Wayne Norris
Distinguished Volunteer

Wayne Norris (’65) has a goal of giving back to Clarion University and getting others to help in the process. Two years ago, Norris was instrumental in forming the Alpha Gamma Phi Alumni Association. He researched and funded the expenses to organize a core group, which has grown to over 200 members.

"During my time on campus, fraternities were a larger part of the campus life," says Norris. "I made many lifelong friends from the fraternity. Alpha Gamma Phi ceased to exist on campus after 1974, so I decided to start an alumni association. Our membership includes Thomas Wilson, an original founding member of the fraternity from 1930 and former Clarion professors now retired."

Norris' goal was to revive the old traditional Gamma spirit that was so much a part of Clarion's past. By getting the scholarship fund going he felt this would show those not familiar his fraternity what they were capable of achieving, even though they are no longer on campus.

Initially the goal was $25,000, but $40,000 is already collected. Norris feels certain that they will be over $50,000.00 by the time their reunion rolls around in October. "We want to keep it going and have the scholarship fund grow as much as possible," says Norris. The Gammas have issued a challenge to other fraternities to start their own scholarship drives.

Norris helped organize homecoming reunions for the Gammas in 2000 and 2001. It is now an annual event where scholarship money is raised through a variety of raffles and events. There is also a winter golf outing in Florida to raise money and involve alumni from that area.

Norris also gives to the University by serving as a director on the Clarion University Foundation." Harry Tripp, the Foundation's managing director has done a great job seeking money for the University"' he says. "This is a good strong board with strong leadership. Many positive things are being planned for Clarion."

Originally from Export, Norris says, "I came to Clarion because several other people from my town attended Clarion and liked it, the cost was right, and I liked the outdoors environment. It allowed me to combine my interests."

Entering college as a history/geography major, Norris credits Dr. Edward Grejda for changing his direction to English." I unknowingly transferred to Dr. Grejda's class that was comprised of all English majors, he recalls. "I was struggling to keep up and he helped me get on track. I appreciated his help so much that I switched my major to English."

Norris taught for several years, but found out he didn't enjoy the classroom. "My father had just started his own business and I decided to join him full time" He is now the President of Dura-Bond Industries of Export, Pa. Dura-Bond owns and operates a steel fabrication business; pipe coating plants; a railroad and various real estate investments.

Summing up, Norris said, "In the end, Clarion is the winner We want to give back for what it gave to us, a great education. Going to Clarion was a great experience for me. I had a great time"

Norris and his wife, Jackie, live in the Greensburg area. They have four children, Jason, Ryan, Sara, and Adam. Jason and his wife, Jenifer (Sopher), both 1991, and Ryan (’97) are Clarion grdautes. Both sons work with their father in his business. A nephew, Derek Norris will be a freshman at Clarion starting with the fall semester.

Brigadier General (US Army Retired) John Schmader
Distinguished Achievement

John Schmader (’70) has converted his Clarion education and a Vietnam-era draft notice to an outstanding career in the U.S. Army. Schmader received a Distinguished Service Medal during his recent retirement ceremony that ended his 32-year Army career.

At the end of 2001, Schmader was one of the early leaders in the War on Terrorism, following September 11 attacks. He was detached from his post as assistant Chief of Staff for Training-West, Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., to U.S. Army Central Command and helped in the development of the operation concept that led to the air and ground operation plan used during the first three months of the campaign. He went to Afghanistan, met with the senior anti-Taliban leaders, viewed the extent of the bombing campaign, and was a block away from the Mazar-e Saharif prison uprising.

Schmader believes the war hinges on a law of physics, which he learned at Clarion. "Physics teaches that there is a center of gravity that holds forces together," he says. "There is a cascading effect if it is gone. Most countries have a tangible center of gravity that is linked to the state. Afghanistan's center is their allegiance to tribes. They see war as an allegiance to people not to a country. Some inter-tribal problems are emerging now and they will fight for control regardless of what the government tells them to do."

