Mrs. Veronica Gilroy Lough

Honoree:
Mrs. Veronica Gilroy Lough

Submitted By:
Family of Veronica Gilroy Lough

Inaugural Honerees

Elliot Turiel

Besty Rossi

T Calvin Hayes

Veronica Gilroy Lough

Loy H “Doc” Witherspoon

Jo Ann Springs

John P. Smith

Rebecca Ann Stasavich

Ralph F W Brimley

Careth (Gary) Shellman

Vicki Page Jaus

Harold (Hal) Jaus

Margaret C. Kenney

Bobbie M. Atwell

Mary Laura Calhoun

Vera Lorden

Mindy Pope

Emma Sharpe Avery

Barbara George Schafer

Marvin Croy

Fay K. Sherwood

Lynn Johnson

Mirsad Hadzikadic

Mildred J. Sadler

Mary Thomas Burke

Martha Snell

Jeanne Heller

Loy Witherspoon

Sue Stading

Germaine Goodrich Dubois

Brad Touma

Earl and Gen Broome

Mary Lynne Calhoun

Sadie Williamson

Great Educators

Spring Branch ISD, Texas

CMS Teachers 1967-1979

Sisters of St. Joseph, Wheeling WV

Rudolf and Jean Worsley

Opal Jacobs Argenbright

Janet Wade

Theresa Perez

Linda Humble

Nancy L. Cooke

Sandra Bradford Tomlinson

Herman J. Preseren

Mary Katherine Jarrell

Leo and Joan Miller

Lawrence G. Calhoun

Arnie Cann

Jane Rhyne

Thomas Turner

Luther D. Miller

John A. Gretes

Sandy Hook Elem Faculty and Staff

Alice Rickman Cathey

Jamie Jones Reavis

Jim Lyons

Melba Spooner

Misty Hathcock

Ron Madsen

Bob Pharr

Carrilee Long

Owen Furuseth

Connie Hawkins

Patti Norris

Karl Gerard Slough

Stories of Honorees

Dr. James E. Lyons

For 35 years, Jim Lyons placed an emphasis on quality teaching and preparing students for successful careers in educational administration. During Dr. Lyons1 tenure, the Doctorate in Educational Leadership was established, and upon his retirement in May 2014, 149 students had successfully graduated from that program, each having been taught by Jim. Dr. Lyons lived his content area. His courses on educational leadership justifiably and commendably relied heavily on his own scholarship in the field, infusing his research and writings into his teaching. Through his teaching and service contributions, he was able to apply much of his work to helping others understand the intricacies of often complex and sensitive educational issues. Dr. Lyons had an outstanding reputation as a teacher among his students and colleagues, and the hundreds of school leaders he taught (including district superintendents, assistant superintendents, and school principals) will be a lasting legacy of Jim’s extraordinary talent in the field of educational leadership

Dr. Melba Spooner

For almost 30 years, Dr. Melba McCall Spooner called this College home as she served in various teaching and leadership roles. Melba began her life as an educator in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools where she served as a classroom teacher and Assistant Principal. She then moved into higher education, returning to her alma mater to teach within the College of Education.

During her tenure here, Melba served in various roles including Assistant Dean; Chair of the Department of Middle, Secondary, and K-12 Education; and Senior Associate Dean. Melba has made quality and excellence the focus of her life’s work in education. In her many years in the Dean’s Office, Melba played a major role in a host of projects. She developed and oversaw a new Office of Assessment and Accreditation, which has the challenging task of integrating edTPA within the teacher preparation programs and ensuring continuous improvement efforts and alignment with accreditation standards. Her leadership of the Offices of Field Experiences, Educational Outreach, and Teacher Education, Advising, Licensure and Recruitment strengthened the quality of teacher preparation and enhanced the reputation of the College.

UNC Charlotte Provost Joan Lorden had this to say about Melba Spooner. “Her teaching, research, and service efforts are closely entwined and center on the importance of teaching and teacher education. Many of the marks of excellence in the Cato College of Education­ national accreditation, professional development school partnerships, strong attention to effective college teaching – are due in large part to Dr. Spooner’s vision and effective leadership.”

Melba McCall Spooner left UNC Charlotte to take the next step in her career, assuming the role of Dean of the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University.

