Mathematics’ Vaughan leads honorees for Service Awards recognition

Written by 

Loy Vaughan sizedLoy O. Vaughan, Ph.D., has educated thousands of students across all disciplines in mathematics during his 45 years at UAB. He will join more than 250 employees at UAB to be honored during the annual Service Awards Program noon Friday, Feb. 20, which will include a luncheon for employees with 20 or more years of service in The DoubleTree Hotel Heritage Banquet room.

Employees being honored for five or more years of service are invited to a drop-in reception at 3 p.m. in the Heritage Banquet room.

Vaughan grew up in Birmingham’s West End neighborhood and attended Florida State University, following Bobby Bowden, who left Samford for an assistant coaching position at FSU. Although Vaughan only played football one year, he remained at FSU to complete his undergraduate degree. He came back to Alabama to complete his graduate degree at the University of Alabama. In 1969, Vaughan returned to Birmingham to work for UAB.

“Since I was still completing requirements for my Ph.D. in 1969, the job offer at UAB was more of a convenience since I could commute from Tuscaloosa to UAB to teach my classes,” Vaughan said, noting I-59 did not exist at that time. “I never thought of it as a permanent position, because, as a native of Birmingham, I still thought of this school as nothing more than an extension center of UA in Birmingham. UAB actually became a separate university, with Dr. Volker as president, in the year I arrived. I became more attached to UAB as it began to grow, and I realized that there was some magic in that early growth of a university.”

Vaughan has seen UAB grow into Birmingham’s biggest success story during the past 45 years. It has grown from an extension center that primarily taught older students who also were working full time jobs to a university that encompasses more than 93 city blocks and has residence halls on campus to house students.

Vaughan never imagined UAB growing into what it has become, but he also never imagined he would work at one place for 45 years.

“When you start out, you don’t have that intention,” Vaughan said. “I never thought I’d be here that long, and I thought it might even be temporary. But every step we took and every year that passed we were building something. We were developing a new university. We had to build libraries, and we had to build a reputation. The university grew, and I grew, so we kind of grew together.”

Changes have been numerous and frequent during Vaughan’s time here. Courses have been restructured and teaching formats have changed many times. Email has become the primary means of communication with students outside the classroom, and homework assignments can be completed on the Internet.

But through all of the changes, Vaughan said the basics of being a teacher have remained the same.

“You still try to educate students the best way you can,” he said. “Through all of the restructuring and format changes, you still think you are making progress. We work to improve the process.”

Vaughan still teaches full time and doesn’t see any signs of stopping.

“I do not have any definite plans to retire,” Vaughan said. “Ask me again in five years.”

The following are being honored for their years of service:

Honored 45-Year Recipients

Loy O. Vaughan (Mathematics)

Honored 40-Year Recipients

Daniel W. Craft (Express Project Services); David T. Jenkins (Biology); John F. Kearney (Microbiology); Robert N. Kleinstein (Optometry); David C. Naftel (Cardiovascular/Thoracic Surgery); Jere P. Segrest (Gerontology/Geriatrics/Palliative Care)

Honored 35-Year Recipients

C. Bruce Alexander (Pathology); Betty L. Barron (Enterprise Applications); Scott Brande (Chemistry); Charlye A. Brocks (Molecular & Cellular Pathology); Mary L. Clark (Cardiovascular/Thoracic Surgery); Pamela S. Clark (Continuing Medical Education); Janet H. Cunningham (Facil Human Resources); Della W. Daniel (Biostatistics); Letha L. Daniel (Bell-Wallace Gym); C. Cleo Goddard (Huntsville Clinic-Psychiatry); James R. Jackson (Medical Education); Martin K. Jones (Gerontology/Geriatrics/Palliative Care); James K. Kirklin (Cardiovascular/Thoracic Surgery); Walter N. McCord (Shipping & Receiving); Davietta McDole (Justice Sciences); Lois C. Musgrove (Gastroenterology); Patricia A. Raczynski (Office of Assoc VP Financial Affairs); Max L. Richard (Office of Senior Facilities Officer); Sonja O. Rieger (Art and Art History); Leo P. Semes (Optometry); Jana J. Shultz (Anatomic Pathology); Gregg L. Vaughn (Electrical & Computer Engineering); J. Michael Wyss (Cell, Developmental, & Integrative Biology)

