Northeastern names 10 Centurions in honor of Founders Day 2011

(Tahlequah)--In celebration of Northeastern State University's Founders Day 2011, the university will add 10 names to its list of NSU Centurions. Founders Day commemorates the day the Oklahoma legislature purchased the Cherokee National Female Seminary and created the Northeastern State Normal School on March 6, 1909.

The 2011 Centurions are Dr. Brad Agnew, Bertie Jean Kirk Carter, Dr. Kenneth and Dr. Marjorie Holland, Dr. Vernon Isom, C.H. Parker, Dr. Sue Ellen Read, Charlie and Jo Ellen Rogers, Harold "Tuffy" Stratton, Dr. Donald Studebaker and Dr. Earl Williams.

An annual tradition established during the 2009 Centennial Founders Day Celebration, the Centurion honor is given to members of the NSU familyalumni, faculty, staff and students, whether past or presentwho impacted the life of the nominator, the Northeastern community or the public at large.

This years Centurions will be honored during a special luncheon held Friday, March 4 in the University Center Rozell Ballroom in Tahlequah at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under.

Listed are those who will join the Centurion roster in 2011:

Dr. Brad Agnew
Dr. Brad Agnew is a native Oklahoman whose family came to the Unassigned Land in 1889. After serving a four-year tour in the U.S. Army in Germany and several posts in the United States, he returned to the University of Oklahoma where he earned his masters and a Ph.D. degrees in history. He began teaching at Northeastern State University in 1968, served as director of the library, chair of the geography and history department, and director of the M.A. program in American Studies. His main area of historical research focuses on Oklahoma and its people. He has written several books, many articles and book reviews, and a half dozen slide-tape and television documentaries. He also wrote Roots from the Cherokees, Promises for Our Future: The Chronicle of Northeastern State University, the complete history of NSU. His wife, Sue, worked in the campus bookstore before retiring in the 90s, and remains an active volunteer on campus and in the community.

Bertie Jean Kirk Carter
Bertie Jean Kirk Carter, an active member of the Tahlequah community, earned a bachelor's degree in 1964 and master's in home economics in 1966 from Northeastern State University. She began her teaching career at Union Public Schools before joining Tahlequah Public Schools. She served as food service director at TPS and then served as a food consultant to the Oklahoma Department of Education. She also worked part-time in the NSU College of Education mentoring first-year teachers. Carter was a recipient of the Outstanding Service Award from the Tahlequah branch of the American Association of University Women, where she served a term as president. She was also active in the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Tahlequah Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. She served as president of the NSU Foundation board. Her daughter, Dr. Karen Carey, is an assistant professor of educational foundations and leadership in the College of Education and director of the NSU Honors Program.

Dr. Kenneth and Dr. Marjorie Holland
Drs. Kenneth and Marjorie Holland dedicated their lives to educating the students of Northeastern State University. Marjorie served as professor of English, dean of the College of Arts and Letters and dean of the Graduate College. A professor of health and physical education, Kenneth taught undergraduate and graduate courses for 22 years while also coaching football, basketball and tennis. A decorated U.S. Marine who served during WWII, Ken is also a member of the NSU Athletic Hall of Fame.

Dr. Vernon Isom
A 1953 graduate of Northeastern State University, Dr. Vernon Isom was an outstanding student and four-year letterman for the Redmen baseball team, and was later initiated into the NSU Athletic Hall of Fame. He led the team in victories and strikeouts during his four-year career. He taught in the Oklahoma City public schools, where he was chosen as Oklahoma City Teacher of the Year. He joined the faculty at Central Missouri University, then returned to his alma mater as a an associate professor of industrial arts in 1969. He was named chair of Practical Arts in 1971, and continued educating students until his retirement in 1993, when he retired as professor and chair of the technology department. His wife, Joan, is a retiree from the NSU English department.

C.H. Parker
A longtime music instructor and director at Northeastern State University, C.H. Parker helped found the River City Players and Downtown Country, Branson-style shows that have become staples of the local summer arts scene. During his years running the live-music showcases, he touched the lives numerous student performers, including country superstar and NSU alumna Carrie Underwood. Parker joined the NSU faculty in 1979, teaching speech and drama. During his time at NSU, Parker served on the Indian Heritage Committee. He helped found the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and has produced every Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Induction Concert since its inception. He received the 2009 Governors Award from the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2009.

Dr. Sue Ellen Read
For more than 25 years, Dr. Sue Ellen Read has been training future educators of Oklahoma at Northeastern State University. A professor of educational foundation and leadership in the College of Education, Read has brought national and international recognition to the university through her work and research in learning styles. Read established the Oklahoma Institute of Learning Styles at NSU, which provides services to over 200 schools statewide. Read received her associate degree from Eastern Oklahoma State College in 1962, bachelors degree from NSU in 1964, masters from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1971 and PhD. from the University of Oklahoma in 1987.

Charlie and Jo Ellen Rogers
Charlie and Jo Ellen Rogers influenced the lives of many during their time at Northeastern State University. During Charlies 29-year career, he carried some of the heaviest class loads in the social science department. Charlie started his tenure at NSU as the university photographer, and went on to teach classes in political science, geography and photography. Jo Ellen began working as a secretary in 1963, became a purchasing agent in 1973 and was named placement director in 1988. Strong advocates of development on main street, the Rogers owned and operated the Dream Theater in downtown Tahlequah during the 70s and 80s. Charlie retired in 1992 and Jo Ellen followed in 1996.

Harold Tuffy Stratton
Harold Tuffy Stratton served as head football coach at Northeastern State University in 1955 and led the Redmen to their first national championship in 1958. During his six-year career at Northeastern, the Redmen captured three Oklahoma collegiate conference championships and were selected as the No. 1 football team in the nation by the NAIA and the Washington, D.C. Touchdown Club. A 1950 graduate of Northeastern, Stratton served in WWII and played football professionally for the Chicago Rockets before beginning his coaching career.

Dr. Donald Studebaker
Though retiring in May 2011, the legacy of Dr. Donald Studebaker on the music department and students at Northeastern State University will continue for years to come. Joining the faculty at NSU in 1984 as director of Choral Activities, Studebaker instilled his passion for music in the performers of the University Singers and the University/Community Chorus. He has conducted the Northeastern Oklahoma Symphony, and concerts in England, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the U.S. including performances at Carnegie Hall. In 2004, he received the Oklahoma Governor's Arts Award for Education.

Dr. Earl Williams
During his 31-year career at Northeastern State University, Dr. Earl Williams helped develop relevant business programs to instill in his students the skills needed to succeed in a competitive marketplace. Joining the faculty of Northeastern in 1968 as an assistant professor of economics, he went on to become chair of the Business Division in 1971 and was named dean of the College of Business in 1989. Williams worked tirelessly to help students develop the analytical and communication skills necessary to succeed in their careers. He retired in 1999 and remains an active volunteer in the Tahlequah community. His wife, Dr. Susie Williams, taught family and consumer sciences at NSU and retired in 2000.

For more information or to purchase tickets to the Centurion luncheon, call 918-444-2018. Visit the Centurions page to see a complete list of the past Centurions.