Alumni in the Media
Zach Lewis ’95 is guest-starring in Tuesday’s “Patriot Acts” episode of “NCIS: Los Angeles” on CBS. The episode airs at 8 p.m. on channel 6. Lewis plays FBI agent Special Agent Marcus Hinty, who graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College and earned his juris doctorate magna cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School. He’s fresh out of the FBI academy, and has a big ego even though he doesn’t know squat. One of the main scenes involves LL Cool J and Chris O’Donnell basically manipulating him to let them search a crime scene.
Lewis continues to work on the web series “The Etiquette Ninjas” (tulsaworld.com/etiquetteninjas). The series has received more than 80,000 hits on funnyordie.com and more than 10,000 each for the nine episodes on YouTube. Parental discretion is advised.
Oh, and there’s that one other little thing keeping him occupied. He and actress Stephanie Jackson ‘98, also a Holland Hall graduate, are getting married this month. Jackson last appeared on TV in NBC’s “Chuck” and “Up All Night.” She earned her degree in public relations from Syracuse University and trained at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and was a member of the school’s prestigious repertory company.
’76 ALUMNA RECEIVES HONORS
Kathy Beale LaFortune ’76 was selected by the Oklahoma Psychological Association for the 2011 Distinguished Professional Service Citation for advancing the field of psychology in Oklahoma. Presentation was in November.
LaFortune was also honored by the TU College of Law for outstanding service to the Health Law Externship Program and given the opportunity to be listed as an Associate Research Professor at TU. She is currently an adjunct faculty member at the New York Law School and teaching a family law class.
She also coauthored a paper on Miranda Warnings and Suggestibility published in Law and Human Behavior. LaFortune’s current position is Chief of Forensic Services for the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System.
JULIAN FRAZIER ’09 LEADS TU MEN TO TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP
The University of Tulsa men’s track and field team won the 2012 Conference USA Indoor Track & Field Championship at the Birmingham CrossPlex in early March.
The Golden Hurricane unseated the five-time champion Houston Cougars 139-138 to win the first league crown in school history.
Julian Frazier passed East Carolina’s anchor in the final 50 meters to secure third place. Frazier’s effort gave the Golden Hurricane the six points needed to win the league title outright by a mere point.
ASU’s BACH THROWS RARE PERFECT GAME
Arizona State senior and Holland Hall graduate Hillary Bach ’08 threw the game of her life, pitching only the fourth perfect game in Arizona State softball history, a 9-0, five-inning win against the Wichita State Shockers. She is one of ASU’s all-time greats. So, it is fitting that she threw a perfect game in what is to be her last season as a Sun Devil. She is currently 8-0 in 2012 with an ERA of 0.44. She’s given up three earned runs all season. To view the article…Pac12Sportswatch.com
ALUMNA PUBLISHES BOOK
Heather Denslow ’89 began writing a book for her mother’s birthday. She asked her best friend to look over the book who immediately told her that she needed to send it to a publishing company. After submitting, she received a contract a few weeks later. The book is fiction but does touch on an issue very close to Denslow’s heart — adoption. “Ainslie’s Smile” will be released March 13, 2012. It will be available on national sites such as Amazon as well as locally. She will be at Steve’s Sundry March 17 for a book signing. Heather earned a master’s degree in counseling and student personnel from Oklahoma State University in 1995. She also is a licensed professional counselor.
Brett Baker ’89 was featured in the January 9, 2012 issue of the Tulsa World. Article speaks to more men are making more time for family…MEN AT WORK: A CHANGING LANDSCAPE. To see article go to www.tulsaworld.com
Ann ’07 and JP Bennett ’06 are featured in the January 2012 Tulsa People. Tulsa newlyweds build their home from the ground up. The couple married in 2010 and moved back to Tulsa after college graduation. With the help of JP’s father, John Bennett ’70, construction began the summer of 2011 with completion in October. One of the biggest benefits of the home is that it allows the couple to enjoy some of their favorite activities. Ann keeps her two horses – a leopard Appaloosa and a palomino quarter horse – just steps from her back porch in a 7-acre pasture the family fenced themselves. An avid hunter, JP loves that he can hunt on the property. The Bennetts are already building a financial foundation for their future home, which they plan to begin building in five to eight years on a hill only a few hundred yards from where their first home sits today.
