Information for this list is collected from alumni surveys and other communications with alumni and is updated periodically. If you are a graduate of Communications and wish to be included in the list, let us know. If some information needs to be corrected, let us know. (comm@astate.edu, 870-972-2468) or College of Communications, P.O. Box 540, State University, AR 72467). (Updated 1-12-09.)
Bill Allbright (RTV '69) is retired and lives in Heber Springs. Bill spent 31 years with the Corps of Engineers, about half that time as a park ranger at Greers Ferry Lake. In retirement, Bill works as circulation manager for Workamper News in Heber Springs, a bimonthly magazine listing employment opportunities for people who live in their RV's. Bill and his wife, Lynn, have two children.
Susan Aldridge (Jour '73) is assistant to the president/director of marketing and public relations at National Park Community College. She was 2007-2008 recipient of the education award presented by Arkansas Business and Professional Women and served in 2007-2008 as the district governor of Rotary International District 6170. She lives in Malvern.
Paul F. Bankston (RTV ‘72) is director of sales for three Cox radio properties in Birmingham, Ala. The three properties are WBHK, WBHJ and WAGG. WBHK is the number one urban AC and the number one “Tom Joyner” affiliate in the nation.
Jean Ann Bell (SCom '71) is a public relations officer with the Searcy Public Schools. She also writes a weekly education column for The Daily Citizen in Searcy.
Kim Bodell (RTV ’77) works as senior functional analyst and technical writer for MKI Systems in Dumfries, Va. He and wife Trisha live in Stafford, Va.
Gina Bowman (Jour '76) has joined ASU's Office of University Communications as senior communications specialist with emphasis in media relations. Bowman worked in sports information for ASU for 33 years, serving in a variety of roles, including assistant athletic director for media relations from 1994 to 2002
Susan Boxx (RTV ‘79) has her own public relations business in Birmingham, Ala.
Roger Bumpass (RTV ‘75) is an actor in Burbank, Calif. He has appeared in “Baby Huey’s Great Adventure” and did voices for “A Bug’s Life’’and Nickelodeon’s 1999 cartoon, “Sponge Bob.”
Bobby Caldwell (RTV '70), owner of KWYN and East Arkansas Broadcasters, recently acquired the Clear Channel stations in Jonesboro. EAB also manages, markets and originates the ASU's sports network, broadcasting ASU football, men's and women's basketball and baseball. He is a 2005 Distinguished Alumnus of the university.
William Robert Calhoun (RTV '69) of Lawrenceville, Ga., passed away Dec. 3, 2007. Retired department chair Charles Rasberry said, "Bob was truly one of the students who helped make the ASU RTV department what it is today. He was a great guy -- a fine student, very sharp and simply a pleasure to work with and have around KASU and the Department of Radio-Television." Calhoun was married to the former Wanda Moore -- Dean Robert Moore's daughter.
Suzanne Campbell-Hensley (Jour ‘68) has joined the Make-a-Wish Foundation of metropolitan St. Louis as community relations coordinator following 17 years in health care public relations. She and husband Richard live in Arnold, Mo.
Susan Luster Castro (Jour '74) is public information officer and director of media relations and marketing for Alief Independent School District, a Houston area district of 46,000 students. She and husband Eduardo live in Katy, Texas.
Susan Aldridge Cathey (Jour ‘73) is assistant to the president of Garland County Community College. She received a doctorate of education in higher education from UALR in May 1998.
David Christiano (RTV ’79) has produced “7th Street Theater,” which will begin airing on TBN starting March 3 and will be the first ever primetime Christian drama series to air on a national television network. News about the program can be found at http://7thstreettheater.com/7thStreetPress.html. He also has produced a story about a lost first love that will be released nationwide in February 2008. You can read about “Me & You, Us, Forever” at http://meyouusforever.com/press.htm.
Tom Colvin, an RTV student in the early 1970s wrote to Rich Carvell to say, "I was just checking out the web site and wanted to let you know I remember those early days at KASU while attending Arkansas State. I left the Air Force and the American Forces Radio & Television service in the early 70's to attend ASU. You were my advisor and also hired me for the part-time radio staff. I did not stay long. Left to become news Director at KBOA/KTMO in Kennett. I stayed in Kennett for 10 years. I left in 1984 to become news director at KTTR/KZNN in Rolla, Mo. Over the years I became the program director, operations director and station manager for what is now a six-station group. I have also been the play-by-play announcer for the University of Missouri-Rolla for 19 years, football and men's and women's basketball." After a heart attack in 2000, he returned to "on-air" work. "Just wanted to let you know I stayed in the radio business and still to this day remember many of the things you 'taught' me, even though I thought I knew it all after my eight years in radio & TV with the Air Force. Just wanted to say 'hi' and also 'thank you'. Too many times we forget to give credit to those who have had a positive impact on our lives. Know you are busy. Again, thanks."
