Friends We’ll Miss – Fall 2019

Van Anderson Rochelle Moores Jr. (’42) died on March 20, 2019. Van served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He joined his father in the family business, The New Store in Russellville, after the war and later owned and operated Shinn Funeral Service. He was inducted into the ATU Hall of Distinction in 1990. Van lived in Little Rock. He was 94.

William Ray Medley (MUED ’48 & FMR FACULTY) died on July 21, 2018. Bill served in the U.S. Army. He and his wife, Pat, played more than 1,000 concerts in 47 states and seven Canadian provinces. They taught at Arkansas Tech, Parsons College (Iowa) and Mount Mercy University (Iowa). Their piano method, “The Medley Way,” was published by Hal Leonard Publishing Company in 1981. Bill and Pat were inducted into the Arkansas Tech Hall of Distinction in 1967. Bill lived in Fayetteville. He was 91.

Wanda Sue Cornish Stephens (ECED ’53) died on Dec. 27, 2018. Wanda began her teaching career working with polio patients at Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa, Okla. She later taught special education at the elementary level. Wanda lived in Tulsa. She was 90. 

Patricia Henson Clapp (HPE ’56) died on Feb. 25, 2019. She served in administration at Palmer High School in Colorado Springs, Colo., for 31 years before retiring at the rank of assistant principal in 1997. Patricia lived in Colorado Springs. She was 85. 

Franklin Bernard Ray (BIOL ’59) died on March 30, 2019. He retired as owner of Bernard Ray Insurance. Frank lived in Cabot. He was 82. 

J.T. Altman (BUAD ’64) died on Dec. 30, 2018. He was a co-founder of Altman Motor Company, which opened in Mountain View in 1970. J.T. lived in Mountain View. He was 76. 

Gregory Ronald Smothers (’68) died on May 8, 2019. Greg lived in Western Grove. He was 71.

Dr. Finley P. Turner II (’73) died on May 12, 2019. He practiced medicine in Russellville for more than three decades and retired as the chief medical officer at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in 2013. Finley lived in Russellville. He was 67. 

Michael Bruce McElhannon (’74) died on Jan. 7, 2019. He was a real estate agent and small business owner. Michael lived in Hot Springs. He was 65. 

Thomas Edward Anderson (SOC ’75) died on Dec. 23, 2018. Tom enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and remained in the service until his retirement in 1970. Following his graduation from Arkansas Tech, Tom pursued master’s degrees from the Methodist Theological School of Ohio and served in the ministry until his retirement in 1996. Tom lived in North Little Rock. He was 87.

Dr. Tery Baskin (BIOL ’75) died on March 8, 2019. Tery owned pharmacies and RxResults. He was inducted into the Arkansas Tech Hall of Distinction in 2016. Tery lived in Little Rock. He was 65. 

Thomas Marshal McElmurry Sr. (PHYS SCI ’78) died on April 5, 2019. Tom was a meteorologist for the U.S. Air Force and retired as an analyst for the National Security Agency in 1971. He went on to serve as a teacher in the Dardanelle School District and pastor of the Dardanelle Missionary Baptist Church. Tom lived in Dardanelle. He was 86. 

James Robert McIntosh (HPE ’78) died on April 7, 2019. He was a teacher and coach in the Lake Hamilton School District for 34 years. Bob lived in Hot Springs. He was 63. 

Frederick Perry Beyer (AGBU ’81) died on Jan. 8, 2019. He served in the U.S. Navy for 21 years, earned the Bronze Star for meritorious service and retired at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. Fred lived in Danville. He was 82. 

James Fred Murphree (GS ’82 & HIST/POL SCI ’89) died on April 21, 2019. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1957-76 and worked at Arkansas Nuclear One from 1976-99. Murph lived in Russellville. He was 79.

Clint Mainer (BUS ’95) died on May 30, 2019. He was employed by the U.S. Postal Service. Clint lived in Paris. He was 45. 

Michael Higgins (EAM ’00) died on April 14, 2019. Mike lived in Tomball, Texas. He was 59.

Regina Burris (ACCT ’03 & STAFF) died on May 6, 2019. She was a financial officer in the Arkansas Tech University Division of Advancement. Regina lived in Russellville. She was 61.

Vicky Lynn Young Rice (PSY & SOC ’06) died on March 25, 2019. Vicky lived in Paris. She was 65. 

Carole Ann Horner (STAFF) died on Sept. 25, 2018. She was an elementary school teacher and later served as an administrative assistant in the Arkansas Tech Department of Nursing. Carole lived in Russellville. She was 76. 

Theresa Motley (STAFF) died on April 5, 2019. She worked at Arkansas Tech for more than 35 years and held the position of associate director for support services in the ATU Office of Information Systems at the time of her passing. Theresa lived in Russellville. She was 61.

Dr. Audrey Ruth Owens (FMR FACULTY) died on March 14, 2019. She joined the ATU Department of Nursing faculty in 1984 and was named professor emeritus of nursing upon her retirement. Audrey lived in Wadsworth, Ohio. She was 91. 

Clarence E. Robberson (FMR STAFF) died on March 3, 2019. He was the farm foreman at Arkansas Tech for almost 40 years. Clarence lived in London. He was 86.