Laurie Lunow ’03 is featured on the cover of the January 2012 issue of Victory magazine. To read the article on Laurie’s Finding the Master’s Plan by Melanie Hemry go to kcm.org/bvov-media/magazines.
The leading rusher in college football, who’s averaging 203.3 yards a game for the Sagehens, is taking hard-core courses in economics, his major, and in linguistics.
The concert will feature the Ryans individually for the first half of the program, with the duo-piano works in the second half.
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Van Trease PACE, 10300 E. 81st., Tulsa, OK
Tickets: $27.50 – $59.50 918-595-7777 tulsaworld.com/mytix
Article in Tulsa World (October 14, 2011)
The Butterfly House imports about 90 percent of its butterflies from countries around the world, including Costa Rica, Philippines and El Salvador, as well as the continent of Africa. To learn more about the Butterfly House, visit www.explorebutterflies.com
Jane and her husband were featured in the October 2011 Tulsa People magazine…Waiting in the Wings
Robert Duenner ’77, Tulsa stockbroker in acting role with Ben Afleck. Movie to be released in 2012. Click on link for details.
Movie coming out in 2012
HONORARY CHAIRWOMAN FOR TENNIS CLASSIC
Margie Warren ’82 will again serve as honorary chairwoman for the Women’s Fourth Annual Tennis Classic. The big event is set for Wednesday and Thursday at TU’s Michael D. Case Tennis Center and will benefit the Children’s Hospital at St. Francis. This year they will host the largest field of players since the start of the event.
HOLLAND HALL GRADUATE HONORED
UC-Davis women’s goalie Conley Craven ’09, who stopped 10 shots during Sunday’s narrow loss at Brown, was named the NorPac West Defensive Player of the Week. Craven, a junior, played all 70 minutes in the cage for the Aggies, stopping 10 of 13 shots on goal. She had four saves in the first half and turned back six of seven shots in the second. Brown didn’t score until late in th game in a 3-2 win.
’98 ALUMNUS TO OPEN RESTAURANT
Justin Thompson ’98 has a new venture…Juniper in Blue Dome District. Former executive chef at several popular eateries around Tulsa, plans to open his natural foods restaurant next month at 324 E. Third Street, Tulsa, OK. Juniper, named after the tree and cooking berry, will be Thompson’s first effort as an owner and manager. He wants to engage the growing downtown population with a class of restaurant that has mainly been available only in the Brookside or Cherry Street districts.
Nelson to guest on ‘Modern Family’
Tim Blake Nelson ’82 will appear on the third season’s premiere, airing September 21 on ABC. He’ll play a cowboy who works a dude ranch in Wyoming, the destination for the gang’s family vacation.
THE BEST OF THE BEST 2011
Congratulations are in order for Holland Hall alumni! Their accomplishments were recognized in the July issue of Oklahoma Magazine – The Best of The Best 2011.
- Brett Baker ’89 – Best Staffing Agency – Part-Time Pros
- Paula Chapman Marshall ’71 – CEO – CEO of The Bama Companies
- LeAnne Erwin Taylor ’80 – Local TV Personality – KOTV Channel 6
- Justin Thompson ’98 – Chef – The Brasserie Restaurant & Bar
Max Frey ’08 in NCAA Division III Mens Tennis Championships Singles. It marked the first time a Trinity player advanced to the NCAA semifinals since 2005. He came up short unable to advance to the finals. Frey, who played No. 1 singles for the Trinity University Tigers, provided the clinch match for the Tigers’ last three dual-match victories. He will be named an All-American by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association for the third time.
Maggie Brady ’10 named to 2010 National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Academic Squad. The program recognizes those collegiate student-athletes who have achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 through the first semester of the 2010-11 academic year. Maggie is attending Brown University and playing Division I field hockey.
Tulsa World transitions key editors into new roles. Ashley Parrish ’93 has been named Scene Editor and will supervise the newspaper’s Scene section and Weekend Magazine. A graduate of the University of Tulsa, Parrish had her first job as a copy clerk at the Tulsa World as a high school student. She has been assigned several beats as a reporter and has most recently been an assistant editor in both the Scene and News sections. She and her husband have one son. She is married to Michael Overall, an award-winning reporter for the Tulsa World.
