HPER inducts alumni into hall of honor

The ESU Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation has inducted 15 former students into its Alumni Hall of Honor. The award recognizes graduates who have achieved prominence in their field or have made a significant contribution of service to ESU and the HPER department.

Awardees include:

Bill Tidwell of Emporia, a 1958 M.S. graduate who was chair of HPER, as well as coach of track and field and cross-country. Tidwell was a trainer and instructor in the American Sport Education Program and a participant in Olympic trials.

Lee Beran of Emporia, a 1959 B.S.E. graduate who was director of recreation in Emporia for 38 years. Beran obtained several grants for the community, including the one that established the present city recreation center.

Glen Lojka of Manhattan, a 1960 B.S.E. and 1964 M.S. graduate. Lojka developed a premier leisure studies academic program at ESU and has developed academic student internships at the state, national and international levels.

Ranier Martens of Champaign, Ill., a 1964 B.S.E. graduate who was promoted to the rank of professor at the University of Illinois before the age of 30. He is founder and president of Human Kinetics, founder and director of the American Sport Education program and author of over 200 scholarly articles and 15 books. "Successful Coaching" has sold over 1 million copies.

Vickie Denies of Hoxie, a 1965 B.S.E. graduate who has earned multiple statewide professional honors, assisted in the development and training of the "Physical Dimensions" curriculum. She is a Kansas "Secondary Physical Educator of the Year."

Norma Hodges of Emporia, a 1965 B.S.E. and 1980 M.S. graduate who has served as chair of the physical education department at Emporia High School. Hodges is a Kansas "Secondary Physical Educator of the Year.

Garry Patterson of Manhattan, a 1966 B.S.E. graduate who has served as physical education coordinator for the Manhattan school district and began the districts elementary physical education program. A former Butcher School teacher, Patterson has been an honored participant in state and national professional organizations.

Kelly Rankin of Vancouver, Wash., a 1970 "specialist in education" graduate with an Ed.D. from the University of Kansas and later served as a faculty member at the University of Oregon. Rankin is the founder of the company "tworopeguys.com."

Deon Hall of Emporia, a 1975 B.S.E. and 1992 M.S. graduate who has been named Kansas "Elementary Educator of the Year." She is on of the Emporia school district's Physical Education for Progress grant recipients and an active presenter at regional, state and national workshops.

Michelle Dilisio of Chanute, a 1979 B.S.E graduate who has been named Kansas "Secondary Physical Educator of the Year, "4A State Girls Tennis Coach of the Year," and "Kansas Master Teacher."

Judith Calhoun of Emporia, a 1980 B.S.E. graduate who presently serves as chair of the ESU nursing program. She was involved with development and implementation of the ESU Newman Division of Nursing. She is vice-chair of the Heartland Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society and has helped to develop Camp Hope, a retreat for children with cancer.

Gary English of Little Falls N.Y., a 1981 M.S. graduate with a Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico. English has served as chair of the health, physical education and recreation department at Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y. He was appointed by the governor to the New York Tobacco Advisory Board and has served as director of the New York Center for Healthy Schools.

Jeff McAdoo of Ottawa, a 1984 B.S.E and 1998 M.S. graduate who has been named a Milken Family Foundation National Educator and Lawrence School District Teacher of the Year. McAdoo was an ESU Outstanding Recent Graduate in 2001.

Penny Lyter of Racine, Wisc., a 1985 B.S.E. and 1987 M.S. graduate who earned a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She has served as department chair of health, physical education and athletics at the University of Wisconsin at Parkside. She is a recipient of the Stella Gray Teaching Excellence Award and a speaker and presented at numerous international conferences.

DawnElla Rust of Nagadoches, Texas, a 1989 M.S. graduate who has won the Excellence in teaching award from Stephen F. Austin State University. She was a Texas representative at the Art and Science of Health Promotion Conference in Washington, D.C.

Last Updated July 2, 2007>