 (and
an M.A. from UM), Boughner taught
as a professor in the (then) Physical
Education department until 1952, including
11 years as the chair of the Women's
Division of the department. After
her retirement, a scholarship fund
was established in her name and the
exercise science laboratory in the
Warner Building honors her. Boughner
died in 1989.
Don
Cameron, '61, '62, '85.
A product of Michigan's public schools,
Cameron is a staunch advocate for
public education in America. After
earning B.A. and M.A. degrees at EMU,
Cameron taught in the Birmingham,
Michigan schools. He is distinguished
by his long and varied career with
the National
Education Association, serving
as executive director from 1983 until
recent weeks. He serves on the board
of a variety of educational and social
organizations, and has won numerous
honors and awards.
John
DiBiaggio, '54, '85. President
of Tufts
University since 1992, DiBiaggio
is perhaps best known in Michigan
for his term as president of MSU from
1985 to 1992. DiBiaggio graduated
from EMU in 1954 with a B.S. He practiced
dentistry for several years before
returning to the field of education.
He held administrative appointments
at the University
of Kentucky and Virginia
Commonwealth university and was
president of the University
of Connecticut before returning
to his home state. DiBiaggio also
has a distinguished record of public
service, including the presidency
of the Board of Trustees of the American
Cancer Society.
Timothy
J. Dyer, '61, '65. Dyer
graduated from EMU with a B.A. in
1961 and received an M.A. in 1965.
He served in the educational field
as a teacher and principal and was
mayor of Ypsilanti from
1968 to 1970. He simultaneously held
positions as the superintendent of
the Wayne-Westland school district
and on the EMU Board of Regents (1973-1983),
before he left the state to become
superintendent of the nation's largest
high school district in Phoenix, Arizona.
In 1990, Dyer accepted the position
of executive director of the National
Association of Secondary School Principals,
serving in that capacity until 1998.
Arthur
E. Ellis, '70. Ellis has
had a distinguished career in educational
administration in the state of Michigan.
After earning his M.A. at EMU and
serving as a member of the staff here,
he became vice-president for public
affairs at Central
Michigan University (1970-1985).
In 1985, he became president of CMU,
serving until 1991. He entered state
government, serving as head of the
state Commerce Department and, since
August 1995, as Superintendent of
Public Instruction for the state of
Michigan.
Thomas
Fleming, '68, '93. As a
teenager, Fleming had very limited
skills in reading and writing and
he dropped out of high school. Teaching
himself to read, he eventually earned
an M.A. in special education at EMU.
The quality of his twenty-year teaching
career at the Washtenaw County Juvenile
Detention Center earned him the 1991 Michigan
Teacher of the Year award, followed
by the 1992 National
Teacher of the Year award. In
1994, Fleming was appointed special
assistant to the provost at EMU, a
position he currently holds.
Hayes
Jones, '61. While still
a student at EMU, Jones won a bronze
medal for the 110 meter hurdles in
the 1960 Olympic games in Rome. After
graduating in 1961 with a B.A. from
EMU, Jones returned to the Olympics,
earning a gold medal in the 1964 games
in Tokyo in the same event. A member
of the Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame
and the Helms Athletic Hall of Fame
in Los Angeles, Jones went on to become
a successful businessman and an active
participant in community affairs.
Jack
Minzey, '50. A longtime
EMU professor and administrator, Minzey
is also well known for his work in
community education. Minzey earned
his B.A. in 1950 from EMU. After service
in the K-12 schools and in the Michigan
Department of Education, he joined
the EMU faculty in 1968 and served
at various times as head of the Department
of Leadership and Counseling,
acting dean of the College of Education,
and director of the Center for Community
Education. Minzey also served as president
of the National
Community Education Association and
has won numerous awards, including
an Outstanding Service Award and the
1986 Distinguished Service Award from
the NCEA. In 1992, Minzey was inducted
into the Michigan Education Hall of
Fame.
Carl
Pursell, '57, '62, '80.
Pursell earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees
from EMU. He taught in area schools,
then took up a political career, serving
in both the Michigan
Senate (six years) and the United
States House of Representatives (16
years), where he was the ranking Republican
on the Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
Pursell served on the EMU Board of
Regents from 1993 to 2000.