Greg Spencer ’99 runs Walt Disney World Marathon on January 9, 2011. Out of 13,522 runners, Spencer finished 21st with a time of 2:48:47. He was the 20th male to finish and 7th in his age group (30-34). He has completed nine (9) marathons in the following states: Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Arkansas, Georgia, Minnesota, Alabama, Maine and Florida. His next marathon is in April….Boston Marathon.
Copy editor for Tulsa World is honored. Russell LaCour ’75 is in the Oklahoma Association of Black Journalist’s Hall of Fame. He has worked for the Tulsa World since 1999. He is Oklahoma’s state director of the National Association of Black Journalists and was the organization’s regional director for four years. He also has been the Tulsa chapter’s president for much of the past 11 years. Award was presented at a December 2010 luncheon in Oklahoma City, OK.
Robin Flint Ballenger ’63 and Judy Zarrow Kishner ’66 were inducted into the Tulsa Hall of Fame in November 2010.
Ballenger is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, and the third generation owner and first chairwoman of the Flintco Cos. Inc. Flintco is the largest American Indian-owned construction company in the world.
Kishner is president of the Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation, a trustee of the Zarrow Families Foundation and a manager of the Zarrow Family Office. She works to end chronic homelessness in Tulsa as a co-chairwoman of “Building Tulsa, Building Lives.”
Denny Mask Named SCAC Defensive Player of the Week. (October 4, 2010) The 2009 graduate led the sixth-ranked Trinity University Tigers to a 1-1 record last week. The taut Tiger defense, and Mask, allowed just four shots in the 3-0 shutout over Rowan.
Tulsa’s Nelson busy with projects (Tulsa World 8/20/10) Holland Hall graduate Tim Blake Nelson ’82 has up to a half-dozen film projects and a TV series in the works. He has a role in “The Big Year” with Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson which is scheduled to be released in 2011. He is currently filming in NYC with director Tony Kaye…”American History X”
Tulsa Press Club celebrates renovation with honoring Bobby Lorton ’87 and family. As a result of the Lorton family’s commitment – both to the community and TU – Dave Lawson, chairman of the TU board of trustees, was honored to celebrate their contributions to Tulsa’s news community by the unveiling of the Lorton Family Media Lounge on July 15, 2010.
Max Frey ’08 played No. 1 singles for Trinity (Texas), an NCAA Division III school in San Antonio. Frey finished the season with a 9-7 singles and 9-4 doubles record. In addition to his All-American honors, he earned Southern College Athletic Association’s player of the year, made the SCAC all-tournament team and received the sportsmanship award. (6/5/09)
After 22 years as the University of Oklahoma tennis coach, Paul Lockwood ’71 announces retirement. He won 325 matches as coach and was the conference coach of the year in 1991 and 1992. His teams won 13 singles and nine double championships on the conference level. (5/19/09)
Jeff Dillion ’98 Awarded First Place Honors in the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa 2009 Parade of Homes. On June 23, 2009, Jeff won three awards for his entry in the Greater Tulsa 2009 Parade of Homes. Building under the name Legend Homes, L.L.C., Jeff’s entry in the Parade of Homes won trophies for First Place Overall, First Place in Merchandising, and a Wow Factor Achievement Award. These three awards were for his entry within the category of $240,000-$299,999 price range. His award-winning home can be seen at 1704 E. Dover Street in the Fairway Park addition of Broken Arrow. Please visit Jeff’s Legend Homes website at www.legendhomesok.com. A virtual tour of the Parade Home can be viewed at www.Obeo.com/545571
Brian Wilson ’79 gave an address for the second consecutive year at the Advanced Placement Annual Conference. He spoke on “The Place’s The Thing: Dostoevsky’s St. Petersburg, Joyce’s Dublin and Woolf’s London.” Last year in Seattle, WA, he spoke on “Death, Transcendence and Transfiguration: The Poetry of Whitman and Dickinson.” Brian currently teaches AP Literature and Composition at Trinity Valley School, a member of the Southwest Preparatory Conference.