Dr. Misty Cowan-Hathcock

A fifth generation educator, Misty is also a five-time graduate from UNC Charlotte, receiving all of her degrees in education. Misty joined the faculty of UNCC’s Cato College of Education after serving 11 years as a teacher and administrator. She became the first full-time Director of the NC Teaching Fellows Program and led that program for 17 years for the College. As Teaching Fellows ended, however, Misty coordinated the Teacher Education Learning Community and then transitioned into the Office of Field Experiences as a full-time university supervisor of student teachers. She also became the Regional Project Director of the NC New Teacher Support Program. Misty’s passion for teaching and her talent for developing and supporting beginning teachers is evident in the many awards and recognition she has received, and from her unwavering dedication to her students. Her greatest recognition of all is being honored as an exceptional educator on the Cato Mural – an honor made possible by her former students!

Coach Bob Pharr

Coach Bob Pharr was born just up the road in Statesville, North Carolina. The youngest of seven children, Bob’s early education was in the Statesville City School System. After graduating from high school in 1954, he attended High Point College on a basketball and baseball scholarship and planned to major in biology and physical education to become a teacher and high school coach. During his senior year of college, Bob chose instead to enter the military service and served six months of active duty and four years in the reserves. After his military service, Coach Pharr completed his degree at Lenior Rhyne College and then began teaching and coaching at Troutman High School. Following five years at Troutman, and one season as a professional baseball player for the Houston Astros farm club in Statesville, Coach Pharr married and returned to teaching at what is now Salisbury High School. Over his long teaching and coaching career, Bob was blessed to have many outstanding students and basketball players; many of those players went on to receive college basketball scholarships.

Dennis Bunker was one of Coach Pharr’s students and had this to say about his teacher:

Coach Bobby Pharr was my physical education teacher and the boys’ high school basketball coach at Salisbury High School. For those of you who do not know Coach Pharr, he is a “legend” in North Carolina high school sports, specifically as a boys’ basketball coach, along with being undefeated in badminton, ping pong, and horse – and to my knowledge, never missed a bank shot. He is one of the most competitive men I have ever known, but is quietly competitive or competitive from within. He taught me and many, many other young men competiveness the way it should be taught and learned. I never played for Coach Pharr, but I did try out for, and made his basketball team my senior year. I’m not sure I would have ever gotten to play, even if I had put on the uniform, as I would have been one of the shortest and least talented on the team. I have always regretted not taking advantage of that opportunity. What I learned from Coach Pharr with that experience is that not all teams are made up

of all-stars and that all teams need good team mates. Coach Pharr, I have used that lesson many times in my life in building wonderful relationships and teams in my business, in my family, in my community, and among my friends. Thank you for teaching me that not all teams are made up of all-stars, and thank you for teaching me the right way to be competitive. These are precious gifts!

Coach Bobby Pharr will be remembered as someone who gave more than he took!

Carrilee Long

Ms. Carrilee Long was born in Oakboro, NC in 1922 and graduated from Catawba College in 1943 with degrees in education and history. Carrilee began her teaching career in Badin, NC where she taught 6111 grade. She soon married and moved to Union County where she taught in the Monroe School System until 1962. Some of her favorite subjects were history, geography, music and art. In 1962 the family moved to Salisbury, NC where she taught in the Salisbury-Rowan School System for about 10 years before moving on to Charlotte­ Mecklenburg Schools until her retirement in 1984. Carrilee, also known as Duck since she was 6 years old, had a joyous personality, was a church pianist until age 90, was a devoted and generous parent and grandparent, an avid letter writer. She spent her life encouraging and caring for her students, several of whom remained in contact with her during her entire life.

She was truly a gifted and stimulating educator. Dennis Bunker was one of Carrilee’s students during her time with the Salisbury-Rowan School System. He remembers her this way:

Ms. Carrilee Long was my 4th grade teacher at Overton Elementary School in Salisbury, NC. The 4th grade was my favorite all-time year in school, and I give all credit for this memorable year to Ms.

Carrilee Long! She inspired and encouraged me to my first and last perfect report card, along with perfect attendance that year. What I learned from Ms. Long was that I am special and that everything is possible! Now, I am sure that she made all of her students feel that way, but I took it to heart. As I grew old enough to reflect on her gifts, I realized that Ms. Long had applied absolutely perfect amounts of “toughness and fairness.” Her students naturally wanted to overachieve for her. In addition to the history and geography that we worked on in class (still my two favorite subjects), she invested untold hours in me outside of the classroom, teaching me piano, giving me voice lessons, and introducing me to theater and acting. Ms. Long passed away two years ago at the age of 93. I was blessed to be able to visit with her in Virginia before she passed and was pleased to find her looking pretty and charming. Ms. Long, thank you for making me feel like I am special and that everything is possible! I have used that lesson every day since the 4th grade! Thank you!

