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On Shelves Now

Steve Magnusen recently authored and published TO MY BEST GIRL—Courage, Honor and Love in the Civil War: The Inspiring Life Stories of Rufus Dawes and Mary Gates.

It is the true story of this fascinating couple, their equally prolific family members, and the trials they endured before, during and after the Civil War. It is written in historical fiction format but is closely based on, and quotes from many letters and diary entries never before published. The narrative is based on the couple’s actual experiences and accounts. Steve says Linda Showalter, Special Collections Associate in Legacy Library, has been of great assistance throughout his research.

��ݮ��Ƶ figures prominently. Mary Gates lived across the street from campus in what became the Betsey Mills Club (Betsey was Mary’s younger sister). President Israel Ward Andrews is mentioned and quoted. Classmates such as Greenwood, Condit, Newport and Chambers, plus school events of the day, play key roles. Of course, Rufus Dawes’ brother Ephraim, Mary’s brother Charles Gates, and Charles Gates Dawes (Rufus and Mary’s oldest son and future Vice President) are all prominent characters.

It is a fascinating story and highlights the proud history of ��ݮ��Ƶ and the sacrifices many of its alums made in preserving the Union.

The book can be purchased at . The site also includes links to download via Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble and Apple iBooks.

Susan MacKenty Brady ’94 announces the recent release of her highly anticipated book Mastering Your Inner Critic...and 7 Other High Hurdles to Advancement. Brady is Executive Vice President at Linkage, where she launched the firm’s global practice in Advancing Women Leaders. She serves as the co-chair of the company’s Women in Leadership Institute™, which is now in its 18^th year. Mastering Your Inner Critic offers first-hand hard-won advice for scaling the hurdles that prevent you from controlling that little voice — your inner critic — that’s often loud, demanding and demeaning toward yourself and others. It’s time to counter those nagging questions that torment you—with positive solutions that empower you. The book shows readers how to conquer self-doubt and clarify goals.

Readers can learn to rely on their relationships and networks to get the support needed to tackle anything. Filled with inspiring anecdotes from accomplished women at various stages in their careers, as well as proven strategies any woman can use in the workplace, this unique and self-motivating guide helps you confront your inner critic, face your hurdles head on, and achieve the goals that really matter — to you. The book is published through McGraw-Hill Education, and is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

After reading the article about Tom Lane in the fall edition of Marietta Magazine, Daniel Betz ’68 was inspired to share a bit of background information that led to his becoming a writer:  “Back in my preteens I was always fascinated by adventure stories and started my somewhat feeble attempt to write some myself — most fizzled out after a half dozen pages. While attending ��ݮ��Ƶ in the mid-1960s, I took a couple of the writing classes available. Frankly, I didn’t get great grades on any of my writing projects. Once moving into the work world, I seemed like I never had time to write and completely abandoned writing until I was in my early 60s. I began writing editorials, which were published in the Lancaster Co. News (Lancaster, Pennsylvania). Almost 10 years later, I have had 94 published. At age 68, I fully retired and began chasing my dream of getting a novel nationally published. That dream came true on November 16, 2018. I used a local publisher, whose website is owlpublishinghouse.com. I appear on that site. My book, Broken Bones, is now available on Amazon.com. Click onto the site and search for books by Daniel Oliver Betz, III, to locate Broken Bones.”

Before becoming a writer, Betz was laid off just before his 65^th birthday from his job in insurance. He took a part-time job for several years.

“At age 68 I started writing Broken Bones and have written two other novels that have yet to be published. I do expect to publish both in the near future. My life has now been transformed from a retired septuagenarian to a full-time money-making author. My email address is danbetz@ptd.net. Hope to hear from any MC graduates!”

 
The Chi Omegas from the Class of 1970 hold a reunion at a different location around the United States every two years.  An alumna who lives close to the city chosen at the previous reunion organizes and hosts the event. For 2018, the chosen city was Nashville, Tennessee, and the organizer and host was Lynn Berry Stokes. Her husband, Van Stokes ’70 (Alpha Sigma Phi), chauffeured many Chi Os back and forth to the airport during their visit. These 15 ladies met October 11–15, 2018. They toured the city by trolley, visited the Grand Ole Opry and the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, walked down Broadway, listened to artists at The Listening Room and the Station Inn, visited an art exhibit at the Frist Museum and ended the weekend learning line dances at the Wild Horse Saloon. Planning has already begun for their next reunion in two years — 50 years after they graduated from ��ݮ��Ƶ. Top row (left to right): Buff Langacher Crouch, Lynn Berry Stokes, Becky Rice Harold, Jackie Pinotti Langel, Nanci Roten Target, Cindy Buck Wilson, Bev Ullom Pratt, Val Roelse Abbott, Barb Woodhull and Liz Morgan Baird; bottom row (left to right): E. Haning Sorensen, Marg Rejdak Rohlik, Jane Kershner Siebeneck, Jane Anderson Wise and Chris Tarr Gabreski.

Alpha Xi Delta sisters from the 1980s rented the sorority house for a weekend in August 2018. Pictured are clockwise from back left: Debbie Blackman ’86, Diane Keenan Spreitzer ’83, Ann Boston Timm ’84, Kathleen Sutphin ’83, Tari McCormick Bergoine ’85, Denise Tucci Spinell ’83 and Maria Currier Santoferraro ’85. Not pictured is Lisa Brown Twardzik ’83.

 
Patrick Hunter ’01, Jamie Kendrioski ’01, Corey Smith ’01 and their spouses visited and road-tripped with Jenny Hershberger ’01 in Montana this summer.

 
Ashley Deas Plummer ’07 (Alpha Xi Delta) and James Plummer ’07 (Lambda Chi Alpha) welcomed their second son, Levi Douglas Plummer, on May 23, 2018. Levi joins big brother Nolan. Ashley works for The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solve Research Institute as a digital content specialist. James is the business development manager for Two Labs Pharma Services.

 
Chris Law ’10 was named Vice President-Director of Marketing at Peoples Bank in Marietta in November 2018. Prior to that, Chris was a marketing senior associate in consumer banking with Chase in Columbus, Ohio.

 
Ashley Thomas ’14 welcomed new baby Sevyn Cottrell on September 25, 2018.

 
Attending his first Homecoming this past October was Thomas Joseph Stewart, who was born on August 22, 2018, weighing in at 6 pounds and 11 ounces. His parents, Brandon ’15 and Hayley Montgomery Stewart ’15, submitted his photo.

 
Nicole Holstein ’12 and Benjamin Keller ’14 were married on June 8, 2018, at Montfair Resort Farm in Crozet, Virginia. Their dog, Obi, was their ring bearer, and Luke Miller ’14 (Alpha Tau Omega) was a groomsman. Pioneers in attendance included Derek Hennan ’12, Anna Gill ’12, Kayden Manning ’12, Megan McGregor ’12, Nick Giebel ’11, Claire Murphy ’13 (Omicron Chi Theta) and Bryan Murray ’14 (Alpha Tau Omega). The couple live in Richmond, Virginia, where Nicole is pursuing a Master of Science in Ecology at Virginia Commonwealth University. Ben, who attended Marietta from 2010 to 2012 and was an ATO during his first year, is working as a malware analyst for The Media Trust.