In Memoriam

Dennis Michael Bradford passed away Dec. 10, 2015, in Nacogdoches. Bradford was a Marine and a scholar. He was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on Sept. 17, 1948, and moved to Texas in 1966. After high school graduation, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Vietnam from 1969 to 70. After leaving active duty, Bradford attended the University of Houston, where he received his bachelor’s degree in philosophy and juris doctorate. He later earned a master’s degree in history from SFA.

Bradford was a charter member of the Pineywoods Detachment 1189 of the Marine Corps League, where he served as detachment commandant. Though trained in law, Bradford loved history and taught as an adjunct professor at SFA for several years. His service to the university extended beyond the classroom to his work with military veterans, and he served as a mentor and friend to other veterans on SFA’s campus. He retired from SFA in summer 2015.

Bradford published scholarly articles in the East Texas Historical Journal and was an active member of the American Historical Association, the Southern Historical Association and the East Texas Historical Association, where he served as a board member and chair of a number of committees, the most recent being the Archie McDonald Scholarship Committee.

Bradford is survived by his wife, Mary Frances, a son and two daughters.

Ken Autry Davis passed away Dec. 4, 2015, in Wills Point. Born Jan. 3, 1938, Davis excelled in athletics and was named an All-State Running Back at Wills Point High School in 1955 before attending SFA.

Davis played football for the Lumberjacks and lettered four years in football and two years in track. He received the SFA Todd Award for Outstanding Athlete in 1961, and he graduated from the university in 1962.

He married Rosa Ruth Curtis and was employed as a coach by the Wills Point ISD for 30 years, serving as head football coach for 25 years until his retirement in 1991. In 1965, he led the team to the Class A State Football Championship with a perfect 15-0 season. Davis compiled a coaching record of 187 wins and 83 losses during his career. In 2005, he was honored with the naming of the football stadium in his honor.

He is survived by his wife and son.

Allen Helmer Oster passed away Feb. 1, 2016, in Nacogdoches. Oster was born Feb. 13, 1949, and received his bachelor’s degree in theatre from Dickinson State University, master’s degree in theatre from North Dakota State University and master’s degree in directing from the University of Utah.

He joined the SFA faculty in 1983 and taught performance courses and directing. He also served as the administrator of the student-directed productions program and the director of SFA’s High School Summer Theatre Workshop for 20 years. Additionally, he was the artistic director of the SFA Summer Repertory Theatre for 16 years.

Oster directed and acted in more than 200 productions for professional, college, community, summer, regional and dinner theatres in several states. In 1996, he received the SFA College of Fine Arts Teaching Excellence Award and also was recognized that same year with the university’s Teaching Excellence Award. In 2006, he was selected as a Piper Professor of Texas, and in 2008, he was recognized with the Faculty Achievement Award in Teaching by the SFASU Foundation. Oster retired from SFA in June 2011 and was named professor emeritus of theatre in 2012.

Michael Terry Wilhite passed away Nov. 15, 2015. Wilhite was born in Houston on Aug. 19, 1942. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1960, and after a one-year stint playing football at Blinn Junior College in Brenham, he headed to Nacogdoches to attend SFA on a football scholarship.

While at SFA, he met and married Mary Jane Bryce. The couple graduated with bachelor’s degrees from SFA in 1965 and earned master’s degrees in education in 1968. After graduation, the couple moved to Henderson, where Mike began his career teaching biology and coaching football at Henderson High School.

In 1970, Wilhite went to work for Henderson Clay Products, where his hard work and determination eventually led to his becoming vice president of the oil and gas division. He later formed Mustang Drilling alongside longtime friend Bob Slover.

Wilhite held a special love for SFA and served many years on the SFA Alumni Association Board. From 1999 to 2005, he was a member of the university’s Board of Regents.

During his lifetime, Wilhite enjoyed team roping, woodworking and vintage cars. He also was an avid supporter of the Lumberjack football team.

His wife, daughter, son and three grandchildren survive him.