Schmader came to Clarion University to wrestle. He joined head coach Bob Bubb's early teams and had a 7-6-2 record with three pins. His degree is in natural sciences with a concentration in physics. Graduating at the height of the Vietnam War he had the lowest draft number in Clarion in the first draft lottery.

One he enlisted, the army appealed to Schmader. He went to airborne school and become a paratrooper, completed officer's candidate school at Ft. Benning, Ga., served with an armor division in Germany, and attended officer advance school eventually served 12 years in the 82nd Airborne Division. He continued his education, receiving a master's degree in industrial engineering from Purdue University, and a master's of military arts and sciences degree from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

During the 1991 Gulf War, Schmader was commander of the 1st Battalion 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment, one of the lead elements in Operation Desert Storm. In 1995, Schmader accepted a joint assignment at Norfolk, Va., setting up a training program for advance decision making. He returned to the 82nd Airborne as a one star general and most recently was director of collective training for the U.S. Army.

"I feel it is not only an honor for me but a recognition of the contribution of our Army to this great nation of ours," says Schmader. "It is the latter rather than the former that makes old soldiers such as myself proud to stand up and be recognized for any contributions we have made to the cause for freedom."

Schmader and his wife, Kathleen, have three children, Trevor, Mary, and Anne. Trevor graduated from Clarion University in 1999 with a degree in molecular biology and is pursuing his masters degree in molecular biology.

Dr. Diane L. Reinhard
Distinguished Service

President Diane L. Reinhard is receiving one of many honors that will come her way prior to retiring on July 1, 2003. She has served as president since June 1, 1990.

"My time at Clarion has been the high point of my professional career," said Reinhard. "I have been privileged to work with an outstanding group of students, faculty, and staff and have enjoyed the dedication and support of a fine Council of Trustees."

Reinhard has presided over some of the most dramatic changes in the institution’s history. Among the achievements were: increased enrollment; affirmation of Clarion’s academic strengths by specialized accreditations; improvement of facilities through renovation of Founders and Harvey Halls and construction of a student recreation center and the new Carlson Library; and the completion of Clarion’s first fund raising program which brought in $11.34 million, 40 percent over the goal. She also took a leadership role in community-university relations.

Clarion’s 14^th president, came to campus in 1990 from West Virginia University, where she was serving as dean of the College of Human Resources and Education. She also served as acting president of West Virginia University from July 1985-April 1986.

Reinhard received her B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. She taught at every level from elementary school through college. She also was an assistant/associate dean for the College of Education at the University of Oregon, prior to joining West Virginia University.

"It has been an honor to serve this institution and I would be pleased to continue my service any way I can after my retirement," said Reinhard. "I’m also looking forward to attending the Autumn Leaf Festival on a regular basis as a private citizen."

Dr. Kathleen A. Smith
Distinguished Faculty

Dr. Kathleen Smith (M.Ed. ’69, M.S. ’81), interim dean of the College of Education and Human Services and the director of field services, is the recipient of the 2002 Distinguished Faculty Award.

Smith, a veteran educator, entered the profession so that she could be a part of "changing" it to make learning better for students. "I wanted to make learning more enjoyable and fun for students," she said. Over the past 36 years, 30 of them at Clarion, she has had to opportunity to teach thousands of future teacher educators.

Graduating in 1966 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Smith’s first classroom was 33 third graders in the Punxsutawney School District. "This first group of students inspired me so much," she recalls. "They made me realize how important I was as a teacher in their lives. They inspired me to teach and to teach well."

Smith started her association with Clarion University in 1967, joining the college’s first master’s of education degree program. In 1973, she returned to Clarion again, at the invitation of Dr. John McLain, to become a faculty member in the Flexible All Year School.

"That was a magnificent experience," said Smith. "We developed our own curriculum, team taught, and functioned like a non-graded primary. Students progressed at their own academic rates. The school was a novel concept, ahead of its time."

