Alumni News—Fall 2011
The Bells Toll: Alumna Offers 9/11 Tribute on Carillon
On September 11 from the carillon studio in the campanile, alumna Amy Brandau played “America the Beautiful” and then rang the bells 10 times, one for each year since the attacks. Brandau earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business in 2000 and an MBA in business administration in 2008. She is an academic adviser in the ISU College of Engineering. Brandau studied the carillon with ISU carillonneur Tin-shi Tam as both an undergraduate and graduate student. Brandau offers a quick tour of the campanile in this video:
Lang Chosen To Lead Board Of Regents, State Of Iowa
Craig Lang, president of the Iowa Farm Bureau, was unanimously approved in July as the new president of the body that governs Iowa’s public universities. Lang replaced David Miles, who was asked to resign as president by Gov. Terry Branstad and returned to the position of board member. Lang earned a bachelor’s degree in dairy science in 1973. He has served at the farm bureau’s president since 2001.
Newlin Receives First Iowa Corn Lifetime Achievement Award
Alumnus Owen Newlin, retired senior vice president of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, received the first Iowa Corn Lifetime Achievement award in August at the Iowa Corn Growers Association annual meeting. Newlin earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and a master’s degree in crop production. Read more about Newlin in a 2010 article from STORIES.
Nunnikhoven Returns To Family Farm
Chandler Nunnikhoven was featured on the front page of the Des Moines Register in July. The alumnus repurchased his grandparents’ farmstead, tends cattle and intends to renovate one of the barns on the property. Nunnikhoven earned a bachelor’s degree in horticulture with a minor in agronomy in 2010. His day job is managing a staff of nine workers for the city of Pella. Read the complete article and view a photo essay of his farm visit: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110724/NEWS03/107240312/1001/NEWS/?odyssey=nav%7Chead.
IN MEMORIUM
Norma “Duffy” Lyon, better known as the “Butter Cow Lady,” died June 26. She was 81. Lyon sculpted the Iowa State Fair Butter Cow from 1960 until her retirement in 2004. She earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1951. She owned and operated Lyon Jerseys Dairy Farm near Toledo with her husband, Joe. A life-size bronze cow honoring Lyon was installed when the new ISU Dairy Farm was dedicated.
Charles Manatt, former U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, died July 22. He was 75. Manatt earned a bachelor’s degree in rural sociology from ISU in 1958. He founded First Los Angeles Bank. He was elected chair of the Democratic National Committee in 1981. In 1992, he was co-chair of the Clinton-Gore presidential campaign, and in 1999 President Clinton appointed Manatt as the U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Iowa State University Alumni Association and ISU Foundation.
Marvin Walter of Ames died June 1. He was 70. Walter earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science in 1962 and 1964. Walter worked for the American Meat Institute, then as a commodity broker at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Over the years, he operated Carriage House Meat, Provision Co. and several affiliated businesses. Walter was involved in many Iowa State activities, serving on the Board of Governors and receiving the Order of the Knoll award for Distinguished Service. He also received the Floyd Andre award for Distinguished Service to Agriculture from the college.
