Class Notes
Correction: Thomas Tolbert ’67† and Carrie Chisum were not recognized in the the Samuel Houston Society listing of the Heritage Special Edition – Donor Report (2016-2017) published in April 2018.
Steve Hardcastle ’70 is a broker at Re/ Max Westside Realtors in Houston and was named a Five Star Realtor by Texas Monthly magazine in the June 2018 issue. This is the eighth year in a row to be recognized. He is a life member of the SHSU Alumni Association.
Sherryl Brown ’72 was selected for a professional exchange between the US and Germany after receiving a master’s degree in physical education from SHSU. She taught physical education in Germany for a few years before returning to Texas where she taught at Austin Community College. Sherryl now lives in Wheaton, Illinois and has embarked on a new career as a writer. Author House Publishing Company has published her new novel, “Immanence.”
Lynne Liberato ’74 received the 2018 Louise B. Raggio Award by the Women and the Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. As a Haynes and Boone, LLP partner, she has been heavily involved in civic and charitable causes, including serving as the first woman president of the Houston Bar Association and president of the State Bar of Texas. Liberato is currently chair of the United Way of Greater Houston’s Hurricane Harvey Task Force.
Rockey D. Hawkins ’74 released his book, “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother: Guns, Girls, & Gambling in East Texas” on Amazon.
Myron Frans ’77 serves as the management and budget commissioner to Minnesota Governor, Mark Dayton. This is his fourth year to oversee the management and budget office. He previously served four years in the department of revenue.
Arthur Mann ’79 was appointed to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by Governor Abbott. Mann is the administrator for the Hillsboro Economic Development Corporation. He is a board member of the Texas Economic Development Council, Hill County Go Texan Scholarship Committee and Hillsboro ISD Education Foundation Board.
Dorothy Peterson ’80 has been named chief operating officer of VGXI, overseeing all aspects of the Texas-based production facility.
Jill Sharp Vaughan ’83 became the first woman named to the Texas Bankers Hall of Fame. She is the executive vice president and Southwest regional credit executive for Zions Bancorporation. Vaughan serves on the Smith-Hutson Endowed Chair of Banking Advisory Board and as chair of the Advisory Board of the College of Business Administration for SHSU.
Darla Nolen ’91 is the new director of Business Services and Finance for Corsicana ISD.
Sean West ’95 has been appointed to senior vice president of sales for Associa, a community management company. With more than 23 years of experience in finance, real estate and sales, West will focus on growth, development and national and international sales in his new position.
Mike Matranga ’00 has been named executive director of security and school safety for Texas City ISD, where he will coordinate a comprehensive school safety program. As a former Secret Service agent, Matranga served as a team leader of the U.S. Secret Service Counter Assault Team.
John Williams ’04, ’08 who served as assistant principal at the Conroe High School ninth grade campus, will become the new principal at Hauke Alternative High School. In addition to receiving his graduate and doctorate degrees from SHSU, he served on the SHSU Educational Leadership Advisory Board in 2010.
Paul Cordova ’05, ’11 was appointed to chief of the Houston Independent School District Police Department. Cordova holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice leadership and management from SHSU.
Sally Mamdooh ’08 joins KPRC 2 as a reporter. She returns to Texas after working with 7NEWS in Denver. While at SHSU, Mamdooh interned at abc13 KTRK with the legendary Wayne Dolcefino and the 13 Undercover unit.
Steven Shepard ’09 was named director of product management for RIDGID where he manages the development of new products from ideation through launch, leads global, cross-functional new product development teams and designs and implements a growth strategy for the company.
Preston Fassel ’11 has published his first novel, “Our Lady of the Inferno,” to be released as mass-market trade paperback in September. He has also sold the film rights to the book. Fassel says he is grateful for his time and experiences at SHSU and that it has led to his current success.
Brian Nelson ’12 (MBA) has been selected as head coach of the Brazos Valley Bombers—a collegiate summer baseball team based in Bryan, Texas.
Laurie Christensen ’14 (MS) was recently appointed as Harris County’s next Fire Marshal after previously serving as the chief deputy since 2004. Christensen received her master’s degree in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management from SHSU and graduated from the Leadership Inventory for Female Executives and Public Information Officer programs through the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas at SHSU. She is a life member of the SHSU Alumni Association.
David James Langenberg ’13 (MPA) has been appointed the new Humble fire chief. Langenberg has 20 years of experience in the field of fire service. He is a life member of the SHSU Alumni Association.
Ashley DeHoyos ’13 will join Houston’s DiverseWorks art organization as assistant curator. DeHoyos interned for DiverseWorks while pursuing her BFA. She says she is thrilled to return to Houston where she hopes to further explore how art and audience can unite to create a more just and equitable world.
Shelby Smith ’15 (MEd) was named principal of Madeley Ranch Elementary in Montgomery ISD.
Myra Palacios ’16 (MS) was recently inducted into the IAVM Foundation’s 30 Under 30. She is an events coordinator with the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas.
Randy Talley ’75 was recognized by Rockwall ISD with the naming of the Rockwall High School baseball field in his honor. Talley served as a coach for the school for 20 years. His influence is deeply rooted in the school and the Rockwall- Heath High baseball programs and their success can be traced directly back to the dedication that Talley had for the students and athletes of Rockwall ISD. One former player wrote, “No other coach I’ve played for at Rockwall cared about his kids like Randy. He not only cared about his players while playing for him, but also what type of men they became. He is still a person I call on today for advice. He is one of a kind.”
† Notes Deceased