Karla Barry ’69 Successfully defended her dissertation and earned a PhD. in organization learning, performance and change from Colorado State University on December 13, 2019. She Previously earned a master’s of applied communications degree from the University of Denver, where she has been an adjunct professor for several years. Karla currently consults with organizations on employee improvement interventions.
Congratulations to Gary Nickels ’68, who was named Midwest Scout of the Year by the MLB in December 2019. Gary was previously inducted into the Midwest Scouts Association Hall of Fame and the Mid Atlantic Scouts Association Hall of Fame in 2009. He has been a baseball talent evaluator for 48 years, having served in the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres and the L.A. Dodgers organizations.
We regret to inform you of the passing of Gordon Williamson ‘61. Gordon Williamson ’61 passed away on May 10, 2020, in Peoria, Arizona. He was 81. Gordon was active in Sigma Chi and met his future wife Della (Nelson) Williamson ’62 at Illinois Wesleyan. He went on to earn his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Loyola University Chicago College of Dental Surgery. He served two years as a dental officer in the U.S. Army at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. After his service, Gordon and Della moved to Pontiac, Illinois, where he opened his dental practice. He was active in the community as an elder at Pontiac Bible Church and served in the Kiwanis Club and the local school board. In 1980, the Williamsons moved to Phoenix, where he purchased the practice of a retiring dentist in Sun City, Arizona. He sold the practice in 2006 but continued working in other dentists’ offices until his 75th birthday. He was also active in his Arizona community, at Northwest Community Church, Christ’s Church of the Valley, and the Kiwanis Club. Gordon loved golf, snow skiing, travel and sports. He was a season ticket holder for the Phoenix Suns and Diamondbacks, and he was in the stands when the Diamondbacks won the World Series in 2001. Gordon is survived by his wife, three children, six grandchildren, brother Richard “Dick” Williamson ’56, and many nieces and nephews.
Lyman Carpenter ’61 of Manteca, California, died Aug. 9, 2019. He was 84. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953-56 before attending Illinois Wesleyan. He later earned a master’s degree from Arizona State University. Lyman spent the majority of his career as a social worker. He was an avid genealogist and had traced his lineage back to his ancestors’ arrival in the United States. He is survived by his son, two granddaughters and two nephews.
Steven Adams ’68 passed away in Bloomington, Illinois on May 8th at the age of 73. He was born in Bloomington in 1946 and married Sandra Platta in 1977. He is survived by Sandra, his daughters and grandchildren.
Read the full obituary here.
James Proctor Brown, III, class of 1962, was recently interviewed concerning his Peace Corps experience to become a part of a national archive of interviews of ex-PCV’s. Mr. Brown also gave a lecture on the Peace Corps and Nigeria to the Southampton Roads Torch Club. In February he gave a lecture on African Art to 38 docents from the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk and provided them with a tour of the African Art Museum at Norfolk State University, which he helped to establish.
James Dohren ’66 authored his second book, Windy City Stories, a collection of 20 stories about Chicago, published by Sunbury Press under its Posey Press mark. The stories contained within the collection vary from the humorous to the terrifying, but all are factual and fascinating. Even lifelong Chicagoans will learn facts they didn’t know before. Jim is a retired public school teacher who taught history and government for 32 years in Downers Grove, Illinois. Windy City Stories is available on Amazon here.
Click to view a video from President Nugent to alumni.
Don Carlson ’69 received his Masters of Education Degree in Mathematics in 1969 through the National Science Foundation in conjunction with Illinois Wesleyan University. Don believes that his group was the last group to have this program. Also, his BSE in Mathematics and H&PE was from Illinois State Normal University, today known as just Illinois State University.
Thank you for sharing with us this gem of a memory, Don!
Thank-A-Giver Day (TAG Day) is Monday, February 10. This day provides the IWU campus community with the opportunity to thank donors who support Illinois Wesleyan. IWU celebrates each year in mid-February because it marks the symbolic point during the academic year – about 70% of the way through – when we rely on support from alumni and friends, our endowment, and external grants.
If you would like to be celebrated as a donor today, you can make a gift at iwu.edu/give.
