Research 2025
1965
Susan Hofstetter Vaughan, BA, St. George, Maine, author of 16 novels of
romantic suspense, has recently published two children's picture storybooks–”Sleigh
Magic” and
“Stowaways: a Maine Pirate Tale.”
Ken Kendrick, ‘65 BSBA, Phoenix, Ariz., Managing Partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, has been selected as one of the 12 recipients of this year’s prestigious Horatio Alger Award. He joins an esteemed group of over 200 living Members, including other notable leaders from West Virginia.
1973
Chuck Spinner, MA '73, has published his third book, "Look What Sports Has Done To This Little Kid, A Baby Boomer's Journey Through the Golden Age of Sports." Read more about Spinner’s work.
1978
Jay Garner, BA ’78; MPA ’79, Fayetteville, Ga., is the past chairman of
the board of the International Economic Development Council, the largest professional
association of economic developers in the world, and also the past chair of the
Site Selectors Guild, Inc. He is the author of the Amazon bestseller,
“Economic Development Is Not For Amateurs!,” now in its second edition. He is a
2002 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Eberly College of Arts
and Sciences.
Jeffrey W. Mason, B.A. ‘78, MA ‘81, Waldorf, Md., was honored by "Who's Who in America Marquis" as a Who's Who of Distinguished Educators in the 2024 volume of "Who's Who in America." He has also worked part-time as an Adjunct Professor of history, political science, government and political theory from 1991-2019, for the College of Southern Maryland in La Plata.
1983
Dr. Nancy A. Lambright, BS, Riverdale, Ga., visited the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in South Africa.
2001
Kathy Brown, JD, N.C., was inducted into the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Brown has worked as an anchor, reporter, managing editor and bureau chief while obtaining her law degree.
Gina Kertulis-Turner, ‘01 MS, Dalton, Ga., has been selected as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Dalton State College, after serving in the role as interim since June 2024.
2004
Justin Willyoung, BS, Kings Mountain, N.C., former member of WVU Track and Field team, has authored a book chronicling his time as head boys track coach at Cherryville High School in North Carolina.
2006
Bethany Wagner, ‘06 BS, ‘09 JD, Pittsburgh, Pa., was elected by Ogletree Deakins to be a shareholder in the firm’s Pittsburgh office. Bethany has experience defending employers in litigation before administrative agencies and courts on the federal and state level.
2009
Michael Stark, ‘09 BA, ‘12 JD, Richmond, Va., has joined the national law firm, Faegre Drinker, as a partner in the firm's Washington, D.C. office. Stark has broad experience and a deep understanding of the legal challenges, from regulatory compliance to complex litigation and policy-driven disputes.
Deaths
Mannon Gallegly, WVU’s “Tomato Guy,” died Jan. 7, 2025, at the age of 101, having spent 70 years of that time developing tomato plants that would resist pests and disease. One of those varieties, the “People’s Tomato” was created to celebrate West Virginia’s Centennial in 1963 and was re-released in 2013 for the state’s 150th. In 2023, Gallegly’s final tomato, dubbed by then-Dean Darrell Donahue as “Mannon’s Majesty” was released and is specifically resistant to fusarium wilt, verticillium wilt and late blight. His career in developing blight-resistant tomatoes was dedicated to the people of West Virginia whom he considered his employers.
Darrell McGraw, 88, the former Attorney General, died Dec. 7, 2024. According to his obituary, “he left an indelible mark on West Virginia using the rule of law to forge a better life for citizens of his beloved state.” After a three-year hitch in the U.S. Army, McGraw enrolled at WVU and was student body president, leading the effort to salvage the mast of the USS West Virginia from scrap and have it installed on campus where it remains today. After earning both a BA and a law degree, McGraw served as counsel to Gov. Hulett Smith in the 1960s, was elected a State Supreme Court Justice in 1976, and for 20 years led the AG’s office in litigation that resulted in a $2 billion settlement with tobacco companies; he was the first attorney general in the nation to bring suit against the makers of Oxycontin for illegal marketing practices, resulting in a $10 million settlement. McGraw’s body lay in state in the State Capitol and he was buried with full military honors Dec. 17, 2024.
