Category: Foundation News

The American Red Cross Central Appalachia Region serves 77 counties in Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. Last year locally, the Red Cross responded to over 1,100 home fires; assisted nearly 2,100 military members, veterans and their families; helped make more than 1,000 homes safer by installing over 1,300 free smoke alarms; and collected 53,000 units of lifesaving blood at about 2,000 blood drives.

Tenikka Phillips, Marshall alumna serves as a Disaster Mental Health (DMH) and Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) volunteer for the American Red Cross Tenikka became a donor at 18 but was surprised by the variety of volunteer positions available.

She said she knew the Red Cross responded to home fires but always thought she was not qualified to do that. When she saw she could use her skills and education to give back, she wanted to take care of her community.

“I loved going to Marshall. The sense of community and taking care of others is such a huge part of the school and that led me to volunteering with the American Red Cross,” Tenikka said.

She first got involved with the American Red Cross during the historic West Virginia floods of 2016. Marshall put out a call for Mental Health Professionals to volunteer during this time. “I thought this was a great way to use my skills and give back.”

“Currently, I volunteer as a Disaster Mental Health volunteer and counsel those who have experienced a disaster and help them process the emotional trauma of their loss. I also facilitate workshops for the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces. These workshops serve our active military, veterans and their families to better equip them with communication and coping strategies. I am so thankful that my degree from Marshall has allowed me to serve my community through the American Red Cross.”

From responding to disasters to serving our military heroes to delivering life-saving blood, resolve to give back in 2022!

Apply today here, scan the QR code, visit www.redcross.org/volunteer or call 1-800-RED-CROSS for more information. Click on the graphics below to learn more about the most needed positions.

Each year, millions of people visit Walt Disney World. Wide-eyed children and their families move through its parks; their hearts filled with wonder and excitement. Smiles stretch ear-to-ear as their beloved Disney characters are magically transformed from reel life to real life, and each attraction immerses them into their favorite adventures.

But the magic of Disney World is not magic alone. It is the work of Marshall University graduate Jerry Frame, and hundreds of others, who bring to life these enchanting experiences for Disney World’s visitors.

Frame is the principal systems engineer at Walt Disney Imagineering. He oversees the design and architecture for new attractions at Disney World, as well as maintain current attractions.

“It’s my job to work with all the different groups at WDI – such as mechanical and electrical – and pull together an architecture and design from an engineering standpoint for an attraction so we can build it and give the creative group what they’re looking for,” Frame said.

Frame, who is originally from Red House, West Virginia, graduated from Marshall in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science. Frame said he decided to go to Marshall because of its reputable computer science program, and because it was close to home.

“At the time, I had been interested in computers since fifth grade, and I was looking for a computer science program,” Frame said. “I looked around at the local schools, and Marshall had one of the better programs.”

After graduating, Frame worked at various organizations in West Virginia as a software developer before moving to Tennessee. However, when an opportunity to work for Disney became available nearly 15 years ago, Frame and his wife, Jacquelyn, moved to the Sunshine State so their daughter, Alexandra, could grow up experiencing the magic of Disney World.

“The main reason I took the job at Disney was because she was about a year and a half old at the time, and I had the ability to let her grow up around Disney,” Frame said. “I tend to see everything at Disney through her eyes.”

When Frame began his career at Disney World, he was a senior software engineer. One of his first projects was Radiator Springs Racers, a Cars-themed attraction at Disney California Adventure Park, which meant a summer working in California at Disneyland. This later earned him his first Themed Entertainment Association Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Other projects Frame worked on early in his Disney career include updating Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln with the first all-electric expressive head for the Disneyland attraction’s reopening in 2009, as well as assisting Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, a steel roller coaster in Magic Kingdom at Disney World and Shanghai Disneyland Park in China. Frame also supports and upgrades various attractions throughout not just Disney World, but any of Disney Parks’ resorts.

“Basically, any of the attractions worldwide throughout Disney’s resorts that have been built or upgraded in the last 10 years is running software that I’ve developed,” Frame said.

In 2015, Frame was promoted to team lead and as such was responsible for show control systems and engineering. It was around this time Frame began work on Frozen Ever After, a new Audio-Animatronic attraction at EPCOT. The same animation system used in Frozen Ever After would later be implemented on several other Disney Parks’ attractions, including Star Wars character BB-8, which became the first Audio-Animatronic figure that can be touched by visitors.

“I helped drive the direction of all the new, modern animatronics systems,” Frame said. “I have been heavily involved in all the development.”

Frame said Marshall’s computer science program prepared him for his career at Disney World because the curriculum included both hardware and software components.
“One thing I liked about Marshall’s computer science program is it taught a mix of hardware and software,” Frame said. “They had us take classes like motherboard design and digital circuits. That really prepared me for later in life because the first job I got was a software job writing hardware components. That pretty much led me to where I am now.”

In 2018, Frame’s role at Disney World shifted and he began working for Walt Disney Imagineering. This allowed him to take his work with Frozen Ever After and apply it to Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, both located within Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Disney World. Frozen Ever After later earned a 2018 Themed Entertainment Association Award for Attraction Reimagining, which earned Frame his second Thea Award in five years.

Though, Frame’s proudest achievement is the joy his work brings to the children and families who visit Disney World each day.

“I like Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy because it builds up, and the show is full of kids, and every time Lightning McQueen comes out all the kids clap and cheer,” Frame said. “It’s always fun when the kids get to see one of their heroes come to life.”