Honored 30-Year Recipients

Mary Ann Accavitti-Loper (Genetics); Francesca B. Allen (Genetics); Marvin K. Atmore (University Police); Timothy L. Awtrey (Pathology Finance); Boyd L. Bailey (Selma Family Med); Judy Baker (Epidemiology); Robert C. Bourge (Cardiovascular Disease); Gwendolyn L. Boyd (Anesthesiology); Cynthia G. Brumfield (Maternal & Fetal Medicine); Cynthia S. Calhoun (Pulmonary/Allergy/Critical Care); Caroline F. Chapman (Cardiovascular Disease); Katherine A. Clore (Optometry); Donna M. Crabb (Laboratory Medicine); Marilyn J. Crain (Pediatric Infectious Disease); Deborah T. Frazer (Hematology & Oncology); William P. Garth (Surgery-Orthopaedic); Kiran B. Gupta (Pathology); Joanetha Y. Hale (Microbiology); Donna Hamer (SHP); T. Michael Harrington (Family & Community Medicine); Linda S. Harris (Mervyn H. Sterne Library); Gary R. Hunter (Human Studies); Debra A. Jackson (Dentistry); Constance K. Kamii (Curriculum Instruction); Kevin L. Kirk (Cell, Developmental, & Integrative Biology); Kevin J. Macon (Center for Biophysical Sciences/Engineering); Teresa W. Manley (MIST); John C. Mayer (Mathematics); Kenneth R. Morrow (Chilled Water); Glenn E. Peters (Surgery-Otolaryngology); Sherri H. Price (Office of Asst VP Occupational Health & Safety); Phyllis A. Rush (Building Services); Veronica R. Strother (Student Accounting); Timothy L. Sullivan (Campus Services); Tim M. Townes (Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics); Diane C. Tucker (Psychology); Robert E. Varner (OB/GYN); Godfrey Watkins (Mervyn H. Sterne Library); John Waterbor (Epidemiology)

