Coming
in from Tulsa, Oklahoma Mike traded the wind and dust for snow and cold,
joining "Black Jack" 21st Squadron. Academics just were not
Mike's forte during his first two years, but when he switched to 20th
Squadron “Trolls” his motivation and hard work earned him
a place on the Dean's
List. With the extra privileges, Mike avoided spending weekends at the
Academy, whenever possible, during his last two years. Mike married
Marie (Dillon) at a small church in Colorado Springs at 3 PM the day
of graduation.
Mike is colorblind so he did not qualify for pilot training. He served
as a public affairs officer at Nellis, AFB and later on a traveling
team assigned to the Pentagon.
When his commitment was up, Mike and Marie began a long journey in the
world of both academia and law. Mike returned to his home state of Oklahoma
earning a master's degree in human relations in 1973 and a doctorate
in communications in 1978 from the University of Oklahoma in Norman
, OK. In 1987, Mike earned his Juris Doctorate from Southern Illinois
University in 1987.
Marie
completed her Juris Doctorate at the University of Oklahoma while Mike
was in his doctoral program. When Mike and Marie practiced law together
in southern Illinois Marie was fond of saying she was the senior partner.
Mike has more
than 35 years of experience in academia and 12 years of experience as
a practicing attorney, specializing in criminal defense and appellate
advocacy. He is one of only two people to win the American Bar Association's
National Appellate Advocacy Competition twice. He is accredited by the
Public Relations Society of America and is a member of the Illinois
and Oklahoma Bar.
He
has held positions at Southern Illinois University and Texas Tech University.
At Texas Tech, he served as a professor and acted as Associate Dean
for Graduate Affairs and Associate Dean for Faculty in the College of
Mass Communications. He has been recognized as the outstanding educator
by Southern Illinois University. Mike has published three books and
more than 100 papers, articles and chapters over the course of his extensive
academic career. He and Marie co-authored two of the books in communication
law. His research and publications focus on international public relations,
media law, and media ethics. He also served as faculty advisor for the
Public Relations Student Society of America, as head of the public relations
division and research chair for the Association for Education in Journalism
and Mass Communication, and as research chair in the Public Relations
Society of America. While Mike and Marie were at TTU, Marie was a professor
in the Political Science Department and in the College of Mass Communications.
After
retiring from Texas Tech, Mike and Marie settled in Colorado Springs
in 2010 where they immediately became heavily involved as both significant
donors and as volunteers in academics at the Academy. Mike joined the
USAFA Endowment Board and in the 2013 Annual Report, he and Marie are
in the Donor Spotlight which you can read here.
We are especially
proud of Mike taking on the task of being Vice Chair of our 45th Reunion
Committee last year and being a volunteer in our Class Gift effort.
We are very pleased that our Class has become the lead in the number
of Sabre Society members.
It
is not all work for Mike and Marie - they enjoy flying in their Beechcraft
Debonair and taking a trip to Vegas, now and then, with friends.
We're all especially glad that you stepped up to be the Reunion Chairman
for our 50th in 2018.
Coming
in from Tulsa, Oklahoma Mike traded the wind and dust for snow and cold,
joining "Black Jack" 21st Squadron. Academics just were not
Mike's forte during his first two years, but when he switched to 20th
Squadron “Trolls” his motivation and hard work earned him
a place on the 
Marie
completed her Juris Doctorate at the University of Oklahoma while Mike
was in his doctoral program. When Mike and Marie practiced law together
in southern Illinois Marie was fond of saying she was the senior partner.
He
has held positions at Southern Illinois University and Texas Tech University.
At Texas Tech, he served as a professor and acted as Associate Dean
for Graduate Affairs and Associate Dean for Faculty in the College of
Mass Communications. He has been recognized as the outstanding educator
by Southern Illinois University. Mike has published three books and
more than 100 papers, articles and chapters over the course of his extensive
academic career. He and Marie co-authored two of the books in communication
law. His research and publications focus on international public relations,
media law, and media ethics. He also served as faculty advisor for the
Public Relations Student Society of America, as head of the public relations
division and research chair for the Association for Education in Journalism
and Mass Communication, and as research chair in the Public Relations
Society of America. While Mike and Marie were at TTU, Marie was a professor
in the Political Science Department and in the College of Mass Communications.