Out of each smile Frame brings to Disney World’s young visitors, his daughter’s means the most. Alexandra, who is now a teenager, will soon take a new ride – college. Though, where she will attend is yet to be determined.

“It’s funny,” Frame said with a laugh. “My wife went to West Virginia University, so there’s a bit of an in-house rivalry.”

After nearly 25 years post-graduation, Frame reflects on his own time in college and the community built within Marshall’s computer science program. He also speaks highly of his former professor, Dr. Herbert Tesser.

“He was a mentor,” Frame said. “We spoke a few times after I graduated, and I even spoke to him once after I got the Disney job. He was a big influence on me.”

Frame also has fond memories of his time at Marshall outside of the classroom. He made several friends on campus, and still cheers for the Herd in football.

“I met lots of friends there,” Frame said. “I went to Marshall at a time when we were big in football during the Randy Moss and Chad Pennington era. So that was always fun, getting together and watching games.”

What began as a storybook childhood for Alexandra has become a successful career for Frame. Though she may soon go off to college, Frame will continue to do what he does best – bring the magic of Disney World to life.

“I started the journey for her, and it has been a fun journey,” Frame said.

Work through a pandemic? Check. Navigate online classrooms? Check. Stay focused and dedicated to a job you love? Also check. It’s no surprise that teachers have shouldered a lot of weight through the pandemic and it’s impressive still to see them shine and stay inspirational for their students day after day. Yet one local teacher continues to do so, and her demeanor, reach, and story are all truly inspiring.

If you’ve been around the Cabell County School System for any amount of time, you probably know Mrs. T.C. Her joy is contagious and her passion for caring for young people is unmatched.

Mrs. T.C., or T.C. Clemons, has spent the last 43 years teaching and the last 27 years growing and shaping young minds in the Cabell County school system.

Mrs.T.C. earned her bachelor’s degree from Marshall in 1978, before continuing to earn her master’s degree in special education in 1983.

“What inspired me to be a teacher really wasn’t a what, but rather a lot of amazing teachers who birthed that inspiration and desire deep within my heart to be a teacher and to make a difference in the lives of children as they had done for me,” Mrs. T.C. said. “Teachers who saw everything I could be even if I didn’t yet. As early as first grade, I can remember how special my teachers made me feel.”

Growing up in Williamson, West Virginia, during segregation, Mrs. T.C. attended an all-black school, with both black and white teachers.

“My black teachers were people I attended church with, visited in their homes, taught me in Sunday School, and were also family friends. They were the ones who kept me in check and presented a role model that I could be anything my heart desired. They were a bright light in my life. Little did they know that I had decided I wanted to be just like them. They extended their love and teaching beyond the classroom which shaped the type of teacher I knew I wanted to be to and for my kids (students),” Mrs. T.C. said.

When Mrs. T.C. was in the seventh grade, schools began to integrate, and she then attended an all-white school, which came with a new set of challenges.

“But little did they know I already had a solid foundation and knew who I was. I was blessed with teachers who did not look like me but did what they were called to do. Teachers who came to know my heart and extended their knowledge, love, guidance, and kindness my way who also had a forever effect on the teacher I am today,” Mrs. T.C. said.

Mrs. T.C. moved to Huntington in 1981 to attend Marshall, as Williamson only had a community college and she needed a four-year degree to become a teacher. She was a dedicated and devoted student and worked tirelessly to earn her degree as a single mom with a 3-year-old son.

“I grew up in a small-town community where, ‘It takes a whole village to raise a child,’” Mrs. T.C. said. “My son, Harvey, and I left our village in Williamson and found one here in the form of our Marshall Family. I was determined to assure a good life for him. Leaving Marshall was not an option.”

Her work ethic through school was definitely noticed- her son, Harvey, earned his degree from Marshall as well. And while the Marshall community is a family, Mrs. T.C. thinks of her students as family as well.

“My passion for them is sealed within the deepest part of my heart gently and securely wrapping them there for the rest of my life,” Mrs. T.C. said. “I become the Momma of many students who have never experienced love from a teasing tan caramel teacher, yet they readily and willingly receive my love and guidance and trust that I want the best for their lives.”

Through her current 43 year journey of teaching, Mrs. T.C. has impacted thousands of students’ lives. She said her influence doesn’t stop when the clock hits 3 p.m. or after school, and reminds all teachers and future teachers that they may never fully know the reach of their impact.

“You will become the window that is always left open. You, the window where your kids come to say ‘hello,’ ‘I love you,’ ‘thanks,’ for laughs, to plan Dairy Queen dates where they pay, to show you their grades good or bad, and for advice. You, the window where they come to shed tears, to share about their new love, new job, show off the new baby, invite you to graduation and their wedding. You, the window where they come to ask for prayer, receive and give hugs, take selfies, hang out, and at times ask to climb through your window because they will need you to tightly wrap your arms around them until your heartbeats become one in the same. You always keep the window to your heart open. The learning will happen. I promise.”

Mrs. T.C. currently teaches at Highlawn Elementary in Huntington and emphasizes to her students in caring for each other that, “there is always room for one more.”

“This journey is all about the students. The students who you get to be on this journey with will forever be etched in your heart for the things you do to make sure they matter. It is not always going to be the big things you do for your kids that they will remember, but rather the little things. The little things you did at that very moment may turn out to be the very thing that sets them on the right path now and or later in their lives.”