Dr. Ron Madsen

Dr. Ron Madsen joined the UNC Charlotte faculty in 1977, and taught business and economics classes until his retirement in 2014. Dr. Madsen was in fact one of several young economists, who came to UNC Charlotte in those early years to help establish the school’s now highly respected economics department. Over his career at UNC Charlotte, Dr. Madsen published articles and studies dealing with economic growth, forecasting and measuring the economic impact of major projects, and on discrimination. He worked as a consultant and expert witness in labor economics, forecasting and statistical decision-making. Dr. Madsen has also presented seminars and workshops that help organizations apply the methods and theories of economics to their business problems and decisions. Perhaps his greatest contribution however, was to teaching; that is certainly the belief of one of his 1000s of students, Mr. Dennis Bunker.

Mr. Bunker shared these remarks about Ron Madsen:

Dr. Ron Madsen was one of my outstanding economics professors at UNC Charlotte. While Ron taught me numerous economic principles that have been helpful in my real estate career, the most valuable lesson I learned from Ron Madsen is the importance of finishing strong! So here’s the back story…as a senior and soon to be graduate of our Economics Department, I had saved the hardest three-hour class for last, Econometrics, taught by Dr. Madsen in a summer session. I went on to earn, and I do mean EARN, my first and only “F” in my 19 years of schooling from kindergarten through a Master’s Degree from Columbia University. To tell the truth, I was shooting for a D, but fell a little short of that goal. I had NEVER done that befpre as a solid A and B student. And from that experience, what I gained was a life lesson, as well as a friend and mentor in Dr. Madsen. Dr. Madsen, among other things you taught me, thank you for teaching me to always finish strong! I think of this experience often and have used this lesson many times in my adult life. Thank you!

Dr. Owen Furuseth

Owen’s father was a career marine and as such, Owen was raised on military bases in North Carolina, Virginia, Missouri and Florida. Moving frequently, Owen recalls that his early interest in geography was fueled by the differences in places and landscapes where his family lived and traveled. It was a 7th grade geography teacher however, that truly sparked Owen’s lifelong career interest. Here is how Owen tells it:

Mrs. Dodd was an amazing teacher. She made the world and the differences between places and people come alive. Without Mrs. Dodd I strongly suspect I would not have followed my career path.

Fortunately for us, Owen met Mrs. Dodd! Owen began his career at UNC Charlotte as a lecturer in 1977. By 1989 he had become a full professor and from 1999-2003 he served as chair of the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences. Most of us know Owen however for his 15 year tenure as Associate Provost for Metropolitan Studies and Extended Programs. As Associate Provost, Owen worked with many constituent units both on and off campus, including the Women+ Girls Research Alliance and the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute.

Through this role Owen was able to provide leadership in areas that truly mattered to his community, reflecting his passion for engaged scholarship, or applying research to issues affecting the way we live and work in communities.

But today is not really about Owen’s tremendous contributions toward community planning, his prolific scholarship over the years, or even the numerous accolades and awards he has received throughout his career. Today is about one of Owen’s most important roles in life, that of teacher and mentor. He, along with our other honorees, is being recognized today for the impact he’s had on generations of students. One of those students, Mr. John Snelsire, was especially influenced by Owen Furuseth. Here is how John described the impact Owen had on him.

Owen helped me grow up and become an adult. He taught me how to be a professional and more importantly, how to feel comfortable in that role. He was funny and down to earth, but he took his work very seriously. Within the Geography department, Owen was instrumental in developing of culture of camaraderie-everyone wanted you to be successful, and cheered your successes. And that was certainly not the case in other departments and colleges. After I left the corporate world, I worked in the Alumni office for a while. Owen was a colleague then but never stopped being a mentor. He gave me the “lay of the land” about the University, a work culture I knew nothing about. It seems Owen’s always been a part of my adult life, off and on. Owen is definitely one of the GOOD people in the world; he helped me be a better person and for that I am truly thankful.

