Terrell M. Balthazor graduated from FHSU in 1971 with a B.S. in Chemistry. He also earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1975.

Six years later he was the recipient of the FHSU Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Award. In 1999, he retired from Monsanto Company after a highly successful, 24-year scientific career. His research work is diverse, encompassing several scientific disciplines. He is a noted authority on the chemistry of phosphorus and sulfur as well as the role of symmetry in shaping physical and biological phenomena.

While at Monsanto, he made major contributions to development of Roundup® herbicide. His studies of the microbiology of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup®, were the first to demonstrate the rapid degradation of this chemical in the environment. This work contributed to the development of herbicide tolerant crops now used widely in agriculture. These revolutionary products have significantly reduced the cost of food production and the amount of soil erosion associated with farming operations.

Currently, Balthazor is the Founder and CEO of TMB Scientific, LLC. Established in 2000, the company is a science based business specializing in technology analysis and strategic research planning.

Balthazor is a native of Palco and lives in Columbia, Mo. with his wife Kay. They have one son, Troy.

Kenyon N. Griffin has served the state of Wyoming with distinction for the past thirty-six years. A majority of his service has been to the University of Wyoming where he worked in a variety of positions, including professor, dean, and associate provost. In one of his leadership roles, he led a campaign that raised over $10 million for the college of business. In addition, he also served as the state of Wyoming’s educational policy advisor.The University of Wyoming has recognized Griffin’s outstanding service to the University through a variety of awards including an award given by the board of trustees – the Trustee Award of Merit for career service. This is the University of Wyoming’s highest award.

After earning an A.B. in history from FHSU in 1961, Griffin served as a high school teacher in East Africa and Garden City. He then went on to earn a M.A. in political science from Kansas State University in 1968 and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Kentucky in 1972.Although now retired, Griffin continues to serve as an adjunct professor for the department of economics and finance at the University of Wyoming.Griffin and his wife, Leah, are at home in Laramie, Wy. They have two adult children, Karol and Shari.

Donna Jones Morris has spent many years serving as an advocate for libraries. In 2004, she was named Utah State Librarian/Division Director.Prior to working in Utah, she served for nearly 20 years as the executive director of the Arkansas Valley Regional Library Service System in Pueblo, Colo. This regional organization included 221 libraries in 13 counties and 23,296 square miles. With little money and few resources, Morris helped small school and public libraries in Colorado better serve their communities. In Utah Morris started the Utah Library Advocacy Network bringing all types of libraries together.

Morris graduated from FHSU in 1969 with an A.B. in history. She earned her M.L. from Emporia State University in 1972.

In Colorado Morris was highly involved as a leader or active participant in most major Colorado library projects. In 1992 she was named the Colorado Librarian of the Year, and in 1998 she was awarded the Career Achievement Award from the Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL). She has provided consultation on 10 new and 30 library renovation projects. One of her projects received the 2002 CAL Design Award.

Donna and her husband, Raymond live in Salt Lake, her son and daughter-in-law Matt and Karen Jones farm in the Colby area.

Charles W. Sexson graduated from FHSU in 1972 with a B.A. in sociology. He then went on to earn a M.A.J. in administration of justice from Wichita State University in 1978. In 1980, he graduated from the 122nd session of the FBI National Academy. In 2005 he retired from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation after 32 years of service. For 10 of those years Sexson served as assistant director in charge of the KBI Information Services Division.

Sexson presided over the state’s vital Kansas Criminal Justice Information System (KCJIS) Improvement Project from 1995-2004. This was the most important project in the state’s criminal justice system in the past 20 years.In 2003 Sexson was honored by the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police and given the Bronze Award of Merit for his leadership in the development of KCJIS. In 2004 he was given the Gary R. Cooper Award from the SEARCH Group, the National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics in recognition of his meritorious service. Sexson also served as a council leader in the Boy Scouts of America.He and his wife, Jennifer are now at home in Topeka. They have one child, Matthew.

