Alumni Notes
Kevin Crowder
Grad. Year: 1987
Degree: Church Music
Update: I live and work in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where I am the Director of the
Pastoral Care Department at Mary Washington Hospital. My wife (the former Toni Hall
- an HSU grad) and I have been here since 1994. Our daughter, Aubrey, made her debut
in 2000.
I don't think I've played a note on a saxophone or drum since leaving OBU, but I
remain a fairly serious violinist. I play in two orchestras, the Lynchburg Symphony
and the Rappahannock Pops Orchestra. I was appointed the Concertmaster of the RPO
a few years ago. I also do a little free-lance work in a string quartet I founded
with some friends.
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Pam Estes
Grad. Year: 1974
Degree: Music Education
Update: Dear Tigers, Always glad to hear good news about OBU. One of my parishioners
will be attending OBU next year as a piano major, I think. Joe Anderson is extremely
talented—get him in the band!
I came to Hot Springs in June 2006 and was delighted to find Kathie White, OBU 1973
music major is the choir director. This is the second time I’ve had another Tiger
on staff in a United Methodist Church! time was the Rev. John Fimple in Blytheville.
I sing in the choir; play the piano when needed, and play the flute whenever I can.
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Patrick and Misty Faircloth
Grad. Year: 1997/1999
Degree: Music Education
Update: Patrick is beginning his third year as Band Director at Rice Schools in
Rice, TX, where he teaches the 5th grade beginning band, 6th grade band, and the high
school band which consists of 7th through 12th grades.
Misty has just resigned her position of five years as head band director at Collins
Middle School in Corsicana, TX to become Patrick's assistant at Rice. Patrick is
also Worship Leader at Memorial Baptist Church in Corsicana.
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Joyce Stalnaker French
Grad. Year: 1976
Degree: Elementary Education
Update: I am the fiscal officer for the Administrative Officeof the Courts in Little
Rock and have been employed there for 22 years. I am married to Jack French and live
in Cabot, Arkansas. I have one son, Mitchell Duran, who is a senior and will be attending
Henderson State University next year, participating in their aviation program.
I have not been back for a homecoming game since I graduated, but will probably make
it to the 2007 “battle of the ravine” and look forward to seeing the marching band
perform.
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Ross Grant
Grad. Year: 1977
Degree: Music Education
Update: I am in my 4th year at Azle High School in Azle, TX. Our 240-member band
just returned from a 6-day trip to Orlando, where we won Best-In-Class at the Musicfest
Competition.
During 2006-2007 Azle placed 60 students in All-Region, 12 students in All-Area,
and 3 students in the AAAA TX All-State Band. Recent repertoire includes Rimsky-Korsakov'sCapriccio
Espagnole, Respighi'sThe Pines of Rome, Holst's Jupiter, and Weinberger's Polka &
Fugue.
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Bradley Harper
Grad. Year: 1973
Degree: History and Spanish
Update: Currently I am the Commander, US Army Health Center, Vicenza Italy. I still
sing in the chapel choir, so my musical intrests have survived.
I depart here in July to assume my final post as a US Army Officer, as the Chief,
Department of Pathology, Womack Army Hospital, Ft Bragg,
North Carolina.
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Grant Meacham
Grad. Year: 2005
Degree: Music Education
Update: I am currently the band director at Lonoke Middle School, in Lonoke, AR.
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Michael R. Reed
Grad. Year: 2005
Degree: Music Theory/Composition
Update: I am working on my MDiv in Chrisitian Education at New Orleans Baptist Theological
Seminary and working as children's minister at a local church. I am also working
as a recruiter to Baptist Colleges for the seminary (recruiting at OBU 11/1/07) I
am still taking piano and composition lessons, as well as teaching pre-school music
at my church.
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Michael Lusk
Grad. Year: 2001
Degree: Biblical Studies
Update: Kati and I have now been in Marion, AR for 2 years. I am the student minister
at FBC Marion. Kati teaches piano lessons, directs the middle school worship arts
team at church, and leads worship for the students. She interviewed for the high
school and the junior high choir position this past week...so we're praying she will
get one of those positions.
We are expecting our first child in July. It's a girl...her name will be Liliahna Nicole
Lusk. My tuba stays up at the church...I haven't played in quite a while...but the
students use it to play at church on Sunday.
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Christopher Montgomery
Grad. Year: 2007
Degree: Music
Update: I'm currently serving a congregation in PA as the Associate Pastor for Worship,
overseeing all the music, drama, and visual art programs. I'm also pursuing my Master
of Divinity from Biblical Theological Seminary closeby. I miss performing with the
Wind Ensemble; those were good times!
