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News and events about alumni

Updated 6/19/09

We had the big summer bid day party at my parent's house on Lake Hamilton around 1978.  There were 125 in the group picture.  It was an 8 keg affair, and it was intense.  We managed to sink the boat dock, etc.  At about 9 pm, I was exhausted and lying down when the phone rang.  Everyone was staying at the Lake Hamilton Holiday Inn, and they wanted to know if we had a keg left.  I said yes and loaded the last one in the car and took it to them.  They actually ended up riding the keg in the pool like it was a bucking bronco, and opening the tap to drink beer from it, as the sun rose.
 
There were 2 Pikes and 2 females that rode up the elevator together that morning.  When they got off, a father and son were standing at the door, waiting to get on the elevator.  As the 4 walked down the hall, Scott S. heard the father say, "You better remember this, because you will probably never see anything like it again."
 
Fast forward about 7 years.  My wife and I had just arrived in Venice, Italy (by train, and mid-morning), and we were standing in a line to check our bags, so we could walk and boat around until we could check into our hotel.  Two men were standing in line behind me, and one said, "I know you.  You live in Hot Springs, don't you?"  I said yes and he said, "You're an attorney, aren't you?  I said yes and then he stated: "We were at your party!"  They had just finished their MBA programs and were "taking the tour" while they were still students and didn't care much about staying in 4 star hotels.  Moral:  My parties have been talked about around the world!     David Love '73

Updated  5/16/09

Mack Koonce has informed us that Charles T. Adams of Hughes, AR, entered Chapter Eternal on Wednesday, May 13.  He is survived by his wife, Gail Elliott Adams, a former Dream Girl.  Mack did not elaborate on children. If anyone would like to call, the home number is 870-339-2894.  His email address was caadamsar@sbcglobal.net. Mack mentioned the "Mole Hole" and some other things.  Why don't we circulate some stories about his time at UA?
 
David Love '73

Updated 4/25/09

SEARCY - Jack Reed Gardner, M.D., died Friday, April 24, 2009, at his home. Dr. Gardner was born Oct. 5, 1932, in Memphis, Tenn., to Ruby Reed and James L. Gardner, who preceded him in death. He was raised in Wynne, where he graduated from Wynne High School. Dr. Gardner went on the University of Arkansas and received his medical degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in 1961. He interned at St. Vincent Infirmary, did a fellowship in surgery with Dr. Henry Hollenberg, and an OB/GYN residency at UAMS.

In 1964, Dr. Gardner and his family moved to Searcy where he practiced medicine for 42 years. Dr. Gardner was instrumental in the building of White County Hospital where he served as 4th Chief of Staff. Dr. Gardner was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He served in the United States Air Force and was a faithful member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Searcy, where he served on the vestry for many years. In his retirement, Dr. Gardner ran a gynecology clinic for St. Vincent Infirmary at St. Francis House in Little Rock.

He is survived by his wife Anne; daughter, Libby; son, Reed and his wife, Joy; granddaughters, Meg and Kate. He is also survived by a brother Gen. James L Gardner of Charleston, South Carolina; a sister, Jan Gattis of Little Rock.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be sent to the Trinity Episcopal Church Building Fund, The Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Research Center; or the charity of your choice.

Visitation will be at Powell Funeral Home in Searcy on Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services for family and close friends will be Monday, April 27, at 2 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Searcy. Arrangements entrusted to Powell Funeral Homes. www.powellfuneralhome.net.

Updated 6/7/2008

GUY R. RAMSEY, 74, of Memphis, passed away on Monday, November 12, 2007, at the Overton Park Health Care Center.  The family has arranged for a memorial service to be held at Family Funeral Care in Memphis, (901) 761-8000.  The date and time have yet to be determined. 

 

Mr. Ramsey was born in Peach Orchard, Arkansas, to Letha Allbright Ramsey and Theodore Eugene Ramsey.  He attended Paragould High School, and received a degree in Architecture from the University of Arkansas.  Mr. Ramsey served in the Naval Air Cadets during the Korean War and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.  For over 40 years he enjoyed a successful career in large-scale commercial construction, as an architectural coordinator and an award-winning interior design specialist.  Mr. Ramsey served as a project manager or consultant for the building and refurbishing of hotels, resorts, and conference facilities in the United States, Canada, Central and South America, Europe, and Asia. 

 

In the early 1960’s, Mr. Ramsey was one of two principal architects responsible for the design of the ‘Eden Isle’ resort near Heber Springs, Arkansas.  His family is especially proud of his work on the ‘Red Apple Inn’ lodge, the hotel restaurant of the same name, the original Eden Isle Marina, and many of the older residences overlooking Greer’s Ferry Lake.

 

Mr. Ramsey is survived by his wife of 52 years, Margot O’Dell Ramsey, his daughters, Michelle Charbonnet and Rise Maxwell of Memphis, his son Mike Ramsey of San Diego, and his five grandchildren:  Clare Charbonnet, Jim Charbonnet, Kate Charbonnet, Adam Nathan and Ben Nathan. 

 

Mrs. Ramsey asks that any memorial gifts be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association, West Tennessee Region, 326 Ellsworth Street, Memphis, Tennessee, 38111. 

 

I have been in contact with Ginny and King Pharr and she told me that in 2006 King had a stroke and is no longer able to walk or have use of his left arm.  She went on to say his mind is as sharp as ever and he enjoyed hearing from old friends, brothers, etc.  He was in my pledge class fall - 56.  They are retired in Wi. and true to his raising, King made his living in the canning business.  Headed up the kraut division for Hunt Br. Canning Co. She went on to say please share his e-mail address (kingpharr@sbcglobal.net) with all in hope of hearing from old friends. 

