In Memoriam: Honoring a true Maverick, Maxwell Scarlett
Scarlett, the first Black graduate of UTA, died earlier this year.
Maxwell Scarlett (’66 BS, Biology), the first Black graduate of The University of Texas at Arlington and a distinguished Fort Worth physician who specialized in emergency medicine, died July 31, 2021. He was 76 years old. He is survived by his wife, Vivian, and his six children.
Dr. Scarlett said he didn’t set out to be a trailblazer when he enrolled as a transfer student at UTA, then named Arlington State College (ASC), in September 1965. He wasn’t the first Black student to enroll in ASC, but Scarlett was the first to earn a degree when he graduated in 1966. He went on to earn a medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine and began a long and distinguished career in emergency medicine.
In reflecting on his status as the first Black graduate of UTA to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in 2004, Scarlett said, “It was just sort of an accident of fate or providence … I’m proud of it. I’m proud for African Americans, I’m proud for UTA. I’m proud for our society in general.”
Scarlett stayed closely connected to the University through the years. He served as a member of the UTA President’s Advisory Board and the UTA College of Science Advisory Board and was a founding member of the UTA African American Alumni Chapter and a life member of the UTA Alumni Association. Scarlett received UTA’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005. He also received the Outstanding African American Alumni Award and Multicultural Services Trailblazer Award.
Scarlett was always willing to speak with student groups and share his gratitude for the support he received from the University. As he once remarked, “Not a day goes by that I don’t appreciate the priceless foundation in life that I received at UT Arlington.”
“The UTA community is mourning the passing of a distinguished alumnus and beloved friend,” said Teik C. Lim, interim president of UTA. “Dr. Scarlett was a loyal Maverick and respected community leader. He will be deeply missed.”
Alumni
1950s
Lee Farish (’51 AS, Electrical Engineering) 89, May 31, Irving, Texas.
1960s
Michael David “Dave” McCord (’60 AS, Architecture) 80, April 22, Weatherford, Texas.
Keith Edward Reed (’63 BBA) 86, June 18, Arlington.
Milton D. Lamm (’65 BS, Mechanical Engineering) 82, July 26, Stephenville, Texas.
Larry David Nicholson (’65 BBA, Accounting) 78, June 20, Dallas.
Gary B. Starnes (’65 BA, History) 78, April 12, Dallas.
Earnest “Ernie” Roy Nichols (’67 BBA, Accounting) 81, May 30, Bedford, Texas.
Susan Sedette Watson Morawski (’68, Mathematics) 74, May 30, Friendswood, Texas.
Ken Bramlett (’69 BS, Mechanical Engineering) 74, July 4, Conroe, Texas.
Martin “Marty” Robert Imwalle (’69 BS, Biology) 74, May 28, Sanger, Texas.
1970s
Paul Beasley Anderson (’70 BS, Mathematics) 76, Aug. 17, Cleburne, Texas.
Gloria Jean Van Zandt (’70 BA, Communication) 79, June 8, Pantego, Texas. Founding president of the Friends of the Library of UTA, she was named a Distinguished Alumna in 1994.
Curtis Ray Johnson (’71 BBA) 72, July 10, Arlington.
Henry Eugene White (’71 BS, Mathematics) 63, June 22, Dallas.
Michael John Wortman Sr. (’71 BS, Biology) 73, April 18, Weatherford, Texas.
Samuel Harvey Atchison (’72 BA, History) 74, July 9, Arlington.
Gary Michael Brammer (’72 BS, Electrical Engineering) 72, May 31, Gainesville, Texas.
Sherrill Skinner Hutchinson (’72 BA, History) 71, March 20, Fairborn, Ohio.
Frank Ellis Woody (’72 BBA) 72, April 10, Weatherford, Texas.
Gerald Pierce Carsey (’74 BS, Architecture) 82, June 7, Dallas.
James Edward Deittrick (’75 BBA, Accounting) 71, May 28, Fort Worth.
David Wayne Seabolt (’76 BBA) 67, May 26, Dallas.
Bonnie M. Catone (’77 BA, Political Science) 69, May 28, Valley Falls, New York.
Anita Jeanette Anderson Franko (’77 BFA, Art) 66, May 15, Fort Worth.
Dolores Joan Heinemann Riba (’79 BBA, Accounting) 73, June 1, Arlington.
1980s
Eddie Alberto Aranda Bazan (’80 BS, Industrial Engineering) 65, July 21, Dallas.
Laura Riddle Paschal (’80 BBA, Finance) 63, Feb. 28, Fort Worth.
Vernon Hyliard Sorgee Jr. (’80 MS, ’76 BS, Civil Engineering;’65 BS, Physics) 81, June 24, Phoenix, Arizona.
Robert David Sullins (’81 BS, Architecture) 66, July 16, Arlington.
Mark Wilson (’81 BA, Journalism) 64, July 18, Garland, Texas.
Richard “Rik” William Kanon (’84 BA, General Studies) 61, July 15, Grand Blanc, Michigan.
Stephen C. Caples (’85 PhD, Business Administration) 73, July 11, Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Jeannine Fay Goble Hodge (’85 MSN; ’78 BSN) 92, Feb. 4, Austin, Texas.
Dennis L. Johnson (’86 BBA, System Analysis and Computer Programming) 72, May 28, Mount Vernon, Washington.
Mary Andrijeski Russell (’86 BA, Political Science) 56, April 9, Arlington.
Sosamma Pailo (’87 BSN) 76, July 3, Irving, Texas.
John Michael Quinn III (’88 BA, Journalism) 63, April 3, Magnolia, Texas.
1990s
Donald Alan Mitchell (’90 BS, Exercise and Sports Studies) 62, June 6, Kerrville, Texas.
Kristine Sudduth Gerron (’91 BBA, Finance) 52, April 1, Waxahachie, Texas.
Linda Diane Walker Howard (’92 BA, Psychology) 76, July 8, Georgetown, Texas.
Glenