Updates

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1948 | James L. Wadsworth (BS ’48, JD George Washington University ’52; Kathleen; Panaca, Nev.) coauthored the book We Knew Howard Hughes:
A Collection of Memoirs.

1958 | Ralph L. Richardson (BS ’58; Norma Welch [’60]; Heber City, Utah) retired from the U.S. Postal Service after 22 years. Previously he had spent 10 years as a dairy herdsman. Richardson has completed his fourth year as a bishop in Heber City. He has seven children and 22 grandchildren.

1959 | Paul C. Smith (BS ’59, MS ’63; Sandra Adams [’60]; Kaysville, Utah) was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame for his distinguished service. Smith’s educational career spanned 50 years, and he was a key figure in the Utah High School Activities Association.

1960 | Jim P. O’Brien (BS ’60, MS ’61;
Anna; Fallbrook, Calif.) was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Head baseball coach at Los Angeles Harbor College from 1976 to 1990, O’Brien was a three-time national community college coach of the year.

1963 | Shannon Webber Martindale
(BS ’63; Don; Ivins, Utah) published her first book, Seeking Psychology in Scripture: Translating Doctrine into Tools for the Self-Help Treatment of Depression and Stress-Related Disorders.

1967 | Richard K. Circuit (BA ’67, JD University of Utah ’70, LLM New York University ’71; Lou Ann Walker [BA ’68]; La Jolla, Calif.) was inducted into the San Diego Bowl Game Association Hall of Fame. Circuit has been a volunteer of the San Diego Bowl Game Association since 1978 and has served on the board of directors
for almost three decades.

1969 | Carla Baier Kelly (BA ’69; Martin L. [BA ’69, PhD ’84]; Wellington, Utah) published Carla Kelly’s Christmas Collection, which features four short stories: “The Christmas Ornament,” “Make a Joyful Noise,” “An Object of Charity,” and “The Three Kings.” Kent J. Olsen (BA ’69, MA ’71; Kay; Claypool, Ariz.) has published Sarah’s Summer Adventures: The Compass Cactus with Kari Kinnard Pratt. He has also contributed to the books Chamorro and Toddler Bedtime Stories with Cassidy and Cindy Dog.

1970 | Michael J. Barrett (BS ’70, JD University of Utah ’73; Tonda; Ashburn, Va.) has been presented with the Central Intelligence Agency’s Career Intelligence Medal by General David Petraeus and the National Reconnaissance Office Meritorious Service Medal. He retired from the CIA after 36 years of service.

1972 | James E. Faulconer (BA ’72, MA Pennsylvania State University ’75, PhD Pennsylvania State University ’77; Janice Allen [BS ’70, MEd ’71]; Provo) coedited Common Ground—Different Opinions: Latter-day Saints and Contemporary Issues, a volume that explores Latter-day Saint perspectives on a variety of current issues, such as environmentalism, political partisanship, and stem-cell research.

1974 | Rick D. Nydegger (BS ’74, JD ’77; Denise; Highland, Utah) was named Salt Lake City Patent Law Lawyer of the Year in The Best Lawyers in America 2014. He founded Workman Nydegger, an intellectual-property law firm. Randy M. Olsen (BA ’74, JD ’77; Jerri Jeffries [BS ’72]; Fairbanks, Alaska) retired as a superior court judge for the Fourth Judicial District in Fairbanks, Alaska.

1975 | Wendy Watson Nelson (MS ’75, PhD University of Calgary ’84; Elder Russell M. Nelson; Salt Lake City) published The Not Even Once Club, a children’s book that focuses on the importance of keeping the commandments. Nelson, who holds a PhD in family therapy and gerontology, provides a guide at the end of the book to help parents and children discuss modesty, pornography, obedience, and repentance. Thomas R. Vuksinick (BS ’75, JD ’79; Lori; Salt Lake City), a senior member of Workman Nydegger’s litigation group, has been named Salt Lake City Patent Litigation Lawyer of the Year in the 2014 edition of The Best Lawyers
in America.

1976 | Stephen J. Stirling (BA ’76; Diane Leigh [BA ’79]; Gilbert, Ariz.) published Shedding Light on the Dark Side: Defeating the Forces of Evil, a guide to help youth understand the adversary and his tactics.