 

 Thanks,  Ralph Griggs
 

Ryan Van Pelt, SMC, and the members and 40 fall pledges of AZ have cordially invited the alumni to visit the chapter house on Auburn game day, October 13, from 4:00-5:00 pm.  Snacks and courtesy soft drinks will be provided, and a cash bar will be available. The kick-off is at 6:45 pm, because the game has been picked for telecast by ESPN.  The students do not have assigned seating, so they must leave for the stadium at 5:00, to get decent seats for the game. 

 
If you have extra tickets for the game, email me and I will put you in touch with an alumnus who needs tickets.  If you are an alumnus who needs tickets, email me and I will notify you if tickets become available from another alumnus.
 
If you are still reading this, send me every Pike email address in your directory.  We need them for our records, and it won't take but a minute to send them.  Do it now!  No research involved.  David Love '73 Dlove5555@aol.com

 

David Gruenwald at 68 Years old completed the 50 Mile Bike race from North Little Rock to Mayflower and Return.

 

Jerry E. Baker, 67, of Mountain Home died Sunday, May 20, 2007. A funeral will be 10 a.m. Thursday at First Christian Church with the Rev. Jerrel Venable officiating and interment following at Mountain Home Cemetery. Visitation will be noon-9 p.m. Wednesday at Roller Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m.
He was born July 29, 1939, in Mountain Home Jerry E. Baker to Leo· Francis and Dorothy Lee Robertson Baker. A member of a pioneer Baxter County family, Mr. Baker was a lifetime area native and lifelong farmer. He also worked for his father at Baker Motor Co. He worked as loan officer at First National Bank & Trust Co., owned Baker Pharmacy for six years in Gainesville, Mo., and was a partner with his uncle, T.J. McCabe, in Trico Oil Co. He served on the National Advisory Board of Gulf Oil Co. He also owned the Jerry Baker and Company Real Estate office. A lifetime member of First Christian Church, he served on the North Central Foundation for Higher Education and was a u.s. Army veteran. He married Shirley Unrath Gordon Dec. 10, 1977, in Mountain Home.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley A. Baker of the home; four daughters, Elizabeth Baker of Fayetteville, Jennifer Kasinger of Mountain Home, Amy Gordon of Little Rock and Jeri Ann (Charles) Olson of Van Buren; one brother, Don (Alice) Baker, and one sister, Sissy (Calvin) Czeschin, all of Mountain Home; two grandchildren, Daniel and Lyndsie Kasinger; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials may be made to Mountain Home Cemetery Fund . or Hospice of the Ozarks.
Arrangements are by Roller Funeral Home. Visit an online guestbook at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.

CHARLES DAVID WARD, age 67, died on Wednesday, March 28, 2007, after a lengthy illness. He was born July 24, 1939, in Conway, Ark. to the late David H. and Bertha Ward. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Ward of Little Rock; four children and their spouses, Douglas and Evelyn Ward of Beebe, David and Angela Ward of North Little Rock, Dr. Erin and Amir Hekmatpour of Denver, Colo., and Kris and Peter Panagopolous of Little Rock; his sister, Dr. Wanda Jean Stephens of Little Rock; and his brother Steve Ward and wife Elaine of Conway; and five grandchildren: Hunter and Leah Ward, Isabel Panagopolous, Yasmine Hekmatpour and Ashley Macek.
   Charles attended University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, and pledged with Phi Kappa Alpha fraternity. In 1959, he moved to Austin, Texas, to start his career in the school-bus manufacturing industry. In January 1968, Charles became President and CEO of Ward Industries, a school-bus manufacturing company in Conway. He constructed the largest school-bus factory in the free world, adopted modern technology in the manufacturing and management divisions, and expanded into international markets. In 1970, Charles led the initiative for the first and most comprehensive specifications to strengthen school-bus safety, and the Arkansas Jaycees named him as Outstanding Young Man of the Year.
   In 1969, was Charles selected as a member of the Young Leadership Council for the Democratic Party. That same year, he founded Demographics Inc., to provide commercial and political data processing services. He led the recruitment of a strong management team which later purchased the business and transformed it into Acxiom Corp., a leader in the information industry. In 1970, Charles was instrumental in the campaign to elect Dale Bumpers as Governor of Arkansas. During the 1972 presidential campaign, Charles was the chairman of the official committee to Draft Wilbur D. Mills for President. As our state's Democratic National Committeeman, he helped to forge an agreement at the Democratic Mid-Term Convention at Kansas City in 1974, which led to the adoption of the first official charter by a U.S. political party. One of his contributions to the party charter was a rule requiring open meetings at all levels of the party. He supported Robert Strauss in his nomination to become Chairman of the Democratic Party, and he was member of the site selection and credentials committees for the 1976 convention.
   Charles was a avid sportsman who enjoyed deep-sea fishing, freshwater fishing, hunting deer and duck. He loved to travel and he made long-lasting friendships in every corner of the world. In his later years, was an entrepreneur in the computer database industry and land development, he enjoyed practicing hobbies like digital photography, and raising Rottweiler dogs.
   Memorial service will be 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 31st at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home, 8th and Vine Streets in Conway. Visitation will be Friday, March 30, 2007, from 5:30 until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Entombment will be in CedarVale Mausoleum at Hot Springs Village, Ark. Arrangements are under the direction of CedarVale Funeral Home Of Hot Springs Village, Ark., (501) 922-6100.