Class Notes Spring/Summer 2015

Ben B. McNew '53 received the 2014 Arkansas Century Farm award by the Arkansas Agriculture Department.

Pat C. (Cantrell) Otto '66 and her sons, Bryant '99 and William, flew out of the old Dennis F. Cantrell Field in Conway and decommissioned the old airport.

Carl J. Barger '69 and Lana (Dollor) Barger '65 celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December.

Dr. Barbara G. (Garner) Williams '71 received the 2014 Arkansas Hospital Association (AHA) Chairman’s Award and was named chairwoman of the Conway Regional Health System Board of Directors in January, which she has served on since 2010.

Don R. Smith '72 was named Arkansas Business CFO of the Year 2014: Lifetime Achievement in Accounting.

Harrell E. Clendenin '74 was promoted to the rank of Colonel and took command of the Arkansas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, the official civilian volunteer auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.

John H. Hutchcraft '76 was named a head coach of the East girls basketball team for the 2015 McDonald’s All American girls team.

Dent H. Smith, II '78, '80 was named the vice president of Operations of Methodist Mansfield Medical Center in Mansfield, Texas.

Donald L. Weaver '81 was elected 2015 chairman of the Board of Directors of TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit based in Washington, D.C.

William U. Nipper '82 received a special medal from the Colonial Coin Collectors Club at its national convention in Baltimore for his book In Yankee Doodle’s Pocket: the Myth, Magic and Politics of Money in Early America.

Albert W. Pilkington, III '84, '86 was named the new CEO of Johnson Regional Medical Center in Clarksville.

Lori A. (Hawkins) Melton '85 was named the 2014 Arvest Bank Diamond Achievement Award winner, which honors a woman with at least 25 years of professional experience and who has inspired and empowered many generations of women and has had a positive impact on those in her profession and community.

Lori I. (Paladino) Scroggin '89, '00 was one of four winners of the 2014 “Outstanding Woman in Business Award” during the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce’s third annual Women in Business Awards, which honors individuals in the Conway area who have excelled in leadership and community service and who have inspired others on both a personal and professional level.

Warren T. Readnour '90 was named to the 2015 Class of Faulkner County Leadership Institute.

Darran K. Perkins '93 is a 2014 graduate of the Faulkner County Leadership Institute.

Victor L. Rimmer '93 was named an assistant head coach of the East girls basketball team for the 2015 McDonald’s All American girls team.

Sen. Jason Rapert '94 was appointed to the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission, a national body that reviews insurance policies to ensure they meet necessary standards before being sold to consumers.

Lori L. Burrows '97 was named vice president and general counsel for Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. and Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Inc.

Keith R. McKinnon '97 was named a President’s Club honoree for the fourth year in a row by U.S. Bank Home Mortgage and also received the Elite Award of Presidents Circle for 2014.

Travis A. Teague '97 was named a member of Beall Barclay Wealth Management.

Suzanne L. (Smith) Harris '98, '05 is a 2014 graduate of the Faulkner County Leadership Institute.

Jeff D. Hudnall '99 was named executive director of the Indiana Network of Knowledge.

Dr. Chadwin Sandifer '99 was named to NJBIZ’s 2014 Forty Under 40 list.

Graham H. Gordy '00 created and produced a 1970s-set drama, “Quarry,” which was picked up by Cinemax and co-created by Michael D. Fuller.

Hope N. (Turner) Griffin '01 was honored by 2015 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year Program as Fort Bliss Base Winner.

Jason B. McCann '01 had his artwork included in the 28th annual Small Works on Paper exhibition at the William F. Laman Library in North Little Rock.

Marcus L. Walser '01 won the Arkansas Business CFO of the Year 2014, and was recently named president of the Twin Lakes Community Bank, which he helped launch in February 2006.

Troy B. Braswell '02 is a 2014 graduate of the Faulkner County Leadership Institute.

Jessica M. (Bingham) Faulkner '02 is a 2014 graduate of the Faulkner County Leadership Institute.

Bobby E. Lester '02 was named interim superintendent for the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District.

Chasity L. Campbell '04 was one of four winners of the 2014 “Outstanding Woman in Business Award” during the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce’s third annual Women in Business Awards, which honors individuals in the Conway area who have excelled in leadership and community service and who have inspired others on both a personal and professional level.

Amanda F. (Kingsbury) Palmer '04 was named to the 2015 Class of Faulkner County Leadership Institute.

Elisabeth A. Spring '04 joined the office of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts as executive assistant.

Brian D. West '04 was promoted to director at BKD CPAs and Advisors’ Oklahoma City, Okla., office.

Bradley A. Cowger '05, '07 received Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year award from the Arkansas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Ryan C. Johnson '05 was named to the 2015 Class of Faulkner County Leadership Institute.

Chasse Conque '06 was named the new UALR Athletic Director.

Brandon R. Eason ’06 and his brother Michael Eason launched their airline baggage tracking system at the state’s two primary airports.

Rachel A. Trusty '06 displayed a variety of her artwork in a solo exhibit at the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock.

Russell L. Alt '07 was named to the 2015 Class of Faulkner County Leadership Institute.

Ashley D. (Hutchcraft) Nance '07 was named an assistant head coach of the East girls basketball team for the 2015 McDonald’s All American girls team.

Therese C. Pollard '07 was hired as director of events for the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce.

John L. Snider '07 was named the Outstanding Young Cotton Physiologist during the Beltwide Cotton Conferences in San Antonio, Texas.

Jenna L. White '07 won the Prestigious Milken Educator award for work as an Alaskan physical education teacher.

Joshua C. Markham '08 is a 2014 graduate of the Faulkner County Leadership Institute.

John B. Scherrey '08 was named to the 2015 Class of Faulkner County Leadership Institute.

Jessica A. (McNatt) Brown '09 was named to the 2015 Class of Faulkner County Leadership Institute.

Lacey B. (Martin) Freeman '09, '13 was hired at Sparks Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery.
Erin M. Kay '09 was named as the executive director on the board of the Galveston Educational Foundation.

Michael V. Waters '11, '14, his wife, Kyla, and daughter, Gillian, are the new owners of Branch Out Paint Bar & Boutique in downtown Conway.

Hunter P. (Phillips) Goodman '14 was published in the Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement.