"When dawn spreads its paintbrush on the plain, spilling purple... ," Sons of the Pioneers theme for TV show "Wagon Train." Dawn on the mythic Santa Fe Trail, New Mexico, looking toward Raton from Cimarron. -- Clarkphoto. A curmudgeon artist's musings melding metaphors and journalism, for readers in more than 150 countries.

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Blast from the UCO Journalism past--when we were young.

Twenty something years ago, probably 1993 to 1996--the faculty of the University of Central Oklahoma Journalism Department.
Date is based on who is in the photo, and there was no ugly land run mural on the wall behind us outside in the sunshine at the Communications building--President George Nigh had it painting when he became president. 
I started in 1990, as chair. There were no women on the faculty, and a vacant advertising position, all of which I had to fight for to hire. Five of these great people were my hires (*). Three of those in this photo, have died.
Back row, from left, Sherry Sump*, who became my right arm as administrative assistant; Mark Zimmerman*, former student, now photo prof, friend, then running the photo lab;  Dennie Hall, journalism professor former Vista advisor; Jill Kelsey*, our PR maven; Woody Gaddis, photographer, (RIP); my dear friend Bob Illidge*, advertising, (RIP), who we still toast at every gathering; Charles Simmons, RIP).
Front row, Nancy Brown, Vista secretary; Sherry Johnston*, our first woman faculty member, friend,  and professor of everything; Mark Hanebutt, journalism professor and former Vista advisor, friend, and now longest serving member of the department that's become Mass Communication after we merged; and me.
Photo was found by Patty Gass, now administrative assistant for the Mass Comm department.

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