Mrs. T.C. was honored as the Cabell County Teacher of the Year in 2019 and considers being a teacher in the community her calling.

“I give back to the Huntington community because they gave to me as a single mom seeking the love of family. They extended their love to me and my son when we were missing our home,” Mrs. T.C. said. “The Huntington community entrusted me with their children in and out of school and provided many opportunities for me to be a light within the community where everybody knows my name, and for that I am most grateful.”

The year was 2000.

Piggybacking off the success of popular crime dramas of the time including such hits as “Law and Order,” CBS Television launched a revolutionary new show titled “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” detailing a team of crime-scene investigators using physical evidence to solve murders.

The show’s popularity spawned several spinoffs, including versions of the show based in major cities around the United States, until its ultimate finale in September 2015. For 15 years the show caught the eye of viewers around the world and led to numerous other hit forensic-based television franchises.

While the unique premise of the show sparked a wave of popular TV dramas, oddly enough where the impact was felt most was at universities and centers across the country that taught the same techniques and methods that were found weeknights on televisions across the country.

“In the early years of the forensic science program, we benefitted from the number of CSI programs on television. Students viewed forensic science as an interesting and rewarding career,” said Dr. Terry Fenger, founder of Marshall University’s Forensic Science Center. “At the same time, there were only a handful of forensic science programs offered through universities. That has changed over time and there are now many programs, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels in forensic science.”

While many schools were reactionary to the boom of interest in the forensic sciences, Fenger was quite the opposite, bringing the program to Marshall University in 1994 when he began the Forensic Science Graduate Program. Additionally, Fenger took the lead and taught various courses within the curriculum including DNA technologies, Digital Forensics, bioterrorism, crime scene investigation and laboratory management.

Earning his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Southern Illinois University, Fenger moved to Huntington in 1979. He was initially employed by the School of Medicine, where he conducted research on viruses while teaching second-year medical students clinical and basic science concepts of virology.

Eventually, he strongly felt the need for a forensic science program at Marshall and, in 1997, saw the program graduate its first class. Since then, the program has expanded to cover a number of different specializations including DNA Analysis, Forensic Chemistry, Digital Forensics, and Crime Scene Investigation.

“Our first class consisted of seven students, but it has expanded on average to 16 students per class,” Fenger said. “Students entering the program have a strong background in chemistry and biology, which is a requirement for admission to the program. They must also pass a background check to ensure their suitability to enter law enforcement professions.

“In addition to the original areas of emphasis in DNA analysis, chemistry and crime scene investigation, digital device forensics was added as an area of emphasis in the forensic science curriculum. Today, the MU Forensic Science Center is fortunate to house the West Virginia Police Digital Forensics Laboratory, which also avails our students to learn from a working casework laboratory.”

In those early days, the Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center was slated to be the home for forensic science at Marshall, but administrators decided that a separate, more secure campus would better serve the forensic and biomedical sciences. That is when the idea was conceived to locate the program at the original home of Marshall University football at the old Fairfield Stadium location.

“The Fairfield location was thought to be an ideal location because the football facilities building could be developed into laboratories and there was land available for development of additional buildings,” Fenger said. “The two and three-story buildings were therefore developed over the following years with help from multiple areas of funding.”

The early years of the program started slowly and saw the Fairfield location shared by students and researchers from multiple disciplines. Eventually though, the forensic program grew and began to consolidate all its different areas of study into one location, a location that it would eventually share with West Virginia law enforcement and agencies from other states.

“Up until that time, the academic program had paid rent for laboratories located off campus, which stressed the program financially and was a hardship for the students,” Fenger said. “Medical school researchers occupied the second floor of the West Wing Annex until it was decided that the medical school labs would move to the Weisberg Engineering Building and that our second-floor labs would house various research laboratories of the master’s degree program and would be used to support local and state law enforcement.

“Really, one of the underlying missions of the Marshall University Forensic Science Center was to advance economic development in West Virginia.”

And that is when the program truly began to take off.

In addition to a strong curriculum and talented professionals guiding students, access to police laboratories and active cases gave Marshall University students a truly unique learning experience.

“Concomitant with the development of the academic program, the Forensic Science DNA Analysis Laboratory was established,” Fenger said. “Initially, under the authority of the West Virginia State Police Crame Laboratory, the MU laboratory DNA tested samples from convicted offenders within the West Virginia law enforcement system to develop the WV CODIS database.

“The fact that the accredited laboratory is housed on the same campus as the academic program allows students to see first-hand how technologies are utilized to solve crimes and how laboratories are managed to meet quality assurance standards. Marshall University is one of only a few universities that has accredited working laboratories on-site of its forensic science programs.”

Because of that unique relationship between Marshall and regional law enforcement, Marshall’s forensic science graduate program is considered by many to be the best in the United States, due largely to an atypical combination of small class size, breadth of curriculum and sheer proximity to actual forensic scientists doing real casework.

On the national stage, Marshall’s forensic science program has grown into an award-winning program that has attracted the attention of faculty and students from around the world. Just last year, students of the program achieved the highest collective scores in the nation on the Forensic Science Assessment Test.

There is still room for growth, however, and Fenger remains committed to doing his part to help advance the program, even after retiring in 2017.