Enid Portnoy, 89, died Dec. 21, 2024. She was a longtime and beloved professor at WVU and inspired generations of students in more than 40 years on the faculty of West Virginia University through her creative and impassioned approach to teaching, research, writing and theatrical performances.
Donald Arbogast, BS ’70, Roanoke, Va., Sept. 18, 2024
Winona Benke, BA ‘44, Wheeling, W.Va., June 22, 2024
Kimberly Diane Bryner, BS ‘82 & MS ‘87, Morgantown, W.Va., Nov. 21, 2024
Daniel Dolphin, BS ‘75 & MS ‘79, Newark, Del., April 6, 2024
Arthur Duncil, BSJ ‘66 Raleigh, N.C., Aug. 17, 2024
Dr. William Farrar, DDS ‘64, Marietta, Ga.
Harry Francis, Jr., BS ‘73, Glen Allen, Va., Oct. 6, 2024
Lawrence William Freeland Jr., MA ‘85, Moundsville, W.Va., Aug. 24, 2024
Thomas E. Garner, MA ‘74, Glen Dale, W.Va., Oct. 21, 2024
Robert Glock, BS ‘73, MA ‘77,, Morgantown, W.Va., Aug. 23, 2024
Scott Manley Hamilton, BS ‘74, Beckley, W.Va., Sept. 22, 2024
James E. Harris, BSEE ’54, Liverpool, N.Y., Jan. 10, 2024
William Foster Hayes III, Ph.D. ‘98, Los Angeles, Calif., Jan. 12, 2024
Robert Huss, BSAE ‘60 Chico, Calif., Oct. 28, 2024
Ruth Arleda Johnson, BSEL ‘70, MA 74, Mount Joy, Pa., Sept. 26, 2024
Lynn Kaminski, BS ‘87, Wheeling, W.Va., Sept. 29, 2024
Roger King M.D., BS ‘61 & MD ‘64, Morgantown, W.Va., Oct. 7, 2024
Carl Lloyd Lazzell, BS ‘67, San Antonio, Texas, Aug. 20, 2024
Diana Lee Miller, BSN ‘78, Seabrook, N.H., May 14, 2024
Darrell D. Moeck, BS ‘65, Little Rock, Ark.
Sandra Allison Moss, BS ‘73, Morgantown, W.Va., Nov. 4, 2024
Duane Nichols, BSChE ‘59 Morgantown, W.Va., June 14, 2024
Ronald E. Norberg, BS ‘66, MS ‘72, Cross Fork, Pa., Dec. 10, 2024
Patricia Jo Trovato Paris, BS ‘65, Huron, Ohio, Oct. 25, 2024
Edwin Philipps, BS ‘85, MBA ‘98, JD ‘04, Glen Dale, W.Va., Dec. 13, 2024
Anthony Pietranton, BA ‘81 & MS ‘83, Pittsburgh, Pa., June 19, 2024
Randall Lynn Pingley, BA ‘71, Williamsburg, Va., Dec. 11, 2024
James O’Neill Potts, MS ‘98, Cameron, W.Va., Oct. 10, 2024
Doris Prete, BS ‘56 & MA ‘57, Sarasota, Fla., Sept. 22, 2024
June Foster-Shaffer, BS ’75, Olympia, Wash., April 28, 2024
Frances Baughman Stiles, BS ‘49, Tallahassee, Fla., Aug. 8, 2023
Carol Bruhn Stowers, SON BS ‘68, Summersville, W.Va., Sept. 16, 2024
Raymond Brant Ware, BSR ‘66, Morgantown, W.Va., Dec. 16, 2024
Pamela Wehner, BA ‘69, Rogers, Ark., June 25, 2024
James “Jim” E. Wilkerson, MD ‘64, Denver, Colo., Nov. 22, 2024
William Wimer, BS ‘58, Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 19, 2024
Dr. Mary Ellen Zeppuhar, Ed.D. ‘75, Apache Junction, Ariz., Oct. 5, 2024
George Zivkovich, BA ‘71 JD ‘74, Beavercreek Township, Ohio, March 1, 2024
Winter 2024
Mountaineers in Liechtenstein
Joe Scott BSIE ‘83, and Chris Scott BSBA ‘83 have traveled to Liechtenstein, their 125th country, while proudly representing the WVU Mountaineers and flying the Let’s Go flag as they’ve explored.
