Three families honored with Family Tree awards

The first Family Tree Awards were presented in 1996. This year’s group brings the total number of recipients to 72.

The Mowry - Carr Family

Billie Mowry of Minatare, Nebraska, was the first of a long line of his family to attend college in Chadron. He graduated from CSC in 1960 with a degree in biology and was a member of the undefeated 1958 football team. After earning his master’s in science education in Michigan, he went on to a 34-year career in education as a classroom teacher, a secondary principal and a superintendent. He lives in Riverton, Wyoming, and has three sons: Bryon, Bruce and Bradley. His wife, Elizabeth, is deceased.

Bryon earned his bachelor’s in business in 1981 while participating in football, golf and C Club. He was a member of CSC’s 1978 Boot Hill Bowl winning team. He also lives in Riverton and is currently the chief accounting officer for U.S. Energy Corporation. His wife Cheryl (Carr) played intramural volleyball and was active in the Nebraska Student Education Association before graduating in 1993. She has a master’s degree in educational administration and taught middle school for seven years. She is in her 13th year as principal of Riverton Middle School. They have four children: James, Jeff, Nicole and Abigail.

Cheryl’s brother, Rex Carr, attended CSC in 1978.

Cheryl’s sister, Cynthia Hald, earned her degree in elementary education in 1979. She has her master’s degree in middle school mathematics and has been a first grade teacher in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, for 28 years. She and her husband, Mark, have three children:  Jessica, Nicholas and Stefan.

James attended CSC from 1998-2000 and went on to earn his law degree and is currently practicing law in Wyoming. He lives in Sheridan, Wyoming, with his wife, Shelly, and they have two children: Makena and Alana.

Abigail graduated with her bachelor’s in elementary education in 2008. She was active in the history club, a coordinator with Special Olympics and named to the President’s List while at CSC. After earning her master’s and teaching three years in Nebraska, she is now a fifth grade teacher at Sagebrush Elementary in Sheridan, Wyoming.

Bruce graduated in 1995 with a bachelor’s in secondary education. He also has a master’s degree in educational administration, and has taught math at McCormick Jr. High in Cheyenne, Wyoming, for 14 years. He coached football at Central High School for 15 years, and was the head track coach for 10 years. His children are Tayler, Zach and Carsen.

Billie’s niece, Susan Goetzinger, earned two bachelor’s degrees in 1983, one in business administration and one in recreation. She was a member of the CSC track team. Susan lives in Riverton where she is the market director for physician’s services for Lifeline Hospitals.

The Riesen Family

The Riesens began their families’ association with the college before it was officially named Chadron State College. Maxine Underwood (deceased) attended in 1937 when it was known as Nebraska State Teachers college at Chadron. She and her husband Ernest Riesen had two sons: Clell and Burr.

Clell Riesen, a retired farmer and business manager, earned his business education degree in 1968. He currently lives near Minatare, Nebraska. He and his wife, Donna, have two sons: Clayton and Clinton.

Clell’s brother, Burr Riesen, earned a geology degree in 1970 and has been engaged in geology work in Wyoming. He and his wife, Penny, have three sons: Bill, Tom and James. They live in Sheridan, Wyoming.

Clayton Riesen graduated in 1987 with a degree in marketing and accounting. He has a career in the banking industry. Clayton currently serves on the CSC Alumni Board. He and his wife, Julie, are the parents of Ashley, Colby, Alaina and Clark.

Ashley earned her bachelor’s degree last year and is a graduate assistant currently pursuing her master’s. As an undergraduate, Ashley was active in track, the health professions club and was elected 2011 Homecoming queen.

Colby is currently an undergraduate student at Chadron State College.

Clayton’s brother, Clinton, graduated in 2006 with a business degree. He is married to Nancie Mansfield, a 2008 graduate with a degree in business and accounting. They live near Minatare, Nebraska, with their four children: Brenton, Whitney, MacCormick and Madelyn.

The Winchell - Phillips Family

The Winchell-Phillips family adds something interesting to this year’s Family Tree Award ceremony. Shelby Winchell is a current CSC student and represents the fourth generation on both sides of her family.

Mary Eloise Johnston Feighny (deceased) enrolled in Nebraska State Teachers College in 1932-33 and earned her bachelor’s in education in 1958. She was involved in Zeta Alpha while a student. Her professional career as an educator was spent in Alliance, Nebraska. She and her husband, Gene Feighny, raised a family of three children: Mary Frances Thoren, Kathryn Ann Winchell and Elizabeth Nelle Lewton.

Kathryn Feighny majored in education and graduated with her bachelor’s in 1961. She was a member of Cardinal Key, Feather Fans, Gamma Theta Epsilon, Kappa Pi, Newman Club, Sigma Delta Nu and Zeta Alpha. She was also elected senior class vice president, freshman class vice president, Court Queen in 1960 and Homecoming attendant in 1961. Kathryn is a retired English teacher living in Scottsbluff.

Kathryn’s husband, Ron Winchell, was a three-sport letterman in football, basketball and baseball. He also was a member of Alpha Phi Omega and C Club. He was voted the outstanding athlete of the year in the spring of 1961. He graduated with a bachelor’s in education in 1965 and went on to complete 36 years of military service. He is a retired chief of staff for the 35^th infantry division (mechanized). Kathryn and Ron have three children: Mark, Jill and Michael.

Mike married Shawna Phillips who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1988. She was active in rodeo, intramurals and Key Club. They are self-employed in the banking industry in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Their daughters are Shelby and Libby.

Shelby is a current student at CSC. She participated on the rodeo team and has qualified for the college national finals three times during her career and finished each time in the top 10. She is also involved in Sigma Tau Delta. She plans to complete her education degree in 2015.

Shawna’s father, Dick Phillips, is a 1960 graduate who was instrumental in organizing the original CSC rodeo club. He is a Navy veteran who worked as a purchasing agent and truck driver. His wife is Sharon Porter Phillips. Their other children include the following: Mike, Janelle Bloxham (deceased) and Sam (deceased).

Dick’s mother, Virginia Louise Johnson Phillips Buechler, (deceased) earned a general elementary state certificate in 1928 from the institution when it was called Nebraska State Teachers College at Chadron. Dick’s siblings are Joe Buechler, Linda Buechler and Carol Dean Buechler.