When the school closed in 1980, Smith joined the faculty of the special education department, teaching classes while also working toward a M.S. degree in special education. Subsequently, she enrolled in a doctoral program at the Pennsylvania State University and obtained her Ph.D in instructional design and technology, with an emphasis in computers in education.

In 1983, Smith was assigned to teach Clarion’s initial microcomputer for teacher educators course. This was followed by a course for pre-service teachers which, in 1984, became a required computer course for all education majors. Smith designed the education department’s first computer laboratory and also co-authored a computer book.

From 1989-95, Smith was chair of the education department. She returned to full-time teaching and designed an Internet class to teach its applications to graduate students and inservice teachers.

"I am fascinated by the Internet," she said. I believe it is the greatest education invention since the pencil. I feel fortunate that I have been able to see and experience all of these changes in education. Computer technology and the Internet has positively changed education, learning and living."

Two years ago, Smith moved into her present position. She plans to retire at the conclusion of the Fall, 2002 semester and continue her research project of assessing science process skills of students in elementary and middle school. To date, the assessment instruments which were developed for her dissertation, are being used in several schools across the United States, as well as some international sites.

"I love teaching and have a passion for the profession," she concludes. "I have always loved working with students and teachers and I have a special love for Clarion University because it has given me the opportunity to do just that. I am greatly honored to receive the Distinguished Faculty Award."

Dr. Richard Sabousky
Venango Campus Distinguished Alumni

Dr. Richard Sabousky (’84, M.S. ’86) is an assistant professor of special education and rehabilitation at Clarion University, teaching courses at Venango Campus and at Clarion. Clarion led Sabousky into teaching.

The Oil City native started his college education with two years at the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville before coming home to Venango Campus. "I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do when I came to Venango Campus," he recalls.

He first three semesters at Venango Campus were devoted to human service oriented activities with an intention of going into a health field. That changed when he took classes at Clarion. "I wasn’t going to be a teacher until I got to Clarion," says Sabousky. "In my block experience, I got to work with kids and I was hooked."

Sabousky went on to earn both his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Clarion in special education and his Ph.D. in special education from Kent State University in 1996. "I realized how good Venango Campus and Clarion University were academically when I went to other colleges," he says.

Sabousky worked as a full-time substitute and as a learning support teacher in the Keystone School District and as learning support, emotional support, and work skills teacher for Riverview Intermediate Unit #6. In that position, he worked as an emotional support teacher in the DuBois School District, and a work skills teacher at Venango Vo-Tech. He joined the faculty at Venango Campus in 1992.

At Venango, Sabousky played key roles in developing the occupational therapy assistants program and in developing graduate and undergraduate courses for the special education and rehabilitative sciences departments. He served as the secretary and chair for the Venango Campus Faculty Forum, and was a member of the Advising Committee and Perkins Grant Committee.

Sabousky evaluates Venango Campus by saying, "Venango teaches responsibility through its mix of adult and traditional students. You get a feel for problems you did not encounter before. You have to be responsible to yourself and be your own advocate. The small classes provide an intimate educational setting."

Sabousky calls receiving the Venango Campus Distinguished Alumni Award at commencement, "One of the most memorable days of my life. Being able to speak at the commencement ceremony was a wonderful thing for me to do. I want all students to have the best experiences they can have. I am very proud of the students. It is a big thing to watch them move along to success."

In the community, Sabousky helps in the Fund Raising for Huber, Knight, & Heasley scholarships. He and his band provide music for several campus functions such as the 40th Anniversary Celebration and on campus student concerts. He serves on the board of Youth Alternatives and assists Zion Lutheran Church with the City Zion Lutheran After School Program where he tutors children in reading.

Sabousky’s parents, Robert and Helen, live in Oil City.

Anne Smith Herr
Distinguished Alumni

Anne (Smith) Herr (’44) of Lancaster, is a pioneer in the field of television. She graduated from Clarion with a B.S. degree in English.

Working first as a legal secretary, Herr moved east with her late husband, Jacob, and found a 30-year career at WGAL-TV in Lancaster. Her assignments ranged from live commercials and straight announcing to writing and producing.

