Share your news with other alumni. Send news briefs to Beverly Fisher, Office of University Relations, Union University, 1050 Union University Drive, Jackson, TN 38305-3697 or bfisher@uu.edu 

From left to right: John and Delores Montgomery (‘61), Dr. Alicia Wilkerson Smotherman (‘63), Virginia and Connie Hudson (‘56) enjoy time at the Dallas/Fort Worth alumni chapter meeting held September 9, 2000. Drs. Thad and Alicia Smotherman hosted the event at their home, the Hermitage, in Arlington, Texas. A group of some 65 alumni gathered for the event.

Robert B. Sims (’56) has been appointed Executive Vice President of the National Geographic Society and the first-ever President of the Society’s Magazine Group. Prior to beginning his tenure at the Society in 1987, he served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs from 1985 to 1987 and as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs at the White House from 1982 to 1985. Address: 2111 S. Street NW, Apt. 210 Washington, DC 20008-4011.

James Kenneth Newman (’62) is Assistant Professor of Graduate Studies in Union University’s Department of Education. He retired in June after 38 years with the Jackson-Madison County School System. His wife, the former, Robbye Hillard (’68) is Director of Donor Services for Lifeline Blood Services in Jackson. They have two children, Paul and Holly. Address: 34 Oakfield Road Oakfield, TN 38362-9700. 

G. Dennis Wilson (’68), faculty member at Auburn University, recently received the Outstanding Faculty Athletics Representative Award from the All-American Football Foundation. Dennis, the Wayne T. Smith Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Health and Human Performance, is also the Chair of the Southeastern Conference Faculty Athletic Representatives and a SEC alternate to the NCAA Management Council. Dennis is married to the former Diane Jacobs (’67). Address: 563 Cross Creek Road Auburn, AL 36832-3403. 

Diann Terry Smith (’69) has retired from teaching at Highland Park Elementary School after 31 years in the Jackson-Madison County School System. Address: 314 Parker Drive Jackson, TN 38305. E-mail: Quiltymama@aol.com 

 

SEVENTIES	70's

John E. Barnes (’70) served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Pulaski Technical College at North Little Rock from the time the Arkansas General Assembly established the two-year technical college in July 1991 until July of this year. During John’s nine-year tenure as Board Chair, enrollment at Pulaski Tech grew almost 400 percent. He is presently First-Vice President of Investments at Smith Barney of Little Rock. He also serves as the Financial Editor for KATV-Channel 7 in Little Rock and can be seen every weekday morning on Channel 7’s Daybreak show. Address: 164 Pebble Beach Road Little Rock, AR 72212-2624.

EIGHTIES	80's

Darlene Bateman Waibel (’80) is a Homemaker and also homeschools her daughters, Elizabeth Joy (6th grade) and Natalie Grace (4th grade). Her husband, Paul (Union Professor ‘78-83) recently published a new book, Quiknotes: Christian History (Tyndale House). Address: 217 Casa Grande Drive Clinton, MS 39056. E-mail: Pwaibel@mail.belhaven.edu 

David Schanuel (’83) will celebrate his 10th anniversary this fall at First Baptist Church, North Kansas City, Mo. He has ser ved as the Associate Pastor-Education since 1990. In the past six months, the Minister’s Family Magazine, LifeWay Christian Resources, has published two articles written by David. He and his wife, Darla, have two sons, Matthew and Jonathan. Address: 4605 N. Brooklyn Kansas City, MO 64116. Home E-mail: dschamu@aol.com  Office E-mail: dschanuel@kctera.net 

Valarie Rock Barton (’85) received a Master of Education from Mississippi College in May. Address: 2226 Meadow Oak Brandon, MS 39047-8393. 

Greg Bowers (’85) is Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Garland, Tex. He previously served as Pastor of First Baptist Church in Indianola, Miss. He and his wife, Donna, have two children: Jordan, nine, and Katie, seven. Address: 214 East Ridgegate Drive Garland, TX 75040. 

John E. Longworth, Jr. (’86) has been called by Germantown Baptist Church, Germantown, Tenn., to be the Associate Pastor of Recreation. He will be leading the sports and creative ministries of the church. His wife, the former, Sandra Skinner (’87 B.A., ’99 M.Ed.) is an English and Drama Teacher at Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis. They have two children: Mark, nine, and Katie, seven. Address: 771 Hermitage Trail Collierville, TN 38017. E-mail: jlongwor@bellsouth.net

Debbie Madoni Lewis (’88) has received a Master of Science in administration from the University of Notre Dame. Address: 16732 E. 80th Street N. Owasso, OK 74055. E-mail: Debbie.Lewis@williams.com

Frank Vega (’88) is Regional Director for the Bair Foundation, a national Christian foster care agency. His wife, the former Tammy Thompson (’88) is Chief of Volunteer Services for the Texas Youth Commission. They have three children: Dwayne, 19, Alex, nine, and Andrew, six. Address: 1302 Butch Gap Cove Cedar Park, TX 78613. E-mail: Tammy.vega@tyc.state.tx.us