1977 | T. C. Christensen (BA ’77; Katy; Centerville, Utah) wrote the forward for the book 250 Great Movies for Latter-day Families. As a director, producer, and writer, Christensen has been involved in several films, including Ephraim’s Rescue, 17 Miracles, and The Work and the Glory.

1978 | Brent P. Lorimer (BA ’78, JD ’82; Leslie Thacker [’80]; Salt Lake City), managing partner of Workman Nydegger, was designated by The Best Lawyers in America 2014 as a Salt Lake City Lawyer of the Year in the categories of intellectual property litigation and trademark law. Randy A. Wardwell (BS ’78; Stacey; Lehi, Utah) has been named president of FPS GOLD, a Provo-based software company that provides core data-processing services to community banks in the United States.

1979 | Darrell K. Brown (BA ’79; Lise Baer [BS ’77]; Salt Lake City) has been appointed president of KSL Broadcast Group, a division of Bonneville International. Brown will oversee day-to-day operations for KSL Television, KSL NewsRadio, and other Salt Lake City–based radio stations. He was previously president of McGraw-Hill Broadcasting Company.

1983 | Gustaf R. Andreasen (BA ’83, JD ’87; Jennifer; Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.), a Howard & Howard attorney practicing franchise law, was named to DBusiness magazine’s Top Lawyers 2014 list.

1984 | Ronald E. Bartholomew (BA ’84, MA ’89, PhD University of Buckingham ’06; Kristen Buckwalter [BGS ’12]; Orem, Utah) was honored with the Best International Article Award by the Mormon History Association for “The Role of Local Missionaries in Nineteenth-Century England.” J. Terry Gorton (BA ’84, MA ’91; Lisa Bargeron [BA ’91]; Rexburg, Idaho) published Messiah Made Manifest: Exploring the Book of Mormon as a Temple. Gorton teaches at BYU–Idaho.

1986 | Laurel “Lark” Evans Galli (MA ’86; Craig D. [BA ’82, MA ’84]; Salt Lake City) cowrote Under a Leafless Tree: The Story of a Mormon Girl from East Prussia, the memoir of a Prussian survivor during World War II.

1987 | R. Dix Baines (BFA ’87; Kathlyn Gogarty [BS ’83]; Parker, Colo.), a full-time artist for the last 16 years, completed a commission of the St. George Temple titled Exalted Above the Hills. His other works include Lehi’s Dream, First Fly, and First Step.

1988 | Clark C. Peterson (BS ’88; M. Kendall Henze [BS ’90]; Mesa, Ariz.), CEO of Telesphere, was the recipient of the 2013 Ed Denison Business Leader of the Year Award by the Arizona Technology Council.

1990 | J. Gary Daynes (BA ’90, MA University of Delaware ’96, PhD University of Delaware ’96; Kristine Schneider [BA ’88, MBA ’07]; Wilson, N.C.) was named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Barton College.

1994 | Kumnan “Karen” Namkung (BS ’94, MA Santa Clara University ’99; Spokane Valley, Wash.) has been accepted to Gonzaga University for a PhD in leadership studies.

1997 | Amy Lee Gabbitas (BM ’97, MM ’99; Richard W. [BA ’99, MA ’10]; Springville, Utah) helped found and is the head of education for Aspen Winds, a woodwind quintet. Gabbitas is the principal clarinetist in the Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra and regularly performs with the Utah Wind Symphony.

1999 | Gary A. Christopher (BS ’99, MS ’01, PhD Texas Woman’s University ’09; Elizabeth Eldridge [’88]; Oskaloosa, Iowa), an associate professor of exercise science, was named chair of the Health and Life Sciences Division at William Penn University. Brandon O. Dalling (BS ’99, JD ’02; Brooklyn, N.Y.) has been promoted to counsel at Latham & Watkins in its New York office. Dalling is a member of the finance department. Vernon G. Dickson (BA ’99, PhD Arizona State University ’07; Danielle Schaugaard [BS ’97]; Davie, Fla.) published his first book, Emulation on the Shakespearean Stage. He has been awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor of English at Florida International University. Annalisa Holgerson Hall (BA ’99; Geoffrey M. [BFA ’04]; Poway, Calif.) published her first children’s book, The Holy Ghost Is Like a Blanket.

