LEA R. DOPSON, chair and associate professor of merchandising and hospitality management, was recently elected as treasurer of the International Council of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education. She begins her two-year term in July 2004 for International CHRIE, which provides programs and services to improve the quality of global education, service and business operations in the hospitality and tourism industry.

JOHN H. HOLT, assistant professor of music, recorded Facets, a CD of trumpet recordings released  by Crystal Records, of Camas, Wash., May 2004.

NICOLE INGRAM, program and project specialist for student health and wellness services, received the New Professional Award for the Southwest Region from the American College Health Association at the ACHA national conference, June 10 in New Orleans.

DAVID A. McENTIRE, assistant professor of public administration and emergency administration and planning and coordinator of Emergency Administration and Planning Program in the Department of Public Administration, wrote two studies: “Vital Role of Emergency Management Practitioners in Higher Education,” published in the International Association of Emergency Managers Bulletin, May 2004; and “Preparing Communities for Disasters: Issues and Processes for Government Readiness,” published in Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, Vol. 13, No. 2, co-written by UNT alumna Amy Myers.

State

UNT System Chancellor LEE JACKSON provides details of the Regional Transportation Council, and one of the committees he chairs, in the May 30 issues of the Dallas Morning News and Denton Record-Chronicle.

UNT President NORVAL POHL explains UNT’s decision to remain in the Sun Belt Conference rather than move to the Western Athletic Conference in the May 28 Fort Worth Star-Telegram. In the June 3 Denton Record-Chronicle, he provides details to support that decision.

RICHARD F. REIDY, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, discusses the lightweight body armor vest he is helping to design for the protection of police and soldiers in the June 6 Dallas Morning News.

Local

AARON BRODIE, KNTU manager, advises Denton residents to tune to 88.1 FM radio rather than dialing 911 during severe weather in the June 8 Denton Record-Chronicle.

RON DiIULIO, planetarium manager, explains the planet Venus’ June 8 transit across the sun, and the need for North Texas scientists to travel eastward in order to witness it, in the June 7 Denton Record-Chronicle.

RICHARD L. ESCALANTE, vice chancellor for administrative services, talks about options for expanding the North Texas Boulevard bridge to link Eagle Point section to the UNT campus in the May 31 Denton Record-Chronicle.

MIHO YAMADA FISHER, assistant professor of research in biological sciences, describes the lack of respect for professional musicians in the Japanese culture in a May 30 Denton Record-Chronicle story about the recent Van Cliburn piano contest in which she and her husband each competed. She names her husband as her main music teacher — and he describes himself as her biggest fan —  in the June 6 Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 

BERT HAYSLIP JR., Regents Professor of psychology, discusses the necessity for parents to set boundaries for teenagers in the May 28 Denton Record-Chronicle.

IRMA J. CATON, 79, professor of health, physical education and recreation from 1962-1990, died June 7 in Denton.

She was born Aug. 10, 1925, in Newport, Tenn. She earned her bachelor’s degree from East Tennessee State College in 1946. She received her master’s degree in 1949 and doctorate in 1962 from the University of Tennessee. She served as chair of the women’s division of health, physical education and recreation from 1965 to 1975 and was named department chair of the physical education division that year, serving until 1985 after requesting to return to teaching.

She was a member of, and held officer positions in, numerous organizations. She served as president and vice president of the Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD), and as president and vice-president of the Southern Association of Physical Education of College Women. In 1985 she became the fifth recipient of the David K. Brace Award presented by TAHPERD. She was the first woman to head an athletic conference, serving as president of the Southland Conference from 1986 to 1988. She was a member of the Pi Lambda Theta, the American Association of University Women and the Southern District Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, among other organizations. She was listed in Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who in the South and Southwest and Two-thousand Women of Achievement.

At UNT she received the Distinguished Teaching Award from the NT alumni association and the distinction of an Honor Professor from students in 1976. She was appointed to the Governor’s Commission on Physical Fitness in 1972 and in 1979 received an Honor Award. She received an Honor Award from Delta Psi Kappa and numerous other awards during her career. In 1989 a scholarship was endowed in her name by the department of kinesiology, health promotion and recreation.

She is survived by a nephew, two nieces and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

A memorial service was held June 9 at First Christian Church of Denton.

A memorial service was held June 9 at First Christian Church of Denton.

WALTER LOUIS SPITZ, 44, visiting assistant professor of English from 2001 to 2003, died Jan. 4 in Thailand.

He was born on Dec. 24, 1959, in Midland. He attended Tarleton State University and the University of North Texas and earned a doctorate from Rice University and taught at universities in Texas and Kansas as well as foreign universities in countries including Malaysia, Japan and Bangkok. He is survived by his parents, Carl and Irene Spitz, his sister Carla Manlapaz, and niece Isabella, all of Stephenville. A memorial service was held Jan. 17 at Faith Lutheran Church in Stephenville.

New Student Orientation. June 20-22, June 27-29. Call (940) 565-4198 for information.

John Hedlund Soccer Camps. For girls and boys ages 9-16. June 20-24. Call (940) 565-3669 for information.

Music Workshops. Call (940) 565-2894 for event requirements. Vocal Jazz Workshop, June 20-25; Summer Choral Workshop, June 21-24; Marching Percussion Camp, June 21-24; Stringendo Violin Workshop, June 21-25; Alexander Technique, June 27-July 1; Orchestra Summer Day Camp, June 28-July 2; Instrument Repair for the Busy Band Director, June 21-23.

Tina Slinker Eagles Junior Basketball Camp. For girls and boys ages 4-12. 8 a.m., June 21-24 in the Student Recreation Center. Call (940) 565-3103 for information.

Career Center Seminar. Interview skills, 11 a.m., June 21. Call Career Center at (940) 565-2105 for information.    

Cheer Camps. June 23-26, June 28-July 2. Call (940) 565-2894 for information.

J. Robinson Wrestling Camp. June 27-July 1. Call (940) 565-2894 for information.

Johnny Jones Basketball Camp. Overnight commuter camp, June 24-27. Day camp, June 28-July 1. Call (940) 565-3649 for information.

UNT Blood Drive. 8 a.m., June 30, Union Golden Eagle Suite. Call (940) 565-3600 for more information.