FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        April 21, 2008 

NORTHWESTERN OUTSTANDING GRADUATES TO BE HONORED AT BANQUET 

            Four Northwestern Oklahoma State University alumni will be recognized as Outstanding Graduates at the Alumni Association’s annual Spring Reunion Banquet on Saturday, April 26.

            Those to be honored are Bob Wharton, Class of 1952, humanitarian; Willie Spears, Class of 2000, education; Andy Fosmire, Class of 1987, business/professional; and Patrick Crayton, Class of 2004, recognition award for achievement within five years of graduation.

            They will be recognized at the banquet at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.

Bob Wharton

            Wharton graduated from Aline High School in 1945 and in 1946 attended the spring semester at Phillips University before coming to Northwestern State College in the fall. He worked at the Hill Funeral Home while attending Northwestern. Wharton graduated from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in 1949 and returned to Alva to finish his undergraduate degree. He graduated from Northwestern State College in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

            Upon his graduation from Northwestern, Wharton started working for the Stiles Funeral Chapel. After six years, Mr. Stiles passed away and Bob became the manager. In 1962, he  bought the Stiles Funeral Chapel and it has since been operated as the Wharton Funeral Chapel.

            Wharton used his talents and education to do great things in and outside of northwest Oklahoma. In 1989 he spent six weeks in Russia teaching the art of embalming and in 1995, after the Alfred P. Murrah building was bombed, he was a volunteer for the Chief Medical Examiner in Oklahoma City.  He donated the buildings for New Beginnings in the Wharton Complex, which is an apartment complex for women and their children who have been involved in domestic violence and abuse.

            Over the years he has been involved in many civic and professional groups including past president of the Alva Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Northwestern Alumni Association.

            Bob and his wife Patsy reside in Alva and have three children, seven grandchildren and a great grandson.

Willie Spears

            Willie graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in May 2000.

            Since his graduation, the talented mass communications graduate from Panama City, Fla., has worked in radio, was an entertainer for a Disney cruise line and played indoor professional football for two years. In 2002, he started teaching health and coaching at his high school alma mater. He’s now in his first year as a physical education teacher and assistant football and track coach at Camden County High School in Kingsland, Ga. He’s also a licensed minister and motivational speaker throughout the United States.

            During college, Spears was an award-winning DJ at KNSU Radio, acted in two theatre productions and won the title of Mr. Cinderfella in 1998. He wore jersey No. 5 as a wide receiver for the 1999 NAIA National Champion Ranger football team. He also found time to attend basketball and baseball games, be apart of the Student Government Association, participate in intramural sports and attend church.

            Spears had a knack for writing, but it was mostly in the form of poetry or lyrics for rap songs. He’d fill pages upon pages with his creations. Those writings, along with ambition and determination, led him to record and produce two rap CDs while in Alva using the stage name “Da Nickel.” In 2007, using those same talents to write music, Spears released his first book titled Kiesha’s Dilemma, about the struggles and choices teenagers must face.

            In May, he will complete his Master’s Degree in education from Troy University. Willie is married, and he and his wife Tanika have two children; Tayelor Grace and Kenneth David.

Andrew Fosmire

            Fosmire hails from New York and before he attended Northwestern he received his Associates Degree in Applied Sciences from the State University of New York at Morrisville in 1981. He earned a degree in business administration from Northwestern and received a master’s degree in therapeutic recreation from Oklahoma State University in 1989. Fosmire currently works for Rural Health Projects, Inc. / Northwest Oklahoma Area Health Education Centre (NwAHEC) in Enid and serves as the Executive and Managing Director of Rural Health Association of Oklahoma and Managing Director of the Oklahoma Physicians Resource Network.

            Before joining NwAHEC in 2001, Fosmire worked at the Meadowlake Behavioral Health System for over eight years in various capacities and also took time to work on the family farm with his father-in-law.

            He is a member of the National Rural Health Association (Oklahoma Rep. to the State Association Council), Rural Health Association of Oklahoma and the National AHEC Organization (Chair of the Center of Directors Leadership Team, NAO Board of Directors, NAO Bulletin Editorial Board).

            Other civic involvements include the Hospice Circle of Love: Capital Campaign Committee, Wheatland Resource Center, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church: Sunday school teacher, choir, usher, Senior Warden and Vestry member, sings in the Enid Symphonic Choir, and past president and treasurer of the Kremlin Lion’s Club.

            Fosmire’s interests include being a dad, family trips, managing livestock, downhill skiing and pick-up basketball games at the YMCA.

            He and his wife of 22 years, Diane, live in Enid with their three children, Max, Libby and Sophie. All three currently attend Kremlin-Hillsdale Public Schools.

Patrick Crayton

            One of the finest athletes to wear a Ranger uniform, Patrick Crayton graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in May 2004 after leading the Rangers to the 2003 NAIA National Championship football game in December. A four-time all-conference selection, Crayton played as a punt returner, kickoff returner, quarterback and wide receiver. In four years as a Ranger, he amassed over 5,600 yards and had 46 touchdowns. During his stellar senior season, he became the first player in NAIA history to score a touchdown as a passer, rusher, receiver, kickoff returner and punter returner in a single season. Crayton still holds nine Northwestern football records.

            Touted as one of the most versatile athletes in the country, Crayton was drafted in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He was a return specialist and wide receiver his rookie year and made a game-winning touchdown catch against the Washington Redskins.

            In his second season with the Cowboys, Crayton was named the third receiver but an ankle injury halfway through the season slowed him down. He bounced back and had a career year in 2006 with four touchdowns, averaging 32.2 yards per game on 36 receptions.

            Crayton’s production has increased every year he has played in the National Football League (NFL) and 2007 was no different. After recording career highs for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns in 2006, he ended the 2007 season the same way. He had career highs in receiving yards (697), receptions (50) and doubled his career touchdowns with seven.

            He is involved in many civic activities including the NFL Play It Smart program at Dallas Lincoln High School, ChildCareGroup, NFL United Way Hometown Huddle and the Salvation Army. Crayton also participated in a mentorship program at his hometown high school in DeSoto, Texas.

            Crayton has a degree in health education and he and his wife, Najiyyah, have a son Patrick, Jr.

-NWF-

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