Honored 25-Year Recipients

Pamela Alverson (Comprehensive Cancer Center); Bonita E. Andrews (OB/GYN-GYN Oncology); Anthony M. Banks (Physical Security); Scott R. Barnum (Microbiology); Karen J. Benson (Building Services); Deborah J. Blackstone (Records); Norman E. Bolus (Nuclear Medicine Tech Program); Kyle G. Boyett (Office of Asst VP Occupational Health & Safety); Tempie M. Brooks (Maternal & Fetal Medicine); Dorothy L. Brown (Building Services); Karen E. Buckner (Nursing); Jerry M. Burden (Express Project Services); Beth S. Busbey (Ophthalmology); Mary Jo Cagle (Surgery); Charles Calhoun (Curriculum Instruction); James C. Camel (Genetics); Denise D. Cardin (Psychiatry); W. Winn Chatham (Immunology/Rheumatology); Joan A. Conway (Office of Sponsored Programs); Marsha D. Daniell (Huntsville Med-Family Med Pgm); Rhonda R. Eubank (Cell, Developmental, & Integrative Biology); Alicia T. Farley (Cardiovascular Disease); Randall L. Foster (Neurology); David O. Freedman (Infectious Diseases); Paul D. Gamlin (Ophthalmology); Shirley S. Ginwright (CORD); Brian P. Gleason (OB/GYN); William B. Griffin (Chilled Water); John Joseph Hablitz (Neurobiology); Cheryl D. Hall (Theatre); Steven E. Hicks (Center for Biophysical Sciences/Engineering); Daphne A. Hoyt (HealthFinder); Trena T. Johnsey (Preventive Medicine); John C. Kappes (Hematology & Oncology); Paula F. Kiley (Immunology/Rheumatology); Larry E. Langner (Post Office); Kimberly P. Lee (Radio Paging); Katherine A. Margolies (Neurobiology); Gwenetta Marshall (Hematology & Oncology); Beverly D. Matlock (Office of Assoc VP Financial Affairs); Julie A. McDougal (Health Care Organization & Policy); Brenda D. McKenzie (Gastroenterology); David T. McPherson (Center for AIDS Research); Stephen T. Mennemeyer (Health Care Organization & Policy); Patricia J. Mercado (Dermatology); Andre J. Millard (History); Melissa S. Miller (Psych-Public Sector); Kathy B. Minor (OB/GYN); Katrina Moore (Nephrology); Lisa R. Moore (TRIO Academic Services); Wayne A. Nall (Campus Maintenance); Linda L. Nieft (Enterprise Applications); Mubenga N. Nkashama (Mathematics); Andrew J. Paterson (Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism); Nina L. Poythress (OB/GYN); Jose B. Quintana (Health Care Management); Davis E. Ramsey (IT Business Financial Svcs); Michael S. Reddy (Dentistry); Nedra C. Reese (Dentistry); Charlene C. Rhoades (Pediatrics); Belinda F. Rials (OB/GYN); Kelley H. Roach (Clinical Trials Office); Myrtle P. Rutledge (School of Optometry); S. Lane Rutledge (Clinical Genetics); Christy F. Shinn (Pulmonary/Allergy/Critical Care); Tommy G. Smith (Curriculum Instruction); Dan L. Snelson (Express Project Services); Sharon A. Spencer (Radiation Oncology); Steven M. Spencer (Architect, Engineering & Interior Services) Sylvia B. Strothers (Institute of Oral Health Research); Melanie L. Talbot (B.S. in Health Care Mgmt); Michael D. Teague (Campus Maintenance); John A. Thompson (Surgery-Transplantation); Nancy R. Timpa (Curriculum Instruction); Edward P. Turpin (Telecommunications Svcs); Janice B. Ward (Office of Vice Provost Student & Faculty Success); John C. Welch (Express Project Services); Christie K. Wilson (IRB); Karen A. Wood (Lister Hill Library of Health Sciences); Steven W. Wood (Creative & Periodicals); Xizeng Wu (Radiology); Tong Zhou (Immunology/Rheumatology)

