In Memoriam – Spring 2026
CHRISTOPHER S. SHANK ’69, Shank took on many roles during his long-standing and far-ranging history of service to his alma mater — including that of astronaut when he co-chaired 2000FUN: A Shocker Odyssey, a benefit auction to raise funds for scholarships and alumni programming. A political science graduate, Shank hailed from a premier university family. His great-grandfather, H.W. Darling, was a charter member of the Fairmount College Board of Trustees. In 2001, Shank was honored with the WSU Board of Trustees Award and, in 2002, with the WSU Alumni Recognition Award. This senior commercial insurance executive, husband, father, friend and proud Shocker died Feb. 5, 2026, in Wichita.
RODRICK “ROD” ALSTON ’74, administration of justice graduate, retired business owner and avid Wichita State Shockers men’s basketball supporter, who flew with his wife, Pam, round-trip from Oakland, California, to Denver and on to Wichita for every home game after becoming season ticket holders and SASO members in 2022, Oct. 31, 2025, Oakland.
GEORGE K. BLOWERS ’71, U.S. Navy and Navy Reserves veteran who served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam War; retired educator and administrator who served as a school administrator, taught industrial arts and was a head track and cross country coach and assistant football coach in Lawrence, Kansas, and Springfield, Missouri, Oct. 8, 2025, Springfield.
GREGORY “GREG” A. CARNEY SR. ’70, standout WSU basketball player inducted into the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame in 2004; former math teacher at Fiske Elementary School in Chicago; certified Illinois Assessing Official and deputy assessor of taxpayer services in Cook County; founder of the Chicagoland Sports Foundation, Nov. 16, 2025, Phoenix, Arizona.
BERNARD “BERNIE” E. NICHOLS ’61, Air National Guard veteran and financial services professional who worked with Harris Upham and Paine Webber as a stockbroker, for the Fourth National Bank of Wichita in trust investments and pensions, and at USB, from which he retired as senior vice president, Wichita, Feb. 17, 2026. Active in civic organizations and at WSU, he put himself through college by working at Continental Trailways, where he met his wife, Alberta. In 2011, he was presented the WSU Alumni Achievement Award.
BETTY L. (KELLUM) PARTRIDGE ’55/68, longtime music educator who began her teaching career in Marion, Kansas, and went on to teach primarily elementary school music for 35 years at Wichita Public Schools; musician who played piano and clarinet, taught private voice lessons and performed with the Wichita Symphony Chorus, Nov. 9, 2025, Kansas City, Kansas.
J. ELAINE (EISELE) RALSTIN ’85, homemaker, retired Registered Nurse at St. Francis Hospital, Wichita, and community volunteer active through the years with SafeHope, Sedgwick County EMS and as a Girl Scout leader, Feb. 21, 2026, Newton, Kansas.
DAVID RODRIGUEZ, university friend, construction worker and cement craftsman whose artistry is shown in such projects as Pandora — The World of Avatar at Walt Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Bay Lake, Florida, March 30, 2026, Wichita.
K. BRUCE SANKEY ’72, U.S. Army veteran and journalism graduate who worked for the Wichita Eagle, Memphis Commercial Appeal, the St. Louis Post Dispatch and Arizona Republic in Phoenix before becoming the founding editor of Bus and Motorcoach News; film buff, sports and classic car enthusiast, Sept. 7, 2025, Oklahoma City.
RALPH F. VAUTRAVERS ’52, University of Wichita journalism graduate and founder of the Wichita-based printing firm Rand Publishing, which grew into Rand Graphics, a company specializing in high-volume, large-format printing, for which he served as chairman of the board, Oct. 5, 2025, Wichita.
RONALD G. “BUCKY” WALTERS, university friend, former student, retired hairdresser, beauty salon operator and longtime Wichita comedian, entertainer and musician known for his performances at the annual Gridiron fundraiser organized by the Society of Professional Journalists and, as lead singer of the Premiers, opening for, among others, Johnny Cash, Sept. 10, 2025, Wichita.
CONSTANCE WEAVER ’99, social work graduate who enjoyed plants, animals and the outdoors, especially while horseback riding or fishing, Feb. 18, 2026, Wichita.
JOHN D. WHITE ’70, accountancy graduate; CPA in public accounting and auditing; retired executive vice president, CFO and director at Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon; avid Shocker baseball and basketball supporter, Feb. 22, 2026, Gig Harbor, Washington.
GREGORY “GREG” L. WILLIAMS ’09, longtime Wichita radio personality known as “The Hitman,” who worked for 25 years as a DJ and brand manager at Audacy rhythmic CHR “Power 93.5” KDGS and Audacy’s “Classic Hits 103.7” KEYN-FM, Feb. 21, 2026, Wichita.
DENNIS M. WRIGHT ’63/69, career educator and administrator who taught speech and debate in Liberal, Kansas, was assistant principal at several Wichita middle and high schools, founded the Munger Alternative Junior High School in Wichita and was principal at Vermillion Elementary School in Maize, Kansas, where he retired as associate superintendent, Jan. 29, 2026, Dallas, Texas.
J. ROBERT “BOB” YOUNG ’61, founder and chairman of Alpine Bank and its holding company, Alpine Banks of Colorado, Dec. 11, 2025, Florida. This business administration grad and 2015 WSU Alumni Achievement Award honoree hit the apex in three quite different fields: philanthropy, banking and sports car racing. Named Colorado’s Outstanding Philanthropist in 1995, he was also a member of the WSUFAE’s Society of 1895 and of its National Advisory Council.
