I want to give the magazine and Addy Hatch kudos for another wonderful article from [our university’s history] in the Spring 2026 magazine. We never would have known about Catherine Roberts Frasier and all she accomplished had her story not been written in the magazine. Articles like this always surprise me and make yours the very best alumni magazine I have ever read.
Barbara A. Petite x’76
There are many Gay Selby truthisms about superintendent-board relationships ringing in my ears daily. Fond memories!
Jeff Hardesty ’97 English, Ed., ’18 EdD
[ The Spring 2026 issue memorialized WSU alum and education faculty member Gay Selby. ]
I wish to compliment the magazine staff on your excellent publication. I look forward to reading every issue of Washington State Magazine because I learn so much about my alma mater and the exceptional work that is happening at WSU.
I was motivated to write after reading the recent Summer 2026 articles “The Legacy Stays Alive” and “Redford’s Palouse Legacy.” Both articles bring pride to alums because they illustrate program creativity, openness to new ideas, and willingness to experiment.
Edward R. Murrow spoke at my graduation in 1962. I still am thrilled that he was our commencement speaker, but I have no idea what he said. Somehow when one is graduating there is so much excitement that the thoughtful words of commencement speakers don’t stay in the memory bank. It could be quite interesting to review that commencement address to see if any part of it would be worth sharing with your readers so many years later. If you have any advice on how I could access his address, I would be delighted.
Thank you for bringing us the WSU of today and the remarkable work that is happening at the university. Your publication is beautiful, readable, and brings enormous pride.
Earlyse Allen Swift ’62 Ed.
[ Editor’s note: Thank you for the kind words, Earlyse. Our colleagues at WSU Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections posted Murrow’s 1962 commencement speech on a YouTube video. You can listen to it via magazine.wsu.edu/extra/Murrow-1962. ]
Correction
In the Summer 2026 profile of Kevin Peterson, former architecture professor Jack Jackson’s last name was incorrect.
Washington State Magazine turns 25!
WSU’s magazine has delivered stories of research, history, alumni, sports, food, and more since 2001. Visit our website to see a retrospective of Washington State Magazine. You can also find how to get the two magazine anthologies that collect the best of 25 years’ worth of articles.