1980-1989
Walter "Chip" Colvin '80 retired from North American Lawn and Landscape in Charlotte, NC, after 20 years as manager of the Tree Farm Division. He cultivated a rotating stock of 50,000 shade and ornamental trees on a 500-acre farm. Until he decides on his next career, he plans to travel with his wife, Sabrina, expand his vineyard, and not set an alarm clock. (11/24)
David Kaufman '81 announced his retirement from Capital University in Bexley, OH, at the end of the 2024-25 academic year. He joined Capital as interim president in July 2020 and was officially appointed president in July 2021. During his tenure, the university expanded access to its liberal arts education through scholarships, a partnership with Columbus State Community College, and a tuition-match program. (06/25)
Alumni Profile
Tim Tuttle '81 Musical Finds Light and Hope After 9/11
Read More (11/24)
Blanca Little '82 (second from left) has worked as director of All Nations Christian Academy, a private, Christian school she founded, for the past 17 years. She loves her job and the school's mission of preparing at-risk children with an excellent education and character formation. Blanca also recently visited Cleveland with her husband, Geoff. There, they were able to reconnect with Blanca's former OWU roommate, Sherry Vigliotti Waskowski '82, and her husband Glenn. (06/25)
Jeffrey Coursen '85 was appointed CEO of Evolve IP, a provider of remote solutions for distributed workforces. He joined Evolve IP in 2017 as CFO and strategic adviser, and he has more than 20 years of experience in operations and strategic planning in the technology industry. (11/24)
Roger Nabedian '85 joined the board of directors at DRINK, a provider of eCommerce solutions to alcohol producers, retailers, and eCommerce merchants. Roger recently retired from E&J Gallo Winery, the world's largest family-owned beverage company, after 37 years. (06/25)
Richard Somes '85 published his debut novel, Lightning's Shadow, a conspiracy thriller. He is currently working on the sequel. (11/24)
Robert Vadas '85 received the 2022 Worthy Coelacanth Award from the Washington-British Columbia Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, as well as the Western Division of the American Fisheries Society's President's Award of Special Recognition. These awards recognize his work on Snake River issues, as well as his service as a member of the Resource Policy and Environmental Concerns Committee of the American Fisheries Society. (11/24)
Eugene "Clay" Mowry IV '86 was named CEO at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Clay is a globally-recognized space industry executive with experience across the international aerospace community, previously serving at companies such as Vast, Voyager Space, and Blue Origin. He also serves as president of the International Astronautical Federation, the world's largest space nonprofit. (06/25)
Darrel Gibson '87 was appointed VP of development for the Home Builders Institute, based in Washington, DC. HBI is the nation's leading nonprofit provider of trade skills training and education for the building industry, training the next generation of skilled tradespeople. (06/25)
Christopher McComish '87 was named a 2024 C-Suite Award recipient by Pittsburgh Business Times. The award recognizes executives who have demonstrated the highest level of business savvy and vital leadership in the Pittsburgh metro area. Christopher has been the CEO of S&T Bank since 2021, coming into the role with more than 37 years of financial service experience. (06/25)
Phillip Morris '87 was named opinion editor and vice president at the Minnesota Star Tribune, the state's largest news organization. Phillip is an award-winning editorial writer and twotime Pulitzer Prize finalist, dedicating nearly 30 years at the Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH), where he served as an editorial writer and metro columnist. (11/24)
Frederick Powe '87 was named president of Phillips Theological Seminary (OK). He previously served as director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership and the James C. Logan Chair in Evangelism at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. (06/25)
Kenneth Young '87 was named president and CEO of United Church Homes (UCH), a nonprofit senior living organization. He has more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience at UCH, most recently as president. (06/25)
OWU Friendships
The Five Bishops: Courage and Camaraderie
By Eric Buer '88
The story of the Five Bishops illustrates how a shared journey and shared experiences can bring together the most unlikely cast of characters. It all began in the fall of 1984, when I started my college journey in Delaware, OH. Having grown up experiencing and expecting change due to frequent moves, I could hardly anticipate the profound impact this time would have on me. The friendships I forged and the lessons I learned during these years would serve me well over the next three decades.
However, how we responded when tragedy struck validated what we all knew—our OWU experience was a master class in resiliency.
My time as an athlete opened the door to a remarkable group of individuals, many of whom would become like brothers to me in our fraternity. Like any family, we encountered our fair share of challenges, conflicts, and competitive moments. Yet, through all this, we discovered the value of adaptability, empathy, trust, and loyalty. While the path wasn't always smooth, each hurdle ultimately contributed to our growth and unity, unknowingly creating a stronger bond with Ohio Wesleyan and our small band of brothers.
It would take some time, but the tale of the Five Bishops profoundly illustrates how our shared journey prepared us for adversity. It began in 2012, with the heartbreaking loss of Lou Corrao '87 to heart disease. This loss was compounded by the courageous battle fought by Paul Sclafani '90 against brain cancer and the struggles endured by Mike Warnes '90 through years of trauma. However, by 2024, we found renewed hope in the inspiring stories of Dan O'Neill '87, a Hall of Famer who bravely overcame cancer, and Bobby Betcher '87, who triumphed over heart disease.
In the face of such tragedy, we realized that our sense of invincibility is truly a privilege, not something guaranteed. These shared experiences have strengthened our bonds and illustrated our resilience, reminding us of the strength found in unity and compassion.
Please send your stories of OWU Friendships to OWU Magazine. (06/25)
Victoria Joshua Gresh '88 was appointed executive director of the Ohio Assisted Living Association. She has more than 28 years of nonprofit leadership experience, previously serving as the executive director at the Ohio Physical Therapy Association for almost 12 years. (11/24)
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.