“Because of the expansion in the number of forensic science programs throughout the United States, there is now competition for highly-qualified students. And not all of them have the financial resources to extend their education beyond a bachelor’s degree,” Fenger said. “That is where scholarships come into play to help students aspire to attain additional education.”

Earlier this year, Michael J. and Tamela J. Farrell, attorneys at the Huntington, West Virginia, firm Farrell, White & Legg, established the Terry W. and Sandra J. Fenger Forensic Science Scholarship to help aid students of the graduate degree program. Prior to that, Tamela Farrell established the Paul H. and Dixie O. Nicely Scholarship in honor of her parents, giving the program two strong scholarships to build upon.

“In the case of the scholarships established by Michael and Tamela Farrell, a primary focus will be to support qualified students from West Virginia and the metro area, although students from outside of West Virginia will also be viable candidates as the endowment increases,” Fenger added.

Already one of the most respected programs in the country, Fenger said there is no reason that the forensic science program at Marshall can’t continue to evolve and expand, especially as technologies advance and the need for talented forensic scientists grows around the world.

“In 10 to 20 years, I see the program expanding in the number of students enrolled in the program,” Fenger said. “As technologies develop and advance, students will be trained in these technologies. Computer analysis of forensic evidence and database development will continue to expand, which will place additional demands on practicing forensic scientists.

“And I know Marshall University will be well-positioned to accept these challenges.”

The Marshall University Foundation, Inc. has announced the establishment of the Terry W. and Sandra J. Fenger Forensic Science Scholarship in honor of the longtime Director of the Forensic Science Center and one of the founders of the Forensic Science program at Marshall University.

The scholarship was endowed by Michael J. and Tamela J. Farrell, attorneys at the Huntington, West Virginia, firm Farrell, White & Legg. Michael also served as interim president of Marshall University in 2005 following the resignation of Dan Angel. Highly respected members of the community, Michael and Tamela have a long history of giving back to Marshall.

“First and foremost, Terry and Sandy Fenger deserve the recognition for their service in founding and growing the Forensic Science Graduate Program into one of the top-rated programs in the United States,” Farrell said. “Second, the scholarship monies available to forensic science students are wholly inadequate. My wife, Tammy, established the only other forensic science scholarship fund in the name of her parents, Paul and Dixie Nicely. The time is now to dramatically enhance the scholarship opportunities for the student body of the Forensic Science Center.”

The scholarship recipient will be a full-time graduate student majoring in the Forensic Science Graduate Program in the College of Science. The award will be renewable for up to two years and will include one internship stipend if the recipient maintains good academic standing with the university. For the first five years the annual award will total $1,000 for two students of the program.

After five years the award will grow based on the endowment amount.

“Forensic science is an intensive and expensive pursuit. Many of the students in the program have insufficient financial resources for the academic programs or internship to fully participate,” Farrell said. “Tammy and I felt compelled to continue the legacy of establishing scholarship funding for forensic science students by inspiring alumni and friends of the program to add to this fund and grow it to $100,000 in honor of Dr. Fenger.

“Dr. Fenger has dedicated his professional life to Marshall University. I feel he received insufficient recognition during his tenure at the program for its success and contributions to the state and nation in providing highly educated forensic scientists. This funding is a small thank you for his exemplary service.”

Dr. Fenger began as the Director of the Forensic Science Center in 1994 and has been instrumental in guiding the program to national prominence, including this past year where students of the program achieved the highest collective scores in the nation on the Forensic Science Assessment Test.

Considered one of the top forensic science programs in the nation, Dr. Fenger has been at the epicenter of the program’s success, overseeing the nationally accredited Forensic Science Master of Science Degree Program, the DNA testing laboratory and the Digital Forensics section. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Dr. Fenger served as an instructor in various courses including DNA technologies, Digital Forensics, bioterrorism, crime scene investigation and laboratory management.

Fenger retired from the program in 2017.

“Sandy and I are extremely grateful to Michael J. and Tamela J. Farrell for establishing the Terry W. and Sandra J. Fenger Forensic Science Scholarship, which will have far reaching benefits for current and future generations of forensic science graduate students at Marshall University,” Fenger said. “Through their initiative qualified graduate students will be able to enter the program with their tuition and fees diminished via scholarship support. In addition, funds can be used to help support summer internships that often take students to laboratories in other states. The quality of the program hinges on the quality of the students and the alumni who attain careers that point to the excellence as former students and practitioners of forensic sciences and related professions.”

Farrell said future donations will continue to support the Marshall forensic science program and other aspects of Marshall University.

Further information on the Forensic Science Center is available at marshall.edu/forensics.

“Terry continues to be instrumental in the lives of the forensic science students,” said Dr. Catherine Rushton, Director of the Forensic Science Program. “His leadership propelled many forensic science alumni into their careers. This scholarship will continue to provide future students with support to do great things.

“Terry’s selfless efforts built the forensic science program from nothing into something amazing. This scholarship will allow us to continue building upon the foundation he provided.”

To learn more about establishing a scholarship or to make a gift by phone, please contact the Marshall University Foundation at 304-696-6264. To make a gift online, please visit give.marshall.edu.

Like any institution of higher learning, Marshall University means a lot of things to a lot of different people.

To some, Marshall is simply a school. A place to take classes, earn a degree, and enter the workforce.

For others, Marshall represents the dream of bigger things to come. It is a place where they will learn the lessons that will help them achieve their goals and ambitions in life.