Greg Spencer ’99 recognized by Tulsa World. After graduating from Holland Hall, Greg headed to Hendrix College, where he ran track and cross country. He has returned to his alma mater as varsity cross country coach. Spencer isn’t above lacing up the shoes and running alongside his cross country athletes. Quote from athletic director Steve Heldebrand…”Greg’s best attributes are his passion to running and his ability to infect that passion in his kids.” “Whether it is a talented runner or a first-time runner, Greg has a way to communicate with both.”
To make the renovation to the nation’s largest Student Union even better, Oklahoma State University administrators said one core group of individuals needed to have their voices heard during the project —the students. Adam Spencer ’05 was one of three students consulted. Students worked hand-in-hand with architects during the process. Renovations began in September.
Holland Hall graduate and now Los Angeles-based filmmaker Todd Lincoln ’95 seems to have his most promising film project to date lined up. “Apparition” is based on Lincoln’s original screenplay and he will direct the film, a story about a supernatural being that is freed during an experiment by college students. The film is scheduled to begin production in February for Dark Castle production company. Todd has been working in LA for several years making videos and commercials. He has also operated, along with his longtime local pal Jeremy Lamberton, the 10-year run of the Tulsa Overground Film Festival.
James McColl ’06, a junior at West Point, was pictured in USA Today. See link below.
Subject: Article in USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2009-12-02-west-point-obama_N.htm <http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2009-12-02-west-point-obama_N.htm>
Sarah Catalano ’04, Naval Academy graduate, has returned from a 7 month deployment aboard a destroyer which was part of an attack force in the Middle East. The Catalano family met Sarah’s ship in Hawaii and traveled with her to San Diego. She will be home for Christmas.
Holland Hall graduate Karen Gallagher ’84 of Chapman University has been putting together a series of programs to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Her university is one of 29 academic institutions nationwide to receive a grant from the German Embassy to commemorate this occasion. To learn more about Karen’s work, please see the two links that appeared on the German Missions Website, Chapman University.
http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/__PR/GKs/LOSA/2009/11/12ChapmanFWW.html
http://www.chapman.edu/wilkinson/freedomwithoutwalls
Paula Marshall ’71 has released her new book – Finding the Soul of Big Business. More information below.
Yorkshire Author Paula Marshall on Fox Business
December 7, 2009 in Yorkshire Author
Here is a link to Paula’s interview on Fox Business as well as her website:
The 12/15/09 Tulsa World announces In the Raw sushi restaurant owners, Tara and Greg Hughes ’84 are hoping to roll the local chain into the first sushi chain with a nationwide presence. The Hugheses started In the Raw in 1998 in Brookside, have signed a franchising deal with a local restaurant marketer, Beautiful Brands International, to put franchises across the country. They own five In the Raw restaurants — three in Tulsa, including one inside the BOK Center, and in Oklahoma City and Norman. While attending the University of California in LA, he fell in love with sushi. After teaching himself how to roll sushi and taking six months of classes, he opened the restaurant. According to Beautiful Brands International owner David Rutkauskas, In the Raw might be the most upscale restaurant in his portfolio.
A one-night only screening of he documentary “Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders” was featured at Cinemark Tulsa on 12/14/09. According to the web site, the organization “is an international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect or catastrophe.” Tulsa anesthesiologist Deborah Jenkins ’75, isn’t featured in the film, but the Holland Hall graduate, who will attend the screening, has plenty of stories to tell from her own experiences with Doctors Without Borders. Since 2002, Jenkins has worked in Sri Lanka in south Asia; the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa; Haiti; Ivory Coast in west Africa; and Chad in central Africa. In February, Jenkins plans to spend a minimum of six months in Amman, Jordan, through Doctors Without Borders. While there, she’ll serve as hospital director of a reconstructive surgery project for civilian Iraqis injured in the war. Jenkins said her motivation to work with DWB comes down to fulfillment. “There’s something inside that’s like an urge, ” she said. “It gets fulfilled when you go out into the field, because you go to areas with the greatest need You feel like you’re really doing something. For me, it seems like I’m whole.”
Holland Hall graduate to officiate the 2010 Super Bowl. Greg Meyer ’77 is an NFL official and is a member of the officiating crew for the Super Bowl scheduled for Sunday, February 7, 2010.