Stan Wafler (’88) and his wife, Pam, have been approved by the International Mission Board for career missions appointment to Southern Sudan, and will live in Arua, Uganda. Stan will do Bible translation and theological education, while Pam will minister through the church and home. Stan was formerly Pastor of Drew Baptist Church, Drew, Miss. He received his Ph.D. in Old Testament and Hebrew from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in December. Stan and Pam have two sons, Jacob and Jackson. Address (after October 21): c/o Arwood, 487 Herring Lane Cordova, TN 38018. E-mail: sawafler@deltaland.net

Chip (’89) and Melinda Moore Leake (’89) have recently moved to Jackson where Chip has accepted the position of Minister of Music at Englewood Baptist Church. Melinda is a Homemaker. They have two sons: Christian, seven, and Noah, three. Address: 220 Old Humboldt Road, Jackson, TN 38305. E-mail: leakehome@excite.com

Russell Rowland (’89) has been called as Minister of Music/Sr. Adults at First Baptist Church in Jackson, Mo. He previously served at First Baptist Church in Selmer, Tenn., as Minister of Music/Education. His wife, the former Tammy Lang (’89), is a Homemaker. They have three children: Matthew, four, Chandler, two, and Hannah Beth, one. Address: 317 S. High, Apt. 1 Jackson, MO 63755. E-mail: rrowland@igateway.net 

Jane Geggus (’91) received a Master of Divinity in May from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has accepted a position at the North American Mission Board on the Missionary Mobilization Team as Associate for Students. Address: 21207 Lexington Farm Drive, Alpharetta, GA 30004. E-mail: jgeggus@NAMB.net

Tracy Bain (’92) recently attended a summer mission trip with "World Changers." He and his wife, the former Jessica Beckett (’91) have three daughters: Brittany, eight, Mollie, five, and Kendall, two. Address: 414 Garrison Road Hohenwald, TN 38462.

Letitia Gossett Baldwin (’94) has joined the law firm of Sherrard & Roe, PLC, as an Associate. Letitia, who is a CPA and an attorney, was previously a Consultant with Arthur Andersen, LLP. Letitia’s husband, Russ, is employed by the Attorney General’s office for the State of Tennessee. Address: 555 Church Street, Apt. 1601, Nashville, TN 37219. E-mail: lbaldwin@sherrardroe.com

Leigh Ann Carter Scalf (’95) and her husband, Richard, received a Master of Divinity from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in May. They both will do internship in Preliminary Medicine at the University of Louisville Affiliated Hospitals in Louisville, Ky., followed by Residency training at the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa, Fla. Leigh Ann will be specializing in Dermatology, and Richard will specialize in Diagnostic Radiology. Address: 832 River Crest Drive Louisville, KY 40206-3207.

Matthew Schobert (’95) has received the Master of Divinity in theological studies from Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Matthew is continuing his graduate studies in the Master of Social Work program at Baylor University’s School of Social Work. Address: 480 Country Drive, Waco, TX 76705. E-mail: Matthew_Schobert@baylor.edu

Greg Beam (’96) and his wife, Cammie, are moving to Colorado to help start the Rocky Mountain Community Church where he will be Youth Pastor. They have two daughters: Marie, two, and Leigh Ann, nine months. Address: 2610 S. Everett Street Lakewood, CO 80227.

James Richard Hunter II (’96) received a Master of Divinity in May from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Va. Address: 2441 Jamestown Drive Henderson, KY 42420-2325

Kevin S. Trowbridge (’96) now serves as Director of Communications at the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C. Previously he was Director of Marketing at Union University. Address: 2701 Park Center Drive, Suite 1207 Alexandria, VA 22302. E-mail: trow@trowworld.com

James Ronald Collins, Jr. (’97) has accepted the call to pastor West End Baptist Church, Columbia, Tenn. He is married to the former Beth McGregor (’97). Address: 117 Westfield Drive Columbia, TN 38401. E-mail: jimandbeth@juno.com

Jamie Murray Crowell (’98) is a Kindergarten Teacher at Eagle Ridge Christian School in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She and her husband, William, have two sons. Address: 725 Dallas Street, Jackson, MO 63755.

Greg Parsons (’99) has accepted a position as Credit Analyst with Sterling Bank, part of the Synovus Financial Corporation. Address: 2325 Promenade Blvd., Apt. 8, Montgomery, AL 36106. E-mail: greg453@hotmail.com

Erin Sandstrom (’99) has accepted a position as Sales Training Coordinator for Barnett, Inc., Jacksonville, Fla. He will be training Customer Service Representatives, as well as writing procedure manuals. Address: 3031 Ridgepine Drive Jacksonville, FL 32277. E-mail: Heaven.sent@prodigy.com