‘

Connie Hawkins

For over 34 years, Connie K. Hawkins has been a tireless advocate for families raising children with disabilities and special health care needs. Connie is the founding Director of Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC Inc.), along with Mr. Graziadei, the first Board Chairman and current Board Emeritus. The ECAC is the longest running non-profit parent training and information center in the nation, with offices across North Carolina. From its inception, the ECAC has had a strong relationship with the Department of Special Education and Child Development at UNC Charlotte, starting with recently retired Dr. Richard White (here with us) who wrote the first grant to the U.S. Department of Education in 1983 that provided critical funding for this new non profit.

Connie has a national and statewide reputation as an advocate for the educational rights for youth and children with and without disabilities. During the past 25 years, she has also supported the work of parent centers nationally as the Director of a federally-funded Regional Parent Technical Assistance Center. Connie has impacted the lives of thousands of families and children through supporting parents, working with educators and schools, influencing policy, and advocating for equity and fairness for all.

Aze/1 Reeves, long-term board member and former Board chair of the ECAC, said “We have such deep gratitude for Connie’s leadership and especially her vision for children and young adults who have special needs and their families. Connie’s retirement will cap more than three decades of service, achievement and growth.”

Connie has infused her vision for equity, parent empowerment, fairness, and high expectations for all children into every aspect of ECAC including the talented staff of more than 20 individuals who provide one-on-one support, training and resources to parents throughout North Carolina. The lives of children and families in this state are forever changed by her tireless efforts to raise the bar for education and health services, and most of all, ensuring that children and families have opportunities to live the fullest lives possible. And on an individual level, Connie originated the annual Matthew C. Graziadei Achievement Award, co-sponsored with Mr. and Mrs. Graziadei, that for the past 20 years has recognized the most outstanding graduating senior with a disability in North Carolina, awarding him or her with a $1500 Scholarship in memory of a remarkable young man who died in 1998 at age 26.

Patty Norris

Patty Norris did not grow up thinking she would be a teacher. After graduating from North Mecklenburg High School, Patti set out to be a secretary. Fortunately for all of us, her closest aunt encouraged her to attend her hometown University, UNC Charlotte, and four years later she graduated with a BA in English. For the next 10 years, Patti taught at various high schools in Iredell County and discovered a passion for Shakespeare and British literature. During those years, she also met and married Kenny, her husband for 30 years, and had her two sons, Daniel and Thomas. Kenny, Daniel and Thomas were Patti’s pride and joy.

As each son attended each grade level, Patti threw herself into their education by assisting their schools in whatever capacity was needed, including subbing, working in the school office, filling in for guidance counselors and for assistant principals. By occupying almost every position within a school, Patti gained experiences that would continue to shape her career in helping students. It exposed her to colleagues that would provide Patti with different teaching styles and techniques that she could leverage throughout her career. Patti used these experiences and techniques in remarkably creative and engaging ways both in and out of the classroom. Patti was an Odyssey of the Mind coach for over 12 years and led her teams, which included both of her sons, to numerous awards at the regional, national and world levels. She worked with one of her school’s band leaders to create and manage an indoor drum-line they named Fusion Percussion. Not missing a beat herself, Patti infused a literary or historical show theme into each season of the drum-line, ensuring the students would not only become better musicians but also more knowledgeable about history or literature. Perhaps her most inventive and lasting classroom strategy was to develop a teaching unit for Shakespeare around a CSI theme. Students were the detectives and they used modern forensic techniques to follow the clues and solve the crime whenever a new “victim” emerged in Romeo and Juliet.

Patti’s heart for her students was not limited to engaging them in the lesson or encouraging them through extracurricular activities. Patti always took time to tutor her students after school and often used her planning period to teach groups of students with other content. Patti wasn’t just able to keep students’ attention and make learning fun; she also mastered the art of improving grades. Superintendent Dr. Chris Lowder (with us today) said he worked with her when she was the coordinator for the high school success program, geared toward students who started high school below grade level. Of Patti, Dr. Lowder said, “she had the best results with students who began behind than anybody I ever worked with. She was an incredibly strong teacher who got positive results.”

One of her colleagues at Central Cabarrus, Keith Maletta, was interviewed by the Independent Tribune for a story about Patti shortly after her death. He spoke of Patti’s love of Christmas and her habit of decorating her house with 50 Christmas trees every season.

You just imagine happiness and joy and that’s really what Patti was. She was Christmas in human form. Wherever she was, it was a fine moment for everybody, Maletta said. Every day with Patti felt like Christmas.