2002 Distinguished Alumni

Photos from 2002 Distinguished Alumni

	David P. Bailey Bachelor of Arts, History Mesa State College, 1987 After graduating from Mesa State College in 1987, David began his career in historical research and writing. He accepted a position as Curator of History at the Museum of Western Colorado in 1992. In that capacity, he served as a documentary film consultant, worked in the fields of historic preservation, public history, exhibit design, and wrote numerous articles about western Colorado history. David was promoted to Chief Curator in 2000, and a year later was appointed by Secretary of Interior Gale Norton to serve as a history and archeology consultant on the BLM Resource Advisory Committee. In February 2001, he returned to his alma mater to work with Dr. Richard Dujay and a group of Mesa State Scientists to use state of the art forensic technology to solve the 128-year-old Alferd Packer murder mystery. David has spent seven years researching the case and with the help of the scientists exonerated Alferd Packer of the crime of murdering his companions. In recognition of his research, he received the Westword-Best of Denver Award in 2001 for his research on the case. "I count my years as a history student at Mesa State College as some of the most formative of my life," said Bailey. "The professors developed my sense of inquiry, imagination, and a strong work ethic needed to accomplish my goals in life."
	Don Clark Associate of Arts Mesa College, 1947 Mr. Clark was born November 17, 1925 in Plateau Valley, 40 miles east of Grand Junction, Colorado. He graduated Collbran Union High in 1944 and served in the United States Navy Air Corpse as an aerial gunner. He earned his Associate of Arts degree in 1947 from Mesa College, followed by a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Theatre with a minor in speech and radio from the University of Denver. From 1953 to 1992 Mr. Clark was employed at the Los Angeles Times. He began by selling classified advertising to auto dealers and moved his way up through a series of management positions. At his final position he served as Executive Vice President of Marketing, with management responsibilities over more than 4,500 individuals. In 1992 The Los Angeles Times had annual revenue of over one billion dollars and a daily circulation in excess of one million with Sunday circulation in excess of 1,250,000. In 1970 Don participated in the UCLA Executive Program. His professional service to the community includes serving as president for the UCLA Executive Alumni Association, the Los Angeles Times Management Conference, and the Ex-Press Club of Arizona. Don married Mary Ellen Stevens of Palisade, Colorado in 1946. Together they have three sons and two grandchildren.
	Dennett "D.K." Ela Mesa College, Attended 1932 - 1933 Captain D. K. Ela, USN Ret., entered Mesa College at the height of the depression in 1932. Two years later he was accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering. After graduating in the top ten percent of his class he completed a Masters of Science and did post-graduate work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Ela's military career included ship design, building, and repair and command of shipyards. He was project officer for design of the first post-WWII aircraft carriers and missile ships. As Hull Design Officer for Large Combatant Ships he personally supervised and contributed to the design of the Forrestal class aircraft carriers and the first missile ships, Boston and Canberra. While Head of the Launching and Handling Branch of the POLARIS project he was awarded a Legion of Merit medal for his performance while directing the production of launching systems for the first twelve submarines of this class. Ela served as Commanding Officer of Naval Repair Facility in San Diego with over 2,000 employees. From this position he was promoted to Commanding Officer and Director of the David Taylor Model Basin, at that time the largest research and development laboratory of the Naval Ship Systems. Upon retirement from the Navy, D.K. worked for Westinghouse in deep submergence small-submarine projects, product development and environmental project management for ten years. He then engaged in technical consulting largely for the Marine Board of the National Academy of Engineers and the National Research Council. Capt. Ela is a six-year member of the Grand Junction chapter of the Service Corps of Retired Executives, including three years as Chairman. Additionally he is on the Executive Committee of the local chapter of Retired Officers Association and the accredited counselor in the region for candidates seeking admission to the U.S. Naval Academy. At age 87, he won the gold medal in the Bolder Boulder marathon for his age group.
	William A. Moyer Associate of Science Mesa College, 1965 William A. Moyer was born March 26, 1944 in White Plains, New York. He earned his Associate degree in 1965 from Mesa College where he played football and baseball, participating in the 1964 JUCO World Series. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Colorado State University in 1966. In 1970, he received his DVM from Colorado State University and went on to his internship and residency in Equine Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. After private practice for seven years he returned to the University of Pennsylvania as an Assistant Professor of Sports Medicine. In 1993, he went to Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine, as Professor of Equine Sports Medicine and Department Head. Since 1997, Moyer has been Co-Director of the Link Equine Research Endowment, a multi-million dollar endowment to enhance equine research. Dr. Moyer's accomplishments include over 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers dealing with musculoskeletal injuries in equine athletes, over 20 text book chapters, two textbooks, and has participated in over 250 invited presentations nationally and internationally. He currently serves on the Editorial Board of seven veterinary journals, the Executive Committee of the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Ad hoc Committee and as Director at Large of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. His primary interest is equine lameness with specific research interests in the biomechanical evaluation of racehorse, racehorse injuries, racetrack surfaces, foot disease, and horseshoe design. His research has resulted in a patent for a glue-on horseshoe and his induction into the International Equine Veterinarian Hall of Fame in 2000. William married his best friend, Leslie in 1968. They are the proud parents of two daughters and one grandchild.
	Richard "Dick" Nourse Diploma, General Education Mesa College, 1960 Dick Nourse got his broadcast career started in western Colorado. He worked at both KDTA in Delta and KREX (radio) in Grand Junction. He has been with KSL-TV in Salt Lake City, Utah as news anchorman for the past 38 years. Dick served in the United States Army and Air Force and remains active in various veterans' activities. He was a journalist in Vietnam in 1967. The high point of his career was returning to Vietnam for one month interviewing military personnel from Utah to get their impressions of the war. He also returned to Vietnam 30 years later to renew acquaintances in that country and attempt to resolve some of his own unrest since the war. He was listed as one of America's Outstanding Young Men in 1977. Dick, a two-time cancer survivor, was honored by President Reagan as an outstanding survivor of cancer. He is very active in numerous medical societies including United Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the American Cancer Society. He is president of the Cottonwood Alta View Hospital Health Care Foundation. Dick loves vintage cars and displays two of his own in various car shows throughout Utah. He is an avid sailor, golfer, and weight lifter. Dick is married to Debra M. Peterson, formerly of Logan, Utah. He has a daughter and son, as well as three stepchildren.

Photos from 2002 Distinguished Alumni