Hector J Cuellar (Printing ‘77) works as a senior estimator and planner for Westland Printers (Consolidated Graphics ‘CGX) in Burtonsville, Md. He and wife Janice live in Clinton, Md., with their two daughters, Katherine and Sarah.
Debbie Holmes Daniel (RTV ’76) is a communications specialist for Federal Express in Memphis. She has been a member of the FedEx team since 1985.
David Dees (Jour ‘78) is director of communications for The Marmon Group Inc. in Chicago.
Cletis R. Ellinghouse (Jour '58), retired newspaper publisher, has published a book, Southeast Missouri's Ancient Swamp and the Countryside Surrounding It."
Tony Ellis (RTV ‘64) joined Lockheed Martin Corporation’s commercial information technology strategic business development group in 1997. He is married to Donna and lives in Upstate New York.
Mikie Lou Fielder (BSE ‘64 and MSMC ‘86) is in real estate after 25 years of teaching. She works for Arnold Group and lives in Jonesboro with husband Jerry, president of Fielder Custom Service Leveling and general partner in Fielder Farms.
Rae Ann Fields (Jour ‘79) APR works for the Bryant Chamber of Commerce.
Gene Foreman (Jour ‘56) became the first Foster Professor in Communications at Penn State University. He has been on the faculty at Penn State since retiring after 25 years at The Philadelphia Inquirer. He is former deputy editor and vice president at The Inquirer.
Debra Hale-Shelton (B.S. journalism '72, M.A. English '80) is working for the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. She moved with her husband, Huey, and daughter, Annie, to Conway from the Chicago area. Debra left The Associated Press after more than 20 years.
Kathy (Waterson) Harrison (Jour '79) is promotions coordinator for the Global University of the Assemblies of God in Springfield, Mo. Her spouse in former RTV student Thomas Harrison, who is vice president for institutional advancement for the Global University.
Suzanne Hensley (Jour '68) and her husband, Richard Hensley now reside at Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. They own and operate a home improvement business, and she is also office manager for a yacht brokerage company.
Bruce Higgins (RTV '74) has been appointed as pastor of the Monette/Lake City charge of the United Methodist Church in Arkansas.
Jim Holmes (RTV '68) is a producer for AETN. Jim and host Steve Wilson produce one of AETN's most popular shows, "Talking Outdoors at the Corner Cafe."
Paul Holmes (RTV '73), editor of Northeast Arkansas Business Today, was nominated as one of three finalists in the media support category of the 2006 Henry Awards. The tourism award is named in honor of Henri de Tonti, the person historians consider to be one of the first "Arkansas Travelers."
Lloyd Huskey (RTV ’79) is a weekend radio announcer and full-time adult education administrator. He lives in Little Rock.
Gary Jones (RTV '64)sold Jones Production, his Little Rock-based film production company, to Cranford John Robinson Woods of Little Rock. Jones worked with CJRW for more than 25 years and continues as a member of the staff.
Tom Kaemmerling (RTV '78) is marketing manager for Criticare Systems Inc. in Waukesha, Wis. Criticare Systems manufactures vital sign monitors for the medical industry. Tom and wife Debbie reside in Menominee Falls, Wis.
Sid King (RTV '74) is the general manager of his two radio stations KGFL/KHPQ in Clinton. He also owns a movie theater in Clinton and reopened the GEM movie theater in Heber Springs. He and wife Judi live in Clinton. All three of their children, Ashley, Ali and Tyler, are ASU graduates.
Bill Klutho (RTV '75) is manager of strategic public relations for Deere & Company at One John Deere Place in Moline, Ill.
Bonnie Libhart (RTV '72) completed a doctorate in communication arts at Oxford Graduate School. She works as an author and speaker and is owner of Hart & Taylor Publishing. She lives in Huntsville, Ala.
Lowell M. "Joe" Long (RTV '71) manages Colgate Palmolive Company's national convenience stores in the United States. He lives in Edmond, Okla.
Larry McDemott (Jour '70) was one of five New England journalists named as recipients of the 2007 Yankee Quill Award for their contributions to improving journalism. McDermott is publisher and CEO of the Springfield (Mass.) Republican and a public access advocate who is also president of the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association. The award is presented by the Academy of New England Journalists through the auspices of the New England Society of Newspaper Editors.
Chuck Maulden (RTV '79) is news director at KTHV-TV, channel 11, in Little Rock. Maulden joined KTHV after serving as director of news operations for NBC affiliate KSDK-TV, channel 5, in St. Louis.
Richard McCann (Jour '63) has retired as assistant managing editor of The Decatur Daily in Alabama. A former Herald editor, he spent 40 years editing newspapers, including 22 years at The Houston Post, where he was news editor. He and his wife, Brenda, live in Decatur.