And then there are those who consider themselves a part of the university. Maybe they grew up in a household of Marshall alumni. Maybe they met friends, a spouse, and generated lifelong bonds that forever connect them to the institution. Maybe Marshall changed their lives for the better.

And then there is Lucianne Kautz-Call.

Call is a staple of the Marshall community. You can find her at Thundering Herd sporting events decked out in the latest green and white fashion or simply representing the university in her community. She is also a doer, helping organize the Fountain Ceremony each fall honoring the 75 souls who perished in the 1970 crash of Southern Airways Flight 932. She has even helped found and preside over multiple alumni chapters in the southeast.

But Call’s connection to Marshall runs much deeper than simply attending as a student and helping plan events. It runs much deeper than representing the school as a cheerleader and community leader. It even runs much deeper than meeting her husband, Rick, in the Student Union and getting married during her senior year in the spring of 1970.

In fact, Call is as much a part of the fabric of Marshall University as the leaders who guide the institution daily.

“This really is just the story of a girl who was born into a Marshall family,” Call said. “I was born in St. Mary’s Hospital, just down the street from the university, and enjoyed my childhood in Huntington, West Virginia. I am an ordinary girl, except when it comes to Marshall football.”

Indeed, Call has a special bond with Marshall thanks, in large part, to her father, Charles Kautz. Kautz was a gifted coach, educator, and athletic director at Marshall and was one of the 75 individuals who lost their life in the tragic plane crash that took the lives of many Marshall players, coaches, staff, fans and community members returning home from a football contest against East Carolina University.

Of course, Kautz was much more than just a victim in one of the worst accidents in U.S. history. And Call has dedicated her life to preserving the memory of her father and all of those lost on November 14, 1970.

“Our dad had an unmatched love for Marshall University. It was his life’s ambition to play football since starting there in the first grade at the Marshall Lab School,” Call said. “Dad was a family man, a coach, an administrator, and a person of Godly character. He never met a stranger. His passion was supporting students and athletes to strive for perfection in whatever their endeavors.”

Kautz played for the Thundering Herd under the guidance of coach Cam Henderson while earning his BA from Marshall in 1949 and his MA in 1953. He served as a marine in World War II and the Korean War before returning home and entering the world of high school and college athletics.

Kautz was a regional hero in high school football, compiling a 74-25-1 record as head football coach at Ceredo-Kenova in West Virginia and Rock Hill and Ironton high schools in Ohio, before joining the Marshall football staff in 1961. There, he recruited many great players over the years, including Larry Coyer, Mickey Jackson and Bobby Pruett.

He eventually transitioned from coaching to an administrative role as Assistant Athletic Director in 1969 before being named Athletic Director at Marshall in November of 1969. During his tenure, he guided the reconstruction of Fairfield Stadium and helped enhance the facilities in and around the various athletic programs. Kautz was posthumously inducted into the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.

Thanks to the example set forth by her father, Call has lived a life dedicated to helping others. And also like her father, Marshall University has remained at the center of it all.

“Marshall made a difference in my life,” Call said. “So I challenge others to set on a course to become significant in the lives of everyone they meet. No matter where you roam wearing the Kelly green and white, someone will say ‘Hey, we are Marshall.’ And that means something.”

Call chose to attend Marshall in the summer of 1967 where she earned a degree in Elementary Education in 1971. During her time at the university, she spent time working in the ticket office and served alongside her sorority sisters at Sigma Sigma Sigma.

She met her husband Rick and got married in June of 1970, with her father walking her down the aisle.

After graduation, Call was hired in Cabell County as an elementary teacher and taught in several schools in the county. She also continued down the same path as her father as a coach, serving as the girls’ tennis coach at Barboursville High School and cheerleading coach at Cabell Midland High School. In the summers, she also served as a water safety and swimming instructor.

“The many teaching experiences and volunteering services prepared me with the knowledge of unleashing a student’s creativity for their journey in life,” Call said. “When I meet these students today, I so love to see their enthusiasm as they tell me about the career path they have chosen. I met one of my former students recently and he went on to explain to me that he is an Associate Professor of Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity at Marshall. That was fascinating to me because Marshall didn’t even have that curriculum to choose from in the 70s.”

In the early 2000s, Call made a shift in her life from education to travel, broadening her horizons as a flight attendant.

No matter where life took her, though, Marshall University always remained at the center of her world.

And one of the ways in which Call has remained a part of the conversation at the university is through her involvement in the Marshall Fountain Ceremony planning committee. Call, along with members of Student Government, university leaders, the Office of Alumni Relations, and many others help coordinate the ceremony each year to commemorate those lost in the plane crash.

In 2020, Call was honored by the committee as the keynote speaker for the 50th anniversary of the crash.

“I am so thankful to be able to work on this project each year. The Student Government, along with Matt James and his staff, coordinate this event every year. There are so many people responsible for this heartwarming ceremony through the years that have become close friends. We come together each year to listen to the keynote speakers’ words of how the plane crash had an enormous effect on their lives. I will always cherish these wonderful times.

“I am just so proud of the 1970 team and all of the players that have chosen Marshall through the years. All of the blood, sweat and tears that goes into this event are truly a labor of love. My speech for the 50th anniversary reflected the timespan of all the coaches, players and staff who had the courage to persevere each football season.

“No matter who the speaker is, the same theme always prevails. We came from ashes to glory, and we honor their legacy in our hearts forever.”