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Rachel Nowell
Grad. Year: 2002
Degree: Early Childhood Education
Update: After I graduated from Ouachita, I served with the IMB for 2 1/2 years as
a Journeyman in Mexico City, Mexico. I taught elementary aged children at a school
for Missionary Kids.
I am currently finishing my M.Div. at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
I will graduate in May '08. I am still waiting on God to show me the plans He has
for me after graduation.
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Brad and Stephanie (Risker) Purtle
Grad. Year: 1999
Degree: Mathematics
Update: Currently, my husband Brad and I live in DeSoto, Texas (Dallas area). He
teaches PreAP Algebra 2 at a local high school and I am a stay at home mom. We have
two boys, Jackson 18 months and Simon 3 months. Jackson loves listening to music,
and he dances all the time. Simon is the sweetest baby and so happy. We are very
proud of them.
We are very happy here and I couldn't be happier to be a mom. We are active in our
church, Brad runs the sound and I am a part of the choir, media team, and nursery.
I also work on the church website.
I really miss being apart of the OBU Band and Wind Ensemble. Being apart of that
program was the best band experience I had. Unfortunately right now, I do not play
percussion, but maybe in the future I will.
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Melissa Smith
Grad. Year: 2006
Degree: Music and Spanish
Update: I was teaching English and an elementary school in China during the 06-07
school year. I just started my first semester at Southwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary and am pursuing an M.Div. degree in International Church Planting.
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Wade Totty
Grad. Year: 1991
Degree: Ministry
Update: I am currently pastoring Rison Baptist Church, Rison, Arkansas. I'm married
to the former Rebecca Boyd. We have two children: Kathryn (5) and Noah (9 months).
I am currently in the Doctor of Ministry program at New Orleans Seminary.
I would love to have a group from OBU come over to perform some time. I'm glad to
hear of the progress being made in the instrumental programs. Keep me posted.
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Derrel Watkins
Grad. Year: 1957
Degree: Sociology
Update: I joined the band in the fall of 1953 when Mr. Putt was the director. We
were using some old navy officer’s uniforms and some military instruments. I think
there were about 30 of us.
Dr. Herbert Cecil came the next year and was able to raise the money to get the band
some new band uniforms and add to the scholarships. Then Dr. Luck took over the music
department and directed the band.
Mr. Francis McBeth was the last director I served under. I borrowed a trumpet that
I played during my first year. During the second year, Dr. Cecil asked if anyone
would like to learn to play trombone. We had 17 trumpet players and only two trombone
players. He offered free lessons so I took him up on it. I truly enjoyed playing
the trombone (I had played a baritone horn one year in high school—treble clef).
I also played in the ROTC band and traveled with the basketball teams with a voluntary
pep-band. About a dozen of us formed a stage band that played “big band” music (Glenn
Miller, Tommy Dorsey, etc.).
I continue to engage in research and writing, specializing in issues involving the
spiritual development of older persons. Two of my books are in the Ouachita library
( Christian Social Ministry and A Practical Theology For Aging . My latest book,
The Spiritual Formation of Older Persons will go to the publisher by the end of this
month. I am also working with some other writers on two new books: one on grandparenting
and the other on the role of siblings in our personality development.
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Bennett Weidemann
Grad. Year: Left in 2001
Degree: Music Education
Update: I am still quite happy living and preforming in Boston with the Air Force
Band. I have been here almost six years now ad I am coming up on my 10 year high
school reunion next year. I'm still in the Air Force Rock (which is called Afterburner
now). I am the tour manager for the band - so when I'm not busy rehearsing or practicing,
I'm on the phone booking all the gigs. Recently we had the pleasure of opening up
for the "Charlie Daniels Band" and "The Commodores." Also, I am just about to release
my second recording with my band.
I still have it in my mind that I will eventually come back to OBU to finish my degree
(just a bachelor in music). But I have had so much success with the band that it
is hard to take a break for a year to wrap it up. I've been promoted to Staff Seargent
(last March) and I have a ton of responsibility. Oh yeah - I had the honor of playing
late President Ford's funeral in Grand Rapids Michigan - that was pretty cool.
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Joe G. Williams
Grad. Year: 1968
Degree: Church Music
Update: I would like to share with you that I am in my 22nd year on staff at First
Baptist Church, Yukon, Oklahoma. I am serving as Minister of Music/Associate Pastor.
My wife Margaret works at the Mothers Day Out Program of our church and we have been
married for 38 years. Our son, Joe II, attended Oklahoma Baptist University and graduated
with a Music Education degree, then received his Masters in Performance at Oklahoma
City University. He is presently head band director at Las Vagas High School, Las
Vegas, Nevada.