Jim McCarty (RTV '79) is president of Teraco Inc., an advertising and promotions printing company in Midland, Texas.
Tom Moore (Jour '73, MPA '91), longtime director of University Communications at ASU, has been appointed by ASU Chancellor Dr. Robert L. Potts as executive assistant to the chancellor. Moore's new duties began on March 10, and will include oversight of and assistance with correspondence, contracts, and speech writing. He will remain a consultant to the Office of University Relations. In addition to his 23 years of experience in University Communications, he has an extensive background in news writing, working as editor of Walnut Ridge's The Times Dispatch and as a writer at The Jonesboro Sun.
Craig O'Neil (Randy Hankins, RTV '72)is anchoring the 10 p.m. weekday news and promoting community journalism for KTHV-TV, Channel 11. He has taken a leave of absence as sports director.
Bill Owens (Printing ’79) is director of marketing for Xitron since 2005. Xitron, headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., is the leading independent developer of RIPS and workflow solutions for the graphic arts industry. Bill lives in Ypsilanti.
M. J. Pearle (Jour '73) is community relations director at Allmerica Financial in Worcester. Her husband, George Boosey, is in charge of news and programming at WBUR-FM in Boston.
Vicki Felker Pillow (RTV '79) is director of development for the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas. Collin Pillow (RTV '85) continues as a faculty member in the ASU Department of Radio-Television.
John Reynolds (Jour '71) died Sept. 1 in Little Rock. He worked for The Herald as a page editor. His career included serving as advertising manager for the Forrest City Times-Herald and the Wynne Progress. He also was publicity coordinator for Eastern Arkansas Community College, sports editor for the Searcy Daily Citizen and the Arkadelphia Daily Siftings Herald and sports writer and publisher of the Newport Independent.
Vicky Rudy (Jour ’75) has become city manager for Rollingwood, Texas, an interurban city in Austin. She formerly was director of communications for Boys and Girls Country of Houston Inc.
Jerry Ryan (RTV ‘66) and spouse LaRaye have developed the “largest mobile music disc jockey business on the Gulf Coast.” The Ryans perform at about 700 events a year. They live in Pensacola, Fla.
Don E. Schaefer (Jour '54) , who retired from the University of Arkansas, was recently honored by the Arkansas Historical Association when FLASHBACK, a quarterly publication of the Washington County Historical Society, won the award for the best county or local journal for 2000. He was editor of FLASHBACK 1996-20000. He lives in Fayetteville.
Ken Simington (RTV ‘74) is at WDCN, Nashville, Tenn.’s, public television station. He produces a travel program, “Tennessee Crossroads, “ that airs on all Tennessee PBS stations.
Tom Sims (RTV ‘71) works as a graphics illustrator at Hytrol Conveyor Company in Jonesboro.
Larry D. Smith (RTV ’71) is presiding commissioner of Howell County, Mo. He lives in Willow Springs, Mo.
Phillip Smith (Jour '72) is circuit judge of the Third Judicial District in Arkansas.
Wilfred Tremblay (RTV '76) is professor and director of the Nido Qubein School of Communication at High Point University in High Point, N.C.
John Wallace (Jour ’74) is retired as director of public affairs for network services for GTE Service Corporation, in Irving, Texas.
Gary Lee Ward (RTV ' 67) has announced the release of his new book Two From Tennessee. In writing the book, Gary said he drew heavily from his own real life experiences while growing up in the Missouri Bootheel. While the actual book is not available in book stores, Two From Tennessee by Gary Lee Ward can be ordered at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com or at over 25,000 other bookstore web sites worldwide. Gary and his wife, Linda, now make their home at Bolivar in the Missouri Ozarks.
Millie Ward (Jour '76) ia president of Stone & Ward advertising, marketing and public relations firm. Arkansas Business reported "Ward, who runs Stone Ward with husband Larry Stone, leads the state's second-largest advertising, marketing and public relations firm with an estimated $40 million in capitalized billings, according to Arkansas Business' 2004 Book of Lists."
Thom Wilborn (RTV '68) writes that he was an associate producer of a PBS documentary, The World War II Memorial – A Testament to Freedom. He did almost all the interviews and helped write the script.
Ron Wilson (Jour '70) is retired as executive director of the Delta Regional Authority in Clarksdale, Miss. He began his career with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1975, and in 1998 he became national ombudsman for the ATSDR. He earned a juris doctorate from Woodron Wilson College of Law and master's in health services administration from Central Michigan University. He is an adjunct professor at Central Michigan where he teaches health law, business law and health services administration.
Diane Woodruff (Jour '68) is public relations director for Sells/Clark a Little Rock advertising agency.