Honored 20-Year Recipients

Tracy G. Adams (Pathology Finance); James H. Alford (Bartow Arena Operations); Charles D. Amsler (Biology); Rebecca A. Bach (English); Angel J. Bailey (Nursing); James E. Bailey (Express Project Services); Anitra Baylor (Preventive Medicine); Martina Bebin (Neurology); Zsuzsanna Bebok (Cell, Developmental, & Integrative Biology); Derek N. Beck (Budget and Payroll); Thressa A. Bloomer (Enrollment Operations); April M. Boyd (Medical Education); Michael E. Boyd (Benefits); William B. Brookshaw (Mervyn H. Sterne Library); Lana Jill Brownlow (Infectious Diseases); Robbie N. Burrell (Restorative Sciences); Michele D. Carter (Parking & Transportation); Pi-Ling Chang (Nutrition Sciences); Debasish Chattopadhyay (Infectious Diseases); Lisa K. Clemons (Surgery-Otolaryngology); Jennifer D. Clendenin (Nephrology); Christie R. Coleman (Psychiatry); Robert M. Conry (Hematology & Oncology); Fredrick D. Cook (Campus Maintenance); Kristen B. Craig (Marketing, Industrial Distribution & Economics); Joseph L. Davenport (Center for Biophysical Sciences/Engineering); Pankaj M. Desai (Anesthesiology); Leon S. Dure (Pediatric Neurology); Devin E. Eckhoff (Surgery-Transplantation); H. Hugh Evans (Pediatrics); Sherry J. Evans (Surgery); Pohoey Fan (Cardiovascular Disease); Demara M. Faris (Medical Education Information Services); Kimberley H. Fort (Office of Administration & Finance); Ellen M. Funkhouser (Preventive Medicine); Lauretta Gerrity (Office of VP Research & Economic Development); Lillie B. Gill (Building Services); Fekisha V. Guyton (Surgery); Stacy D. Hall (Microbiology); Frank Hamby (Express Project Services); Janice H. Hofman (Electrical & Computer Engineering); Shiobhan D. Holmes (Campus Card Office); Johnny R. Hyde (Hospital Maintenance); Portia A. Jackson (Family & Community Medicine); Jing Jiang (Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism); Michelle S. Johnson (Molecular & Cellular Pathology); John K. Johnstone (Computer & Information Sciences); Arthur M. Jones (Chilled Water); William D. Jordan (Surgery); Thomas Kekes-Szabo (Nursing); Kathleen G. Kennedy (Athletics); Harry R. Kyle (Chilled Water); Yung R. Lau (Pediatric Cardiology); Erica L. Lee (Surgery-Otolaryngology); Audrey M. Lewis (Building Services); Nita A. Limdi (Neurology); Charles C. Lynch (Campus Maintenance); Yuanyuan Ma (Cardiovascular Disease); Trana L. Mars (Optometry Clinical Services); Deborah L. McCombs (Center for Biophysical Sciences/Engineering); Sharon Melnick (Cardiovascular Disease); Joseph L. Messina (Molecular & Cellular Pathology); Stephen E. Mitchell (Bartow Arena); Shirley Naro (Managed Care Contracting); Dalton S. Nelson (Electrical & Computer Engineering); Jan Novak (Microbiology); Cynthia J. Partlow (Epidemiology); Pauline D. Peoples (Building Services); Rodney T. Perry (Epidemiology); Elizabeth A. Peters (Optometry Clinical Services); Michelle Peterson (Education-Student Services); Danna L. Poske (Clinical & Diagnostic Sciences); Sonya M. Powell (Child Development Center); Shihong Qiu (Center for Biophysical Sciences/Engineering); Adrianne Y. Raymond (Physician Health); Sharon A. Robinson (Student Health Services); Dennis L. Rollins (Cardiovascular Disease); Carol E. Rosenstiel (Ophthalmology); Windell A. Ross (Pediatric Dentistry); Francilla Russell (Real Estate Office); Karen G. Savage (Infectious Diseases); Jane R. Schwebke (Infectious Diseases); Demetria P. Scott (Supplier Diversity); Lisa C. Sherron (Radiation Oncology); Dale M. Shew (Telecommunications Services); Catherine H. Smith (Lister Hill Library of Health Sciences); J. Kevin Smith (Radiology); Harald W. Sontheimer (Neurobiology); Bonnie Stewart (Building Services); Jerry E. Stewart (Surgery-Pediatrics); Gunter Stolz (Mathematics); John R. Taylor (Medical Education Information Services); Monique S. Taylor (Child Development Center); Ken R. Tilashalski (Dentistry); Andre' C. Todd (Bulk Mail); Cynthia E. Traylor (Building Services); Martin C. Tully (Telecommunications Services); Henrietta Turner (Anatomic Pathology); Tarak Vasavada (Huntsville Med-Psychiatry Program); Gregory P. Walcott (Cardiovascular Disease); Kedria Walker (Clinical Pharmacology/Toxicology); Shannon J. Warren (Infectious Diseases); Andrew O. Westfall (Biostatistics); Anne M. Williams (Nursing); Patty J. Williams (Comprehensive Cancer Center); Azad N. Yaba (International Recruitment Retention); Henghui Zou (Mathematics)