BECKY McCRAY, PRESIDENT

Becky McCray is an entrepreneur from Alva, where she and her husband Joe co-own a retail store and a cattle ranch. She writes a daily website for small business owners and publishes several other online news media projects. She is the youngest past state president of Oklahoma Business and Professional Women. A fourth-generation graduate of Northwestern Oklahoma State University, McCray is currently president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

LIZABETH RICHEY, DIRECTOR

Mrs. Richey has served as Alumni Director since 2004. She began her career with the Northwestern Foundation and Alumni Association in 1991.

Raised in Elk City, Oklahoma, Lizabeth began her college experience at Oklahoma Baptist University and completed her bachelor’s in business administration at Northwestern in 1996. She earned a master’s degree, also from Northwestern, in 2000.

Lizabeth is active in the Alva community singing in her church choir and the community choir. She is a past director with the Chamber of Commerce. She is also a member of the Singing Church Women of Oklahoma.

MICKEY WHITE

Mr. White was born in Alva and has made Alva his home. He’s a 1971 graduate of Alva High School, graduating from Northwestern in 1976. Mickey is the supervisor for Woods County District #1 and enjoys old cars, travel, internet and sending jokes via email.

Mickey and his wife Donna (also class of 1976) met at Northwestern and married during their senior year. He was involved in Student Senate for 4 years and was a member of Phi Beta Lambda business fraternity. He’s a former member of the Northwest Antique Car Club, Spinners Car Club of Ponca City, and Cadillac/LaSalle Club International. Their two oldest daughters are also graduates and the youngest was crowned Miss Northwestern, representing NWOSU at the Miss Oklahoma pageant.

Mickey’s favorite collegiate memory is of all the people he met and got to know from different places, as well as his work in the Student Senate.

JUDY WOLGAMOTT

Ms. Wolgamott of Hardtner, Kansas, graduated from NWOSU with a bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education in 1967. She received her master's degree of education in 1974. During her teaching tenure, she taught in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, Fort Supply, Fargo, Woodward, and Mustang, Oklahoma. She also taught extension classes for Northwestern while living in Woodward. Judy retired from teaching in 1997. Currently, Judy lives in Yukon, Oklahoma, and is employed with The American Education Corporation, an educational software company in Oklahoma City.

Fond memories of caring faculty and friends at Northwestern have always been an inspiration to Judy, and she hopes to continue this connection by serving on the alumni board. Go Rangers!

DENNIS WILSON, Greater Enid Alumni Representative

Dennis Wilson was born in Enid, OK graduating from Enid High School in 1967 and NWOSU in 1971 with BS degrees in Sociology and Physical Education. White attending Northwestern, Dennis was a 4 year letterman on the Ranger Football squad, president of the ‘O’ Club and was crowned the first Mr. Cinderfella representing the ‘O’ Club back in the day.

Dennis is self-employed residing in Enid with his wife Vicki and has been a State Certified Real Estate Appraiser for the past 20 years. Dennis and Vicki enjoy traveling, their 6 pets, and are members of the Enid Corvette Club doing charitable fundraisers for local organizations. Dennis says he enjoys serving on the Alumni Board since this is his way of giving back. Once a Ranger, always a Ranger.

DARLA TERRY, Nursing Alumni Representative, Enid, OK

KAREN PAYNE
Waynoka, OK

Karen Hoeltzel Payne came to Northwestern from Carrier, OK and currently resides in Waynoka. She graduated in 1973, retired from teaching, and currently works part time as the library media specialist for Freedom Public School. She also owns Cimarron Wine and Spirits in Waynoka. Karen keeps busy with crafts and gardening.

Karen’s favorite memory is how “at home” she always felt on campus and notes that the feeling is still the same today.

Northwestern is important to Karen because “I obtained three degrees there. Moreover, Northwestern is important to northwest Oklahoma. The memories I made there will always be a part of my life and who I am.”

KEVIN EVANS
Woodward, OK

Kevin Evans graduated from Northwestern in 1981, one of 6 members in his family to call NWOSU “alma mater”. His mother Coeta taught here many years and daughter Taryn graduates in May.

Kevin moved to Woodward in 1984 and taught a year before beginning work with disadvantaged youth and families. He was named executive director of Western Plains Youth & Family Services in 1995 and recently helped raise over $2 million for a new emergency youth shelter and counseling center in Woodward. Western Plains currently employs 10 Northwestern graduates. He is also a board member for the Oklahoma Association of Youth Services.

Kevin is excited about the future of Northwestern and the many possibilities that lay ahead.

MIKE MARTIN
Alva, OK

AUDRA ROSE
Round Rock, TX

Audra Rose hails from Alva and is now in Round Rock, TX. She is a 1996 alumnus and is a personal banker with Wells Fargo Bank. Her hobbies include reading books, gardening, volunteering for non-profit organizations, and spending time with friends and family.

Audra was one of 5 enrolled in Northwestern’s first Small Business Institute class. During the course of the class, they developed a business plan for a local business. The class’s plan was subsequently recognized as one of the best undergraduate business plans submitted at a state competition between universities with the same type of course.

Northwestern remains important to Audra because she made life-long friends and attended a college where she was not a number.

JENNIFER TYREE
Alva , OK

Also (photos and bios coming soon):

• Mary Hemingway, Lubbock, TX

• Alumni Band Representative: Becky McCray, Alva, OK