Ruth Boyd worked as military personnel records clerk at UTA from 1979 until her retirement in 1992.

She came to UTA in 1978, working in the Office of Student Affairs. In 1979, she was assigned to the Military Science Department, first as a University employee and later as a Department of the Army employee.

A graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in personnel psychology, Boyd worked for General Mills, Minneapolis Honeywell and Chance Vought Aircraft before taking time off to raise two children. In 1971, she returned to work as the membership secretary at First United Methodist Church in Arlington.

Over the years, she became known as “Cadet Mom” for the warm relationships she developed with the students. Cadets went to her with academic as well as personal problems, knowing that she would listen and advise. UTA’s 1985 yearbook noted: “Ruth was not just a question-and-answer, push-the-paperwork individual, but one that knew each cadet’s record. Each packet processed was an individual, a cadet.”

Boyd served under seven professors of military science and was responsible for processing more than 300 cadet commissioning packets. She kept track of the constant turnover, both of cadre and cadets, as well as the numerous administrative changes, providing continuity and stability in the Military Science Department.

Following her retirement, she became an active member of the Corps of Cadets Advisory Committee and later a member of the Corps of Cadets Alumni Chapter. Her vast knowledge of the cadets and those who were commissioned through the program was instrumental in the chapter’s creation.

Ruth and Aubrey, her husband of 49 years, live in Arlington. They have two children.

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Arthur G. Cleveland, dean of the College of Science at Columbus (Ga.) State University, attended Arlington State College (now UTA) from 1959-62. While at ASC, he was a member of the Sam Houston Rifles drill team, serving as squad leader and later as songbird.

Dr. Cleveland was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Chemical Corps. During the Cuban missile crisis in 1963, he was assigned as a platoon leader in the event of an invasion. At the Army Chemical Center in Edgewood, Md., he was the assistant for long-range planning, working with the chief scientist and reporting directly to the commanding general. He earned the Army Commendation Medal for his performance, serving three years in the active reserve as a company commander of a heavy weapons company.

Upon release from active duty, he became a faculty member at Texas Wesleyan University, where he taught for 24 years and attained the rank of professor. During his time there, he earned his master’s (1968) in ecology and his Ph.D. (1971) in vertebrate ecology from the University of North Texas.

He served as associate dean of the School of Science and Humanities at TWU before going on to Incarnate Word College, where he served as interim dean of the School of Nursing and Science from 1990-94.

Dr. Cleveland has written numerous publications, books and reports and has received fellowships and grants from the National Science Foundation, National Audubon Society, the U.S. Air Force and the Department of the Interior. He is state chair for the Arts and Science Deans Advisory Council for the University System of Georgia Board of Regents and co-chair of the State Education Preparation Advisory Council.

He is married and has three children and four grandchildren.

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Col. (Ret.) Michael W. Parker attended UTA from 1967-71. He was a member of the Corps of Cadets, commander of the Sam Houston Rifles and corps commander his senior year. Col. Parker was a Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry.

He was initially assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., and subsequently served at Fort Carson, Colo., and Fort Lee, Va. He served as secretary of the general staff in Europe and was an executive officer in Mannheim, Germany.

Col. Parker commanded the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division, a combined arms battalion, during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, where the unit earned the Valorous Unit Citation. After serving as deputy chief of staff training at Fort Gillam, Ga., he served as chief, Training Division, and assistant chief of staff, 8th Army, in South Korea.

In 1998, he was assigned to III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas, as the deputy chief of staff. He retired from military service in September 2001.

Col. Parker holds master’s degrees in both logistics management and business administration from the Florida Institute of Technology. His military education includes the infantry officer basic course, armor officer advanced course, logistic executive development course, Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.

Among his awards and decorations are the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat and Expert Infantryman Badges, Senior Parachutist Badge and the Army Ranger Tab.

He and his wife, Judy, have three children.