Grant Bannister is significantly contributing to the community as an attorney and volunteer. He graduated from FHSU in 1993 with a B.A. in economics and political science. He then went on to graduate from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1997. He is currently a partner in Knopp and Bannister PA in Manhattan. He has been admitted to practice before the US District Court, District of Kansas, and State of Kansas. Additionally, he is one of only a few Manhattan attorneys admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

Along with his professional achievements, Bannister is committed to serving his community. This past year he was the Manhattan Habitat for Humanity board president; under his leadership three new houses have been built, and land has been acquired for several more homes. Moreover, he actively serves the Kiwanis, Riley County Senior Volunteer Project, and the First United Methodist Church. He also volunteers his time as a youth softball and basketball coach. Bannister and his wife, Stephanie '92, have three children: Sydney, William, and Grace.

David A. Gray is the founder and former president of Affordable Supplements, Inc,. a highly successful business selling nutritional sports supplements through retail stores and online, which he sold in 2005. The company’s success was founded on a customer-friendly Web site, reasonably priced products and quick shipping. He displayed high-level entrepreneurial and leadership skills in his business, and was very much involved in the day-to-day management but was credited by his employees with allowing them to play vital roles.

Gray earned two degrees from FHSU: a B.A. in communication in 1995 and a M.S. in communication in 1997. He also earned his associates degree in 1993 from Colby Community College. Gray is a member of FHSU’s Department of Information Networking and Telecommunication’s Advisory Council. Gray has been recognized with many awards: the Lone Eagle Award from the FHSU Docking Institute of Public Affairs; an ROI Web Award from Inc. magazine; and Wichita Metro Awards in 2003 and 2004. He was featured in a cover article in the Verizon Super Pages at Work magazine and in another cover article in The Wichita Business Journal. Currently, he is an Information and Network Consultant and is a member of the Advisory Council of FHSU’s INT Department. He and wife, Kristi '97 have two children, Derek and Kade, and a third on the way.

Mary Lou Blum has given many gifts to Hays and the surrounding area. Quite fittingly, she has been described by others as a “gift we treasure.” Blum is a resident of Hays and attended FHSU from 1947-1949. Her late husband, Robert “Bob” graduated from FHSU in 1951 with a B.S. in secondary education and in 1956 with a M.S. in elementary education.

Blum has generously given her time and financial resources to enhance the development of the University. A resident of Hays, she manages the family farm and business interests. She serves on the FHSU Endowment Association Board of Trustees, is an active member of the Hays United Methodist Church and was a 30 year member of the church’s handbell choir. She does weekly volunteer work for the Hays Medical Center Auxiliary and serves on the Hays Medical Center Foundation Board. She is a member of the DeBakey Heart Institute at the Hays Medical Center and Chapter IH of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. Additionally, Blum has given her time and energy on behalf Big Brothers-Big Sisters.

She and her husband, Robert, had four children: Nancy Lou Clark ’77, Jane E. Blum, Mary Pat Dwyer and a daughter, Rebecca, who is deceased.

Xiao Chun “Shawn” Chen is President of Sias Group, Inc. in Alhambra, Calif. and President/Chairman of Sias International University in Xinzheng, Henan, China. He is responsible for helping create the current educational partnership between Sias and FHSU and has also assisted in arranging similar partnerships between and FHSU and three other Chinese institutions. FHSU began with 40 students at Sias and today there are over 890 students studying FHSU courses leading to a dual bachelor’s degree from Sias and FHSU.

Chen earned his bachelor’s degree from Chongqing University in Chongqing, China, his master’s degree in education from Linfield College in McMinnville, OR, and a MBA from Willamette University in Salem, OR, and the University of California – Los Angeles. He is also the recipient of an honorary doctorate from the University of Humanistic Studies. He has been awarded an honorary presidency for Xian Bodi School and Banbo Language School and has also received the Yellow River Award from the Henan Provincial Government and the Zhengzhou Friendship Award from the Zhengzhou Government.

Not only is Chen a visionary in the field of education, he is also an accomplished entrepreneur. He started the Chongquing Olive Cosmetic Co. which became one of the largest cosmetic factories in China, ranked second largest in 1996 behind Proctor and Gamble. Maxim Steel Door Co. became his second joint venture and is now one of the largest steel door manufacturers in China. Shawn and his wife, Angel, have two children, Brandon and Brenda.

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