Class Notes

Thomas B. “Tiger” Buford (BSME ’86) has joined the executive management team at Active Implants Corporation (AIC) as its new Vice President for Global Research and Development. He will be responsible for all research and development activities for all products and systems worldwide. Tiger is a patent holder for total joint devices.

Amy de Jongh Curry (BSEE ’92, MS ’94, PhD ’98) was named as a winner in the Memphis Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2009.” Recipients of this award were honored at a luncheon on November 13, 2009. Curry is currently an associate professor in biomedical engineering at the Herff College of Engineering.

Jim Dean (BSET ’80) has been promoted by Orlando-based SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment (formerly known as Busch Entertainment Corp.) to president of its Tampa resort, which includes both Busch Gardens and the Adventure Island water park. He had previously been executive vice president for retail operations at SeaWorld Parks, overseeing merchandise and culinary operations for all 10 of the company’s parks.

David English (BSCE ’95) is the corporate accounts manager for Liberty Building Systems. He has been working for the company for seven years. Liberty Building Systems consults with customers on energy efficient and green building solutions.

Randy Gentry (BSCE ’91, MS ’96, PhD ’98) has been named the new president and CEO of the University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF), the not-for-profit organization responsible for commercializing technology that emerges from the University of Tennessee.

John L. McAlpin (BSME ’82) has been appointed as President and COO by Velocity Express, a leading nationwide provider of same-day transportation and logistics services and solutions. McAlpin has been charged with continuing to emphasize customer service, IC drivers and facility level operations for Velocity. He has over 25 years of experience in the transportation and logistics industry.

Dale Sharp (BSET ’88), along with his business partner Dave Robbins, has acquired Crawford, Smith & Sharp, LLC, which will now operate as Sharp & Robbins Construction, LLC. The firm specializes in multifamily and commercial construction.

Matthew Waddell (BSCE ’97) has been promoted to principal at Fisher and Arnold, Inc.

Brian Waldron (BSCE ’93, MS ’94) was named as a winner in the Memphis Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2009.” Recipients of this award were honored at a luncheon on November 13, 2009. Waldron is currently an assistant professor in civil engineering and associate director for the Ground Water Institute at the Herff College of Engineering.

Matthew Zettergren (BSEE ’03) has taken an assistant professor position teaching engineering physics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University beginning in Fall 2009. Zettergren’s research centers around magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling processes related to auroras.

In Memoriam

Edward L. Small, of Cordova, Tennessee, passed away on May 18, 2010. He
graduated in 1985 with a B.S.E.E degree in electrical engineering. Edward
was employed as a Systems Engineer I at Baptist Memorial Health Care for 10
years. He was also a mathematics instructor at Southwest Tennessee Community College.

Robert D. "Bobby" Douglas, of Cordova, Tennessee, passed away on May 6,
2010. He graduated in 1970 with a B.S.E.T. in construction technology. Prior
to working for Shelby County Code Enforcement for the last three years,
Bobby was a general contractor for 30+ years.

Harold S. Feder, of Memphis, Tennessee, passed away on February 22, 2010. He graduated in 1956 with a B.S. in industrial arts. Harold was a Navy veteran serving in the Korean War. He was a retired sales manager from Ford Motor Company after 37 years of service and an avid golfer.

Henry H. “Hank” Harpel Jr., of Geneseo, Illinois, passed away January 15, 2010. He graduated in 1968 with a B.A.S. in mechanical engineering and in 1969 with a B.E. in mechanical engineering. Hank proudly served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was employed as an engineer at the Rock Island Arsenal for 24 years before retiring in 2007.

Joseph Lederius Liner, of Memphis, Tennessee, passed away December 28, 2009. He was a freshman student majoring in biomedical engineering.

Patricia E. Monti, of Cordova, Tennessee, passed away January 17, 2010. Mrs. Monti was employed at The University of Memphis for eighteen years, where she served in the College of Engineering. She retired in 1998.

Marvin Virgil Neely, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, passed away October 8, 2009. He graduated in 1971 with a B.S.E.T. in industrial arts. Marvin was a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, serving in the First Cavalry Division of the U.S. Army in 1967 and 1968. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Army Accommodation medals for his meritorious service. After a brief career at the I.C.R.R., he spent 20 years in shopping center development and management with M.V. National Properties, The Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation and Poag, Thomason and Neely Management Company. Marvin worked the last seven years along side his friend of more than 60 years as an architectural services representative.

Dennis “Sonny” Minor Talbert Jr., of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, passed away January 15, 2010. He graduated in 1984 with a B.S.E.T. in electronics engineering technology. Sonny had been employed by the City of Memphis as a radio technician prior to retiring. He was also retired from the U.S. Navy, where he served during the Vietnam War.

David Eugene Teague, of Collierville, Tennessee, passed away January 25, 2010. He graduated in 1976 with a B.S.E.T. in architectural engineering technology and in 1988 with a B.S.E.T. in manufacturing engineering technology. David was a member of NRA, IDPA and U.S. Parachute Association. He was a product engineer for Cummins.

Michael Le Wilkerson, of Niceville, Florida, passed away October 10, 2009. He graduated in 1987 with a B.S.C.E. in civil engineering. Michael worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Memphis District and most recently in the Mobile District. He did emergency assignments for cleanup in the U.S. and overseas.

Roland “Bob” Wolle, of Brighton, Tennessee, passed away February 7, 2010. He graduated in 1973 with a B.S.E.T. in industrial arts.