view pdf version - Alumni - Truman State University

It says a lot about a person when
friends and family hold him in such
high regard that they create a
scholarship in his honor. Such is the case
with the late John D. Black, who served
as professor of zoology at Truman from
1948 through 1973. Two Truman alumni,
Sharron (Bailey) Quisenberry (’66) and
Larry Quisenberry (’66, ’75), are
leading a fund drive for the John D.
Black Scholarship to recognize the
immeasurable impact Black had on so
many lives.
The goal for the fundraising initiative
is to build the John D. Black Scholarship
to the $100,000 endowment level. The
Quisenberrys are leading the charge by
contributing $5,000 annually for the
next five years for a total contribution
of $25,000, and the couple is encouraging
others whose lives were touched
by Black to make a gift to the
scholarship fund.
Black is remembered by many as a
teacher and mentor, as well as a lifelong
friend, and the influence of this
legendary professor lives on through the
scholarship fund named in his honor.
The John D. Black Scholarship, which
was established at Truman in 1988, helps
lighten the financial burden for pre-med
students, and contributions to the fund
will enhance Black’s legacy for future
generations.
While serving as sponsor of the Preosteopathic
Club at Truman, Black acted
as the unofficial pre-medicine advisor
and is credited as the first preosteopathic
advisor in the country.
“Dr. Black was the reason I had such
a successful time at the University. I
became accepted to the Kansas City
University of Medicine and
Biosciences and then much
later I became a
surgeon,”
said Betty Jo White (’59), D.O.,
FACOS, who in 1967 became the first
female to complete a general surgery
residency in the osteopathic profession.
“I was one of Dr. Black’s mentees,
and my husband, Larry, and I became
lifelong friends with Dr. Black until his
death in 1996,” says Sharron
Quisenberry. “The students he guided,
encouraged, inspired and supported
are reflected by the large number of
students he mentored who became
successful as medical doctors, scientists
and teachers.”
Recognized internationally as an
expert on plant-insect interactions and
plant resistance to insects, Sharron is
vice president for Research and
Economic Development at Iowa State
University. She received a bachelor of
science in education degree in biology
from Truman in 1966. She earned a
master of arts in environmental
biology from Hood College and holds
a master of science and a doctorate in
entomology from the University of
Missouri-Columbia.
Larry Quisenberry serves as
program coordinator at Iowa State
University reporting to the executive
vice president and provost. He
graduated from Truman with a
bachelor of science in business
education in 1966 and earned a master
of arts degree in school administration
in 1975. He received his doctor of
philosophy in general school administration
with support areas of study in
higher and adult education from the
University of Missouri-Columbia.
Winter 2009-2010 35