In addition to helping with the Fountain Ceremony each year, Call has also had an opportunity to return to campus for special events such as the premier of the Warner Brothers film, We Are Marshall in 2006.

“I worked on the committee to help bring the families together to view the production,” Call said. “Michele Prestera Craig, Kim Proctor Crabtree, Parker and Amy Ward, and Steve Chapman all helped coordinate this project. We had not seen some of these families in over 30 years. It was an amazing experience.”

Of course, with a film dedicated to the tragedy and subsequent perseverance and triumph of the football program and university as a whole, Call recalls fondly many of the scenes in the film that she personally lived through as a student and as a daughter of someone lost in the crash.

“My favorite scene in the movie is where my dad and six of the football players were laid to rest,” Call said. “You can see the university from the site. Our youngest son, Jarrod, was one of the football players in that scene. That is the motivational speech that helped start the Young Thundering Herd on its path in making Marshall become the winningest Division I college football team in the 1990s.”

Call was again honored earlier this fall as she served alongside members of the Young Thundering Herd as Grand Marshals for Marshall’s annual Homecoming parade. She shared the role alongside Allen Meadows, a team captain of the Young Thundering Herd and a four-year letterman of the program, and other members of the team.

“I was honored to share the role of Grand Marshal with Allen and other members of the team,” Call said. “Allen was the very first freshman football player recruited to play at Marshall following the crash. He, along with his 1971 teammates, were honored during the festivities and I got to hear so many great stories about their time on campus.”

Today, Call is still humbled by her role in helping bridge the gap between the tragic accident and rebirth of the program in the 1970s and the current generation of students at Marshall. And she still relishes every opportunity to tell that story and help spread the word about just what Marshall University means to her.

“I am sometimes asked, ‘How do you want to be remembered?’ Reflecting over the years of my memories on Marshall’s campus, my hope is for all students, faculty, administration and alumni to give back in some way,” Call said. “I want to see folks give their time, energy, money, and passion to instill in their hearts the real meaning of we are Marshall.”

The Marshall University Foundation has announced that John Rahal, Marshall alumnus and general partner with Edward Jones, has made a gift of $1 million to support the John F. Rahal Center for Strategic Engagement within Marshall University’s Lewis College of Business.

The John F. Rahal Center for Strategic Engagement, formerly the Center for Stakeholder Engagement, is a program designed to raise the visibility of the Lewis College of Business as well as boost student engagement and professional development.

“I believe, as alumni, we have a responsibility to each other to make sure that our business school is one of the best in the country,” Rahal said. “In the financial services industry, I have had a career for which Marshall University truly prepared me. Alongside other generous individuals, it is our goal to continue to make Marshall’s business school a national business school of prominence to prepare students for the future.”

The center aims to drive demand for undergraduate and graduate business students by connecting faculty, students, alumni and corporate partners through strategic projects. The center also strives to keep stakeholders informed of the college’s latest initiatives and developing internships that connect Marshall’s corporate partners with students and graduates.

In addition to these unique programs, students in the Brad D. Smith Schools of Business will have the opportunity to enhance their classroom experience through professional development experiences such as the Ron and Sandy Cohen Business Professionalism Speaker Series and the Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series.

“We are extremely grateful to John F. Rahal, not only for his generosity but also for his ongoing support of the Lewis College of Business and this investment in our future,” said Dr. Avi Mukherjee, interim provost at Marshall and former dean of the College of Business. “This is truly a transformative gift that will help raise the visibility of the college and Brad D. Smith Schools of Business as it fulfills its mission to be the major contributor to the region’s economic development.”

The center is named in honor of John F. Rahal, who is a principal with the financial-services firm Edward Jones, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Rahal, a native of Huntington, West Virginia, is a 1991 graduate of Marshall University, earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He also holds an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Rahal joined Edward Jones as a financial advisor in 1997. In 2000 he became a limited partner with the company and was named a general principal in 2007. He served on the firm’s management committee from 2012 through 2017.

Today, Rahal is responsible for Edward Jones’ transformation. In that capacity, he is responsible for anticipating and identifying roles, capabilities, and strategies to enable the firm to transform towards its vision of improving the lives of clients, their families and their communities. Edward Jones is one of the largest financial services firms in North America with nearly 19,000 financial advisors.

“For the state of West Virginia, Marshall is critically important,” Rahal said. “I never thought that I would be on the senior management team of a Fortune 500 company, I want business school students at Marshall to recognize their potential and set their ambition high.  I attribute much of my success to the skill set and the hard work that I learned from the business school professors at Marshall.”

Rahal also remains an active member of the Marshall University community, contributing to the growth and success of the Lewis College of Business, as well as supporting  Thundering Herd athletic programs and other initiatives at the university.

He established the Rahal Family Education Fund in 2016 to support the College of Business and its most pressing needs.

“I love West Virginia and I know that there are needs in the state that can be solved through the Brad D. Smith Schools of Business and the Lewis College of Business,” Rahal said. “I want the state of West Virginia to succeed. I want the Tri-State to succeed. My contribution is part of a larger dedication of alumni, making contributions to ensure that the students in West Virginia, eastern Kentucky and southeastern Ohio know what’s possible.”

It is a community unlike any other and a location that looks like something straight out of an award-winning piece of artwork.

