DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern Oklahoma State University will honor three individuals with the Distinguished Former Faculty Award during homecoming festivities on September 22-23-24.
This year’s honorees are Dr. Gordon Eggleton, Betty Wintle, and the late Dr. James Wintle. They will be recognized at the Southeastern Alumni Association’s Distinguished Awards Banquet on Friday, September 23, at 5:30 p.m. in the Visual and Performing Arts Center.
Dr. Gordon Eggleton joined the faculty of Southeastern State College in 1971 after receiving his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Iowa State University and his master’s in Science Education and Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Iowa.
A consummate educator, he spent 40 years sharing his knowledge and love of learning with students in the areas of General Chemistry, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, Earth Science, Field Geology, Science for Elementary Teachers and Scientific Thought for Honors Students.
The chemistry professor served on numerous University committees during that time. He was faculty sponsor of the Student Affiliate chapter of the American Chemical Society for 37 years and has been a member of that organization for 49 years; chaired the University Honors Committee six years; and was director of the Parsons Scholar program for six years.
He was also coordinator of the Southeastern Science/Math Resource Center and director of SCIMAST, a Consortium for Improvement of Math and Science Teaching.
Dr. Eggleton positively touched the lives of numerous Oklahoma students as director of the High School Interscholastic Meet (also known as the Curriculum Contest) from 2001-2011. He retired from Southeastern in 2011.
Dr. Eggleton and wife Kay celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year, along with their two children and four grandchildren.
Also being honored with the Distinguished Former Faculty Award this year are Betty Wintle and her late husband, Dr. James Wintle.
Betty Wintle began her Southeastern career in 1980 as a temporary part-time voice instructor.
She became a full-time instructor in 1986 and retired in 2010 as an Assistant Professor of Music.
Wintle received her Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music degrees from Pittsburg (Kansas) State University. During her career, in addition to private lessons, she also taught Elementary Music Methods and Opera Theatre.
Wintle’s professional activities included participation in state and regional levels of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Through their hard work and talent, her students won one regional and 25 state awards.
She also served as vocal coach for the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival musicals, was a member of an international panel of judges in Italy, the Red River Arts Council, and performed on the Wey Valley International Concert Series in Weymouth, England.
The Wintle family also includes a son and daughter.
Dr. James R. Wintle was a well-known composer, stalwart advocate for the arts in Oklahoma, and Professor of Music at Southeastern.
His love of music and his immense talent as a pianist were recognized as heearned his Doctor of Musical Arts in composition from the University of Kansas. He also earned bachelor and master’s degrees from Pittsburg State.
During his 40-year (1971-2010) career at Southeastern, Dr. Wintle saw his compositions performed on four continents and commissioned and performed by numerous major chamber ensembles. He received a number of grants and awards and his work was recognized by the state of Oklahoma with the Governor’s Arts Award for Community Service.
In 1973, Dr. Wintle established the Musical Arts Series that provided free public concerts by many of the world’s finest classical musicians. He was also the musical director of the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival, served for many years on the Red River Arts Council, and was director of the Steger Piano Institute. In addition, he was a guest composer and adjudicator in many international events.
The James Wintle Music Scholarship was established at Southeastern in 2015.
Dr. Wintle passed away in 2013.