Mountaineers in Hungary
The Hurley Family took a trip to Budapest, Hungary, in July 2024. Jim Hurley, MD ‘82, Pat Thompson, MD ‘92, Gary Thompson, MD ‘89, Ben Keim, BS EE ‘22, and Ruth Keim, MA Comm ‘04, representing the WVU Mountaineers at Hero’s Square.
1973
Chuck Spinner, MA, Cabel, Ohio, has published his third book, "Look What Sports Has Done To This Little Kid, A Baby Boomer's Journey Through the Golden Age of Sports."
1980
Franklin G. Allga uer II, BSBA, Kalispell, Mont., is currently the Operations Director at Financial Heritage, where he oversees key aspects of the organization. Before filling this role, Allgauer spent 23 years as the Senior Watch Operations for the Department of Homeland Security, playing a crucial role in managing critical operations. He also retired from the U.S. Army Reserves with distinction and honor after an incredible 33.5 years of service. His extensive experience and dedication have earned him a respected reputation in his field. Allgauer lives in Montana with his wife, Michelle, where they enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the close-knit community. His career achievements are matched by his commitment to family and his love for the outdoors.
1982
Dr. C. R.Anderegg, DMA, Seattle, Wash., was awarded the Co-Citizen of the Year Award from the Washington State Dental Association.
1992
Andrew Urbaczewski, MBA, Aurora, Colo., was promoted to Professor in the Department of Business Information and Analytics in Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.
Scott Biddle, Wilson, N.C., will retire from the Wilson Police Department after serving as the Police Chief since 2021.
2005/2011
Dr. F. Derek Scott, DMA, MM, Fairfax, Va., was selected as the new director of music for The City of Fairfax Band Association.
2014
Joni Deutsch, BA, Manning, S.C., was promoted to Senior Vice President of Marketing and Audience Development at award-winning podcast services firm The Podglomerate. Deutsch formerly worked as the Vice President of Marketing and Audience Development, where she supervised audience growth strategies for acclaimed clients including Freakonomics Radio, NHPR’s Bear Brook (named the best true crime podcast by Stephen King), and NHPR’s The 13th Step, named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Audio Reporting and featured as a “best podcast of 2023” by “The New Yorker,” “Vogue” and “Vulture,” among others.
2016
Grace Ratcliff, BS, Nashville, Tenn., received her Master of Public Health degree from Vanderbilt University with a concentration in Health Policy; she completed a capstone project titled “Policy and Program Evaluation: Examining the Impacts of Preventative Health Measures on Community Well-being,” and she completed her practicum with GoCheck Kids, a biotechnology company focused on addressing vision impairment issues in pediatric populations. Ratcliff will stay in Nashville to join the Health Policy team at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
DEATHS
Shirley Roberts Boothe, Ed.D., ‘58, Santa Maria, Calif., Aug. 3, 2024Richard L. Clingerman, BSEE ‘64, Rexford, N.Y., Sept. 10, 2023
Martin C. Coy, BS ‘68, Frederick, Md., July 17, 2024
Dr. John Harpell, Jr., Silver Spring, Md., March 8, 2024
Dr. Ronald C. Hill, B.A. ‘70, M.D. ’74, Sept. 4, 2023
Dr. Gregory W. Mitchell, ‘76, St. Petersburg, Fla., March 7, 2024
Freddy “Fred” Joe Reese, BS ‘65, Williamsburg, Va., July 16, 2024
Dr. Luise Beverly Matrone Savage, Ed.D. ‘87, Charlottesville, Va., July 17, 2024
Gordon Williams, BS ‘55, Glendale, Ariz., July 20, 2024
Barbara Mertins, 93, beloved professor of library science and children’s literature died Sept. 6, 2024, following a sudden illness. During her 27 years at WVU, Mertins was known not only for her expertise in the classes she taught, but for her genuine care for students. She was celebrated for her teaching style, mentoring students beyond the classroom and promoting a lifelong love of learning.
Elaine “Micki” Ginsberg, 88, former English department chair and professor in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences died Aug. 9, 2024. Ginsberg was known as a generous mentor and innovative administrator and well as the first woman to hold a chair both in her department and at Eberly. She also played a key role in establishing the Women’s and Gender Studies program and was an early advocate for the LGBTQ+ community on campus.