"I was interested in music and was one of the founders of a theatre group in the Lancaster area," recalls Herr. "Television was in its early stages and they were looking for people to do commercials. I was called and asked to audition."

Herr moved from commercials at WGAL to being their weather girl. She is noted for taking the job from the then current standard of being a pretty face, to becoming a knowledgeable and respected reporter by studying meteorology.

"It was a challenge," says Herr about the massive memorization of material. "Because TV was just starting there were not many rules and regulations. We flew by the seat of our pants."

Beginning in 1963, she wrote and produced her own show, "Herr Today," which presented newsworthy events and personality interviews. Her efforts led to her selection as 1964 "Speaker of the Year" by the Pennsylvania Speech Association.

Herr was named Public Affairs Commentator for WGAL in 1975. She wrote and produced her own show until 1981. From 1978-81, she was also women’s program director and presented "World of Women" dealing with opportunities and provocative problems of women in that time. She retired from television in 1981.

"I am proud I was one of the early women in broadcasting," she says. "Viewers still remember me when they see me in the grocery store. Television then was not as plastic as it is now. We did our own thing as long as it was not in bad taste."

During and following her television career, Herr devoted time to local theatrical productions. She appeared with Harrisburg Community Players, Musicomedy Guild, Kiwanis Productions, The Actors Company of Pennsylvania, Mount Gretna Playhouse, Dutch Apple Theatre, Ephrata Performing Arts, and Rainbow Productions.

Herr performed in high school productions, but got her stage training at Clarion from Marie Marwick. "I performed in several Clarion shows," she recalls. "I thought it was fun and I loved to perform because you are not yourself when you are on stage. Miss Marwick was a good drama teacher and I learned self confidence from her."

A Brookville native, Herr spent two years in college at Indiana, Pa., studying to be a fashion designer, before transferring to Clarion. She switched to English, "Because it was easy and I liked to write. I had very good English courses. A history course taught by Dr. Ralph Cordier also was important when I worked as a tour guide after I retired from television."

Herr also met her future husband, Jacob Herr an Army Air Corp cadet, while she was a student at Clarion

She has served on the board of directors of Ephrata Playhouse and on the board of the Rock Ford Foundation, a group dedicated to the continued restoration and maintenance of Rockford, the 18^th Century home of George Washington’s Adjutant General, Edward Hand, M.D. She still does readings, but no longer acts in theatre productions. She is a member of the board of the Lancaster Summer Arts Festival.

Herr lives in Lancaster. She has a son, Geoffrey.

Lawrence E. "Larry" Richert
Distinguished Alumni

Larry Richert (’81) ascended to the top of early morning Pittsburgh radio January 2, when he took over as host of the morning drive program at KDKA-Radio. He became the stations sixth morning host in its 80 year history, replacing John Cigna.

"Being a part of the morning show is a combination of everything I ever wanted to do in my broadcasting career," said Richert. "I always wanted to do radio . . . and television if I was lucky."

His career has led him down both paths, something he never thought possible when he first hit the airwaves as a teenager at North Allegheny High School, then later at the radio and television stations at Clarion University.

While at Clarion, Richert co-hosted the first television show that the school delivered to the town via cable, "Community Update" – a 15-minute show that provided information on community activities. He also worked spinning records for WCCB, which could only be picked up in the dorms, and WCUC-FM, where he later was named the sports director and then general manager for the student-run station. This hands-on experience motivated Richert to continue to pursue a broadcast career.

"I was one of the first graduates to combine communications with a broadcast focus," says Richert. "The program was so new at the time that I could put all of my energy into radio and television, which really worked for me. It was an excellent platform to learn about the business and get some experience."

His college work landed him an internship and first job at WDSY-Radio in Pittsburgh. After stints spinning everything from country to oldies music at various stations, Richert hosted the "Wake Up with Larry Richert" morning show on KDKA-TV. Finally, he trained to become a weatherman and could be seen in front of the camera every evening on KDKA-TV.