Have you recently celebrated a wedding, baby, new job, promotion, or honor? Been published, moved into a new home, or welcomed a grandchild? Share your news with the CSU alumni family by submitting a class note. Approved class notes will be published here and in Colorado State University Magazine.
1950s
Donald (B.S., ’55; D.V.M., ’57) and Jo Ann (B.S., ’58) Ostwald celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on December 21, 2018.
1960s
Linda Yoder (B.S., ’66) was honored as Colorado CattleWoman of the Year at the 2019 Mid-Winter Conference held by the Colorado Cattle Association. Yoder is a longtime member and current vice president of Lincoln County CattleWomen, credited with tireless advocacy of the beef industry and efforts to involve younger women. Yoder, who worked as an Extension agent, has raised cattle on an operation established in Karval, Colo., with her late husband, Harold, who earned a degree in agricultural business in 1964.
1970s
Robert Kerr (M.Ed., ’77) has published his book, Everything You Need to Know about Going Greek: Fraternity/Sorority Recruitment in the 21st Century. It is a comprehensive look at all of fraternity and sorority recruitment on contemporary college classes.
1980s
Jim DeFede (attended 1981-1986) has worked for 12 years as an investigative reporter at CBS4 News in Miami and hosts the station’s Sunday morning public affairs program, “Facing South Florida.” He won a 2019 Alfred I. duPont Award from Columbia Journalism School for his work reporting, writing, and producing an hourlong documentary called “The Everglades: Where Politics, Money and Race Collide,” an examination of the environmental, political, and social roots of Florida’s contaminated Everglades. The duPont-Columbia Awards uphold the highest standards in journalism. DeFede, who studied political science at CSU, was student body president from 1984 to 1985 and got his start in journalism at the Rocky Mountain Collegian. After CSU, he worked as a reporter for The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Wash., and moved to South Florida in 1991 to become a staff writer for Miami New Times. He is a former metro columnist for The Miami Herald. DeFede has won seven regional Emmy Awards since joining CBS4 News.
After 13+ years at Western Kentucky University in Prospect Research and Management, Theresa Clark (B.A., ’84) joined the Florida State University Foundation as Assistant Director of Prospect Management as of November 5, 2018.
Perry Solmonson (B.S., ’84) showed his Ram pride on the 20,305-foot summit of Island Peak in Nepal. When he isn’t mountaineering, Solmonson works as captain, check airman, and duty officer for Horizon Air, a regional carrier for Alaska Airlines based in Seattle. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and lives in Portland, Ore.
Tom Leahy (B.S., ’85) was named President of Brock White Construction Materials, a Construction Supply Group Company in September 2018. Based out of St. Paul, Minnesota, there are 18 locations throughout the upper Midwest.
Barb Powers (Ph.D., ’86), retired director of CSU’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories and professor emeritus in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, was named 2019 Honorary Lifetime Member by the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association for her longtime support and scientific contributions to the state cattle industry. The industry association lauded her focus on high-quality service in the assessment of disease through state-of-the art veterinary diagnostic testing, describing Powers as a “go-to resource” for the organization’s Animal Health Committee. Powers accepted the honor at the association’s Mid-Winter Conference in Denver.
1990s
Michelle (Ladner) Detry (B.S., ’90) was named one of “Three New Mexicans to Know,” recognizing the long term success and steady growth of Keystone International, Inc. Michelle is President, CEO and one of the employee owners of Keystone. Her daughter, Anna, is a sophomore majoring in biochemistry and math at CSU and her husband, Rich (B.S., ’89; M.S., ’91) also attended CSU.
Dean Hines (B.S., ’90; M.B.A., ’10) co-owns and runs the Welsh Rabbit cheese shop and bistro in Old Town Fort Collins with his wife, Nancy, and brother, Nate. The family business launched in 2012 after Dean earned a Master of Business Administration. He is also an instructor of management in the College of Business.
Martha Tissot van Patot (M.S., ’92; Ph.D., ’94) is a cardiovascular pulmonary physiologist who worked at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and now is a self-employed writer focusing on hypoxia and respiration. She and her husband, Dr. Howard Seim, co-director of CSU’s Preclinical Surgical Research Laboratory, were world famous in early 2019 through the breathtaking antics of their dog, Endo. The Labrador retriever – known as “Endo the jumping dog” – was captured on video as he repeatedly bounced to shoulder height while waiting at the reception desk of CSU’s James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, where he had a foxtail seed removed from his ear. The video went viral on social media, with nearly 150 million views of Endo’s excited jumping.
Keith Callaghan (B.A., ’96) has been named the Assistant Vice President for Economic Development and External Affairs for Florida Southwestern State College. He serves on the boards of the Fred Lang Foundation, Charlotte Behavioral Health Care, the Boys and Girls Club of Charlotte County, Crossroads Hope Academy, the Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce and the Visual Arts Center Endowment Trust. He volunteers for the Animal Welfare League, United Way and Leadership Charlotte.