2001 | Susan Krueger-Barber (BFA ’01; Brad A. [BA ’01]; Provo) created eight artworks for the book Field Notes on Language and Kinship.

2002| Brock R. Lyle (BA ’02, JD Washington University in St. Louis ’05; Laura Thomas [MS ’05]; Belmont, Calif.) has been promoted to partner at Ropers Majeski Kohn & Bentley, where his primary focus is civil litigation. Lyle serves as Silicon Valley Chapter chair of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society and is on the board of directors for the San Mateo County Bar Association.

2003 | Trent F. Crow (BS ’03, MS ’07; Eve Schnebly [BS ’06]; Concord, Calif.) worked on character shadowing for Disney Pixar’s Monsters University. Gregory G. Johnson (BS ’03, JD University of the Pacific ’06; Beckie Hill [BS ’98, MAcc ’98]; Highlands Ranch, Colo.) has joined Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s intellectual property group, where he will counsel clients on preparation and prosecution of patent and design applications, infringement analysis, and validity reviews. Adam G. Sidwell (BFA ’03; Michelle; Los Angeles) published the children’s novels Evertaster, The Buttersmith’s Gold, and The Delicious City. A creature technical director, Sidwell has worked on films such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Thor, and Pacific Rim.

2004 | Rebecca Myler Rode (BS ’04; Francis; Orem, Utah) published How to Have Peace When You’re Falling to Pieces,
an inspirational book based in part on what she learned as a marriage, family, and human development major and has experienced as a mother of three children.

2005 | Melinda “Mindy” Boyce Cone (BS ’05; W. Randall [BS ’05]; Vacaville, Calif.), founder of the blog Creative Juice, published the cookbook Gourmet French Macarons, which has more than 75 recipes.

2006 | Renee Underwood Collins (BA ’06; Benjamin M. [BA ’05]; Fruita, Colo.) released her first novel, Relic, a young adult fantasy book about magic in the Old West. Rebecca Enyeart Romney (BA ’06, BA ’06; Josh; Las Vegas), the manager of Bauman Rare Books in Las Vegas, has been featured as the book expert on History’s Pawn Stars.

2007 | Jonathan T. Decker (BS ’07, MS Auburn University ’10; Alicia; St. George, Utah) published 250 Great Movies for Latter-Day Families, which features synopses, reviews, and gospel-discussion guides.

2008 | Jonathan V. Hoffman (BFA ’08; Brittany; Palmetto, Ga.) contributed to character shadowing for Disney Pixar’s Monsters University. Katie Mayer Lewis (BS ’08; Bryan G. [BS ’11]; Columbus, Ohio) published Simple Sewing: 30 Fast and Easy Projects for Beginners. Justin F. White (BA ’08; Anna Snyder [BM ’07]; Riverside, Calif.) coedited the book Common Ground—Different Opinions: Latter-day Saints and Contemporary Issues, a volume that explores Latter-day Saint perspectives on a variety of current issues, such as environmentalism, political partisanship, and stem-cell research.

2009 | Christie Burgon Sowby (BM ’09, MM ’12; Robert B. [BS ’12, BA ’12]; Cottonwood Heights, Utah), a professional pianist and teacher, is working on her doctorate in piano performance. She also codeveloped two music-education apps, Visual Piano Scales and Piano Technique, with her husband. Michael D. Young (BA ’09, MEd Western Governors University ’13; Jennifer Fox [’06]; Eagle Mountain, Utah) hosted a Christmas concert to kick off the release of his second short-story anthology, Carol of the Tales and Other Nightly Noels: An Advent Anthology. Proceeds from the concert went to Autism Speaks.

2012 | Robert B. Sowby (BS ’12, BA ’12, MEng Massachusetts Institute of Technology ’13; Christie Burgon [BM ’09, MM ’12]; Cottonwood Heights, Utah) earned a master’s degree in engineering from MIT and self-published his first book, The Other Side of Robnoxious, about his childhood. He also codeveloped two music-education apps, Visual Piano Scales and Piano Technique, with his wife. J Travis Washburn (MA ’12; Provo) published Ecksdot; his earlier published works are Dear Jeff and Inklings.

2013 | Scott E. Walker (BS ’13; Corvallis, Ore.) is the CEO of Underwater Audio, which was recognized as the no. 1 student-run business by Utah Student 25. Walker is also a business analyst for Hewlett-Packard.