The hills. The valleys. The ponds. The castle-like architecture. The perfectly manicured flowers and trees. The peace and tranquility. It is a place that individuals have chosen to call home for over 25 years, and it is a place near-and-dear to the hearts of many in the Marshall University family.

Of course, we are talking about Woodlands Retirement Community.

Nestled atop a picturesque hilltop, surrounded by 171 acres of beautiful, sprawling landscape in the heart of Huntington, West Virginia, Woodlands is a premier Continuing Care Retirement Community for individuals 55 and over. Woodlands has the distinction of being the region’s only LifeCare Community, and it is a community that encourages wellness through an active, independent lifestyle.

To many, however, it is simply known as home.

“Of course, we could talk about the beautiful hilltop setting and the spectacular views, but that is not what makes Woodlands truly special. What makes Woodlands special are the people, the sense of community, and the connection to Huntington and the Tri-State area,” said Juliette Buffington Tomlin, Marketing Director at Woodlands. “What makes the location so great is Huntington itself. This is truly home, and you can feel that. A lot of the residents were fortunate enough to stay close to home and close to old friends, while making new friends and providing them and their families a peace of mind.

“At Woodlands, we encourage wellness and active living. We are a 55+ community that offers something for everyone. There are many amenities and activities that are social, physical, educational, and spiritual based. That is the value that we offer, on top of having a beautiful surrounding.”

The history of Woodlands is one of both determination and compassion to create a caring and safe home for elderly residents of the Huntington area.

In 1922, Bradley W. Foster established the Foster Foundation with a generous financial gift aimed at providing a home for care of the elderly. In 1925, the mission was realized when the Foster Memorial Home opened on Madison Avenue in Huntington. “The Home” became a Huntington fixture for next 75 years.

In 1985, Rev. Gray Hampton, a member of the Foster Foundation Board, introduced board members to the continuing care retirement community (CCRC) concept. Under his leadership, the board developed a plan to broaden the scope of the aging Foster Memorial Home into a CCRC in Huntington, West Virginia. Starting in 1988 and over the course of a decade, Chairman William F. “Bill” Agee and the board turned that vision into reality.

On August 19, 1996, Woodlands opened with 111 apartments at almost 100 percent occupancy. Over the next few years, 61 additional apartments and 23 cottages were built by those who wanted to preserve their residential independence. In 2004, the Assisted Living/Health Care wing of Woodlands was expanded with the substantial involvement of Mrs. Joan C. Edwards and the West Virginia Episcopal Diocese, raising the capacity to 88 units.

“When I moved back to Huntington seven years ago and had the blessing of going to work at Woodlands, my mom and so many of her friends lived here. So it not only feels like family, for many of us, it is family,” Tomlin said. “That dedication helps us provide the highest level of residential senior services for individuals from a variety of backgrounds.

“I love what I do. Our staff, some of which have been here for all 25 years, embodies this mission through their passion and desire to serve our residents so they may enjoy life to the fullest.”

Through that unique connection to Huntington and the greater Tri-State area, Woodlands has earned the distinct reputation as a popular retirement community for alumni and former faculty and staff of Huntington’s very own Marshall University.

And because of that, many of the residents remain forever involved in the happenings of Huntington and Marshall.

“Because of that active community, our residents are able to remain supportive of our local community,” Tomlin said. “Not only through Marshall, but so many of our people are involved in the Artists Series, the symphony, the art galleries. In essence, we have been blessed that Woodlands is right here available to the residents of the area. It means that the people of this region don’t have to move away to where their children live. Because of Woodlands they can stay right here in Huntington. As I have seen, more and more former Huntingtonians are moving back to Huntington to retire.”

Of course, with any mention of Huntington comes a direct correlation to Marshall University.

And one of the key ways in which the residents of Woodlands stay connected to the local university is through Marshall Monday, a unique program presented by the Marshall University Foundation, Inc. and the Marshall University Alumni Association. Marshall Monday brings the university and its programs, faculty, and students to the residents and provides updates and opportunities for residents to remain connected to the university.

“Woodlands’ continued relationship with Marshall University includes much excitement from residents as they are provided the opportunity to participate in activities such as Marshall Monday, Marshall Music, and even a Spirit Week in honor of Marshall’s homecoming,” said Molly Watson, Director of Activities at Woodlands. “These types of activities keep residents connected and gives them a sense of being back in college while supporting their favorite university.”

Marshall Monday, in particular, has been a very popular part of the Woodlands schedule. Taking place on the first Monday of every month, the program brings different speakers to Woodlands to talk about current issues, exciting changes, and general updates from different areas of campus. The residents also have an opportunity to return to campus for special events, such as Homecoming and sporting events.

“Many Woodlands’ residents have had a direct affiliation with Marshall for many years. Many residents are alumni, parents of children or grandchildren who are Marshall graduates and even many are former employees or faculty,” said Jane Fotos, MU Professor Emeritus and Woodlands resident. “These folks look forward to hearing what is new at Marshall, what is being planned for the future, and meeting and being updated by some of the Marshall faculty and leadership who are involved in various programs.

“Of course, Marshall athletic events are always a favorite, especially ones televised on our big screen. These televised events always draw a big crowd who loudly cheer for the Herd while others climb on the Woodlands bus and head for the Marshall campus. We love Marshall and look forward to each Marshall Monday.”

