1960-1969
John Thomas '61 was posthumously honored by the Japan Society of Northern California, where he was one of their longest-serving board members. JSNC instituted the Sunbridge/John Thomas Emerging Leader Award to be given at the annual US-Japan Innovation Awards Symposium, and they launched the annual John Thomas US-Japan Innovation Lecture. (11/24)
Mary King '62 was recognized as a prominent scholar in Marquis Who's Who, a chronicle of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from significant fields. She is noted as a distinguished scholar of Mohandas K. Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., prizewinning author of multiple books, and civil rights leader. She received the Distinguished Achievement Citation from OWU in 1989 and was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, NY, in 1992. (06/25)
Darrell Lauer '62 & '65 writes about what Branch Rickey 1904 means to him: "In the spring of 1964, I was having a great deal of trouble with my voice. One of the voice faculty at OWU suggested that I go to St. Louis and consult Oren Brown, a cofounder of voice therapy in America. One of my Delta Tau Delta brothers was Branch B. Rickey '67. He called his grandfather who invited me to stay with him. When I arrived, he prepared a meal for me. He told me the story of Jackie Robinson and how he broke the color barrier in baseball. After spending that tremendous time working with Oren Brown and staying with Branch Rickey, I returned to OWU and finished my degree in music education.
"My wife and I moved to New York City and began our professional careers, Kristin teaching at Fordham University for 42 years before retiring and myself establishing my singing and teaching career. As a tenor soloist I have performed with symphonic and choral organizations throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. In recital, I gave sold-out performances in Carnegie Hall and Merkin Concert Hall. In opera, I performed leading roles with Opera Theater of New York, Central City Opera, and St. Paul Opera.
"My teaching of singing and voice therapy career started in 1970 and has continued to the present. I have taught singing and voice therapy at Concordia College, Hofstra University, and, since 1998, at Yeshiva University. When I have a new vocal client struggling with the same type of problems that dogged me, I often think of Branch Rickey and all that he gave to others and his commitment to his ideals." (11/24)
Carole Lohr '62 was hiking on Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree National Park in California when she was surprised to encounter a group of OWU students on a Spring Break Wilderness Trek, led by Associate Chaplain William Hayes. Pictured from left: Jonathan Munroe '24, Hayden Kelner '27, Etta Pierce '26, Hallee Limes '24, Lohr, Logan McFarland '27, Hayes, Abbie Kline '24, Jennifer Allen '25, Mostafa Anwari '26, and Kristen Landenberger '24. (11/24)
Robert Michael '64 is celebrating 60 years of post-OWU life. He is retired from the University of Chicago and spends half of his year in Chicago and half in Vermont with his partner. His two children are doing well, one in Ann Arbor and the other in San Francisco, each married and with kids. Robert asks his classmates: "Do you remember Professor Loyd Easton, who taught philosophy?" Robert spent more than 30 years teaching social policy at the University of Chicago and recently reread Easton's book, Ethics, Policy, and Social Ends, which reminded him how much he learned from the professor and how lucky they were at OWU for such a teacher. is celebrating 60 years of post-OWU life. He is retired from the University of Chicago and spends half of his year in Chicago and half in Vermont with his partner. His two children are doing well, one in Ann Arbor and the other in San Francisco, each married and with kids. Robert asks his classmates: "Do you remember Professor Loyd Easton, who taught philosophy?" Robert spent more than 30 years teaching social policy at the University of Chicago and recently reread Easton's book, Ethics, Policy, and Social Ends, which reminded him how much he learned from the professor and how lucky they were at OWU for such a teacher. (11/24)
James Goode '67 helped lead an effort to clean the gravesites of some of the founding fathers of Phi Delta Theta. Phi Delta Theta alumni brothers living in the Ashland and Mansfield (OH) area meet regularly, and twice in 2024 they met to clean the gravesites of two of the six founding fathers of the fraternity. (06/25)
Earl Runde '67 was appointed to a second 4-year term on the Maryland State Board of Long Term Care Administrators. This board licenses and supervises nursing home and assisted living managers, and manages an administrator training program leading to the LTCA license. Earl retired as an assistant warden for the Maryland Division of Correction and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at OWU. (11/24)
Arthur Keown '69 was awarded professor emeritus status at Virginia Tech University. In his 49 years at Virginia Tech, he designed and taught a variety of courses across the finance curriculum; received several teaching awards; published his research in top journals, including the Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, and Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis; and wrote six college textbooks. (11/24)
Thomas Palmer '69 and Susan Palmer H'23 received the Outstanding Philanthropists Award during Association of Fundraising Professionals of Northwest Ohio's Philanthropy Day in November 2024. According to the organization's website, this day is to honor those who, through their hard work and dedication, have advanced philanthropy, enhanced community, and created positive change. (06/25)
Sue Swan Bennington '69 received the Spirit of Philanthropy Award from the Delaware County Foundation (OH) for her decades-long commitment to civic and charitable causes and her generosity. She had an instrumental role in fundraising for Grady Memorial Hospital, served on multiple boards, including with Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, and was the first woman president of the Delaware Rotary Club. (06/25)
We Want to Hear From You
Please send us your news using the Class Notes Submission Form. Or email your news to classnotes@owu.edu. Submissions may be edited for space or clarity.
You can also submit your news to:
Attn: Class Notes Editor
OWU Magazine
Ohio Wesleyan University
Mowry Alumni Center
61 S. Sandusky St.
Delaware, OH 43015
Include your name and class year as well as a daytime phone number. Photos are welcome.
The deadline for receiving Class Notes submissions for the Fall 2025 OWU Magazine is August 1, 2025.