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Summer 2024

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Fall 2002

An expert on human evolution, a long-distance driver

Grover S. Krantz, world-renowned anthropologist and longtime Washington State University professor, died on February 14, 2002 in Port Angeles, Washington after an  eight-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Professor Krantz, or Grover, as everyone knew him, was born November 5, 1931, in Salt Lake City. He obtained a B.A. and M.A. in anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley.

After receiving his doctorate from the University of Minnesota in 1968, Grover came to the Department of Anthropology at WSU in 1968. When he came to Pullman, Grover planned to spend a “couple of years at WSU.” Those couple of years turned into 30, until he … » More …

Fall 2002

From Russia with Love: Cougar matryoshka dolls a big hit

Sue Senner’s (’80 Comm.) travels occasionally take her to places like Chornobyl, Ukraine, and Moscow, Russia. She is a project manager for the International Nuclear Safety Program (INSP) at Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland.

For several years, she has provided communications support to international nuclear safety groups. She also manages a safety project for the Bilibino Nuclear Power Plant in northeastern Russia, currently helping staff there coordinate an emergency preparedness exercise for later this summer.

“We want to assure that appropriate procedures are in place and staff are trained to handle an emergency situation,” she said in May. Ultimately, she said, “We’re working … » More …

Fall 2002

Graduate School alumni honored during centennial

To mark a century of graduate education at Washington State University, nine alumni, one from each academic college, were honored with the Graduate Alumni Achievement Award at an April 16 recognition luncheon. The award was established in 2000 by the WSU Graduate School. This year’s recipients were Joseph Jwu-Shan Jen, Agriculture and Home Economics; Gary Brinson, Business and Economics; Herbert M. Berg, Education; Edmund O. Schweitzer III, Engineering and Architecture; Michael Yellowbear Holloman, Liberal Arts; Gary E. Isom, Pharmacy; Gordon D. Hager, Sciences; Janice M. Linehan, Nursing; and Travis C. McGuire, Veterinary Medicine.

Joseph Jwu-Shan Jen (’64 M.S. Food Science), Washington, D.C., is undersecretary of … » More …

Fall 2002

Palmers want to give others hope for the future

Sometime in the near future Perry Palmer and his wife, Marcie, want to return to the Colville Indian Reservation. Young students there lack good role models, as well as incentives, Perry says. They need to be made aware of opportunities for advanced education and benefit from them as the Palmers have.

Perry completed a master’s degree in education at Washington State University in May. Marcie will finish her doctorate in counseling psychology next May.

Both are members of the Colville Confederated Tribes. They met on the reservation, where Marcie spent three years as a social worker for Child Protective Services, and were married there in … » More …

Fall 2002

Each on his own merits

Identical triplets Donald, Jack, and Joseph Claros appear to be mirror images—5 feet, 4 inches tall, 125 pounds, whitewall haircuts, small wire rimmed glasses. They are soft-spoken, polite, and typically respond to questions from their elders with a “Yes sir” or “No madam.” Sometimes they dress the same—camouflage fatigues or dress green uniforms—as Army ROTC cadets at Washington State University.

Jack (architectural studies) and Donald (communications) received their degrees and Army commissions May 11. Joseph switched from interior design to communications. He will graduate in December.

The military has been a means to an end for the brothers, helping them finance their college education and … » More …

Fall 2002

Whispered prayers

On the floor of Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum, Native American children dressed in full regalia run off steam before the grand dance at the Pah-Loots-Pu Powwow this Saturday night in April. One of them is Red Bear McCloud, the 5-year-old son of arena director Russell McCloud, seated at the announcer’s platform in jeans and a crimson wind jacket. Father looks on at son unhurriedly. The grand dance is scheduled for 6 p.m., an hour away, but McCloud knows it will most likely be later. Always factor in Indian time—about half an hour more than what’s advertised.

“I grew up going to powwows,” McCloud says. He … » More …

Fall 2002

From farm to College Hill, the migration continues

When Don Appel left the family farm at Endicott in the 1930s to enroll at Washington State College, he didn’t know what he was starting. Or where it would end.

Unfortunately, failing eyesight ultimately forced him to withdraw from school one semester short of graduating. He returned to farming but continued to stress the importance of education. In 1979 he was awarded a degree in engineering. Now all nine of his children hold Washington State University degrees. They were followed by a third generation of graduates. A fourth is in the queue.

Dick Appel (’59 Agri. Engr.), Don’s oldest, was the first in the family … » More …

Fall 2002

Gillies receives Alumni Achievement Award

Cliff Gillies, longtime executive director of the Washington Intercollegiate Activities Association (WIAA, 1982-93) and former president of the National Federation of State High Schools Association (1990-91), has received the Washington State University Alumni Achievement Award. The award was presented February 4 during the 2002 Man of the Year banquet in South Bend, Washington.

Gillies was recognized for leadership and service to the youth of Washington as a teacher, coach, counselor, principal, assistant superintendent, and as executive director of the WIAA during a career that spanned more than 40 years.

As executive director of the WIAA, Gillies and his staff were responsible for overseeing athletics for … » More …