Beginning in 2021, Woodlands will be expanding its partnership with Marshall University through a unique collaboration with the Marshall University Alumni Association. This partnership will see the retirement community partner on key events on the alumni calendar, including being prominently featured during Homecoming, as well as Woodlands residents being showcased in alumni publications throughout the year. It is just another way in which Woodlands and Marshall University continue to have a direct relationship in offering quality care for 55+ residents, many of whom consider themselves proud sons and daughters of Marshall.

“Retirement in a university town is attractive to so many around the country because of the rich educational, cultural and sports opportunity. It is no different for Woodlands and Marshall,” said Aubrey King, a Marshall alumnus and resident of Woodlands. “Marshall Music brings outstanding faculty and student performers each month. Marshall Monday features President (Jerry) Gilbert and other university leaders explaining new initiatives and priorities. The Marshall Emeritus Club holds its meetings at the Woodlands. The executive director of the Marshall Alumni Association is always in attendance at these events to answer questions and provide support. As for sports, Marshall has no more passionate supporters than the good folks at the Woodlands.

“With this history, Marshall and Woodlands are looking forward with great anticipation to this new partnership. We expect our connections to grow even more to the benefit of both sides.”

The Encova Foundation of West Virginia has made a $1.8 million gift for the auditorium in Marshall University’s new Lewis College of Business building, home of the Brad D. Smith Schools of Business.

The new facility, which will be constructed on the 1400 block of Fourth Avenue, will feature a 360-seat, state-of-the-art auditorium that will be named the Encova Auditorium. Currently under design, the new facility is expected to be complete by the fall of 2023.   Classes are projected to begin in January 2024.

“The Lewis College of Business is sincerely thankful for the generous donation of the Encova Foundation of West Virginia. Their commitment to the new Lewis College of Business facility, the Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation, will benefit all Marshall students for generations to come. This state-of-the-art facility will be utilized by our students and be an ideal venue for our speaker series, lectures and classes, business meetings, conferences, film screenings and workshops. We are honored to bestow the Encova name on this auditorium,” said Dr. Avinandan Mukherjee, dean of the Lewis College of Business.

The university expects that the new facility, measuring 77,000 gross square feet, will house a new distinctive business school focused on empowering students to achieve their professional and entrepreneurial dreams, while making a positive impact on the local and regional economy.

“Encova Insurance is dedicated to supporting higher education and community partnerships,” said TJ Obrokta, president and CEO of Encova Insurance. The Encova Auditorium in Marshall University’s new Lewis College of Business building will allow future business leaders to be trained by outstanding professionals. It will also provide the opportunity to transform the Huntington and Tri-State communities by hosting speakers who will inspire entrepreneurs and business leaders of all ages.”

Marshall University President Dr. Jerome A. Gilbert said Encova’s commitment to higher education in West Virginia is outstanding.

“We are very appreciative of Encova’s partnership with Marshall University,” Gilbert said. “They share our vision that an educated workforce leads to a thriving West Virginia. By working together, public and private alliances can become cornerstones of success for the Mountain State.”

Encova Insurance, formerly BrickStreet Insurance, has generously supported Marshall University for more than 15 years through providing scholarships, supporting athletics and assisting several academic areas. Encova Insurance is recognized as one of the top five corporate donors at Marshall University.

Marshall alumnus Donald McCloud has established the McCloud Family Scholarship for the university. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from Marshall University in 1975. Dr. Beth McCloud, Donald McCloud’s daughter, received both her Bachelor of Science in biochemistry in 2004 and Doctor of Medicine in 2008 from the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.

“Marshall University has had an enormous impact on me and members of my family,” Donald McCloud, who had a successful career in the coal mining industry in West Virginia. “My father, myself and my daughter are all graduates of Marshall University. My father was a student-athlete and inducted into the Marshall University Hall of Fame in basketball and my daughter is a pediatric physician at a major pediatric hospital.

“Marshall University provided us with the experiences and education to find our place in this world, and to observe it with a greater understanding in all its aspects. Growing up by my dad’s side, I observed the ways that set my father apart from his peers who chose not to participate in higher education. Watching my daughter throughout her several years at Marshall, I saw her develop intellectually, analytically and socially, with a growing understanding of her value and contribution to society. I want to help others experience the same growth and opportunities as my family and I have enjoyed and to understand and value the contributions they can make to society.”

The McCloud Family Scholarship supports full-time undergraduate students who are residents of West Virginia. Students must be in good academic standing with a 3.0 GPA and demonstrate need per the standards of Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance. First preference is given to a chemistry major from Logan High School in Logan County, West Virginia. Second preference to a physics, engineering or biology major from Logan High School; if none, then from Logan County, West Virginia. Third preference is to a chemistry major from any other county in West Virginia, but preferably the southern counties of Boone, Fayette, Greenbrier, Lincoln, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming. The award is renewable for up to four years if the student remains in good academic standing and continues to demonstrate financial need.

Choosing to support students in science, the McCloud family believes the study of sciences develops critical thinking that is represented in every career and in everyday life. The family encourages students to follow their heart and find a career that they are passionate about.

“Far too many rush into decisions and are unduly influenced by others. Be open to all that you can learn, thus creating a larger world for yourself in which to live, work and observe. A university education not only opens many career paths and opportunities, but provides a much richer life, one of enhanced knowledge, understanding and enjoyment.”

For information on the McCloud Family Scholarship, please contact Marshall University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance at 304-696-3162.