Brett Kaysen (B.S., ’97; MAGR, ’03; Ph.D., ’13) is assistant vice president of sustainability for Pork Checkoff. The program collects revenue from nationwide hog farmers to fund research, education, and marketing administered by the National Pork Board to improve the pork industry. Kaysen was recently featured on the “Farm, Food, Facts” podcast to discuss how science and technology are enhancing animal care and the ability of farmers to meet global food needs. He and his wife, Tara (B.S., ’96; MED, ’01), live with their children near Des Moines, Iowa. Tara is co-owner and lead herdsman of Kaysen Family Farms.
Grant Bledsoe (B.S., ’98) earned the Certified Angus Beef 2018 Feedyard Commitment to Excellence award. He and his wife, Katie, accepted the honor at the brand’s annual conference in Maui, Hawaii. Bledsoe, who graduated in farm and ranch management, is managing partner of Bledsoe Cattle Co. in Wray. It is a third-generation farming, ranching, and feeding operation started by his grandparents.
Starting her Real Estate career in 2009 during the recession was no easy task. Louise Creager (B.S., ’98) was determined and earned the distinguished “Rookie of the Year” award in her first year. Today, Louise is celebrating 10 years in Real Estate. She continues her education to improve her skills in order to better serve her clients in the Front Range. The outdoors is still her favorite place to be, and she loves hiking around our trails and share their beauty with others.
2000s
Christine Weeber (M.A., ’05) recently published a bilingual poetry collection In the Understory of Her Being. KT Book Reviews calls it “magical and truthful … at once grounded and liberating. If you have forgotten the quiet dawn, if you have lost love or been loved well, or if you have not spent enough time alone or with a lover, these poems will revive and embrace you.”
Ryan Henderson (B.S., ’07; M.S., ’08) and his brother, Ross (B.S., ’11), became veterinarians after their undergraduate work at CSU. They star in an Animal Planet show called “Hanging With the Hendersons,”which premiered in early 2019 and highlights their work at Fox Hollow Animal Hospital in Lakewood, Colo., a clinic founded by their father. The television series emerged after a video of Ross and a patient went viral on social media. The video featured the young veterinarian playing guitar and crooning the Elvis Presley song “Can’t Help Falling in Love” to a nervous dog before spay surgery.
Rebecca (Box) Reif (B.A., ’08) has been elected Shareholder at Ahlers & Cooney, a law firm headquartered in Des Moines, IA. Rebecca is a member of the firm’s Public and Private Law Practice Areas, with a focus on Employment Law, Education Law and Litigation. She is a graduate of Drake University Law School.
2010s
Marissa Rudd (B.M., ’16) will be making her symphonic debut at the Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver, Colo. She will be the featured vocalist with the Colorado Symphony for their annual Comic Con concert.
In Memoriam
*Alumni Association member
1940s
Stanley D. Smith, Sr. (B.S., ’49)
1950s
*LTC Kenneth Lucas (M.S., ’50)
J.D. Mankin (M.S., ’51)
*Dale F. Dodrill (B.S., ’52)
*Donovan L. Pierson (B.S., ’54)
Lawrence H. Schwindt (B.S., ’57)
Lowell E. Woodward (B.S., ’57)
*Thomas H. Bradbury, Sr. (B.S., ’58)
Ross W. Weaver (M.Ed., ’59)
1960s
Martha J. McCauley (B.S., ’61)
Henry B. Stoll (B.S., ’61)
Kenneth P. Morrill (B.S., ’62)
Julie M. Nordstrom (B.S., ’62)
Sandra R. Bryan (B.S., ’64)
Lowell W. Laycock (B.S., ’67)
John T. Langlais (B.S., ’68)
John B. Maple (B.S., ’66; M.S., ’69)
1970s
John R. Borchert (B.S., ’70)
Linda C. Hill (M.Ed., ’70)
Richard F. Lubinksi (M.S., ’70)
Dennis McOmber (M.Ed., ’70)
Glenn J. Rodriguez (B.S., ’71)
Jeffrey R. Reynolds (B.S., ’72)
John W. Bowey, IV (B.S., ’74)
*Donn M. Lancaster (M.S., ’74)
Gail S. Bourne (B.A., ’75)
Anthony E. Romero (M.S., ’77)
1980s
Bret E. Larimer (B.S., ’82)
Michael Guillaume (B.S., ’78; M.S., ’84)
1990s
Shulin Li (M.S., ’92)
Kathy L. Hartung (B.S., ’83; M.A., ’95)
Jan J. Shearer Tegro (B.A., ’95)
Richard R. Carlsen (B.A., ’98)
2000s
Taryn M. Arnold (B.S., ’06)
2010s
Dylan J. Thomas (B.A., ’13)
*Alan V. Burke, II (B.S., ’14)
Friends
Sarah F. BorchertNell C. Davis
Lee Ford
Alfred Haas, Sr.
Betsy Kroeck
Ann D. Labarge
Justin C. Larson
Thomas Nourse
Gary E. Pedersen
Bud Reeves
Earl G. Ruppel
William B. Vollbracht
Michelle L. Wing
Attended
Carol L. Davis
Faculty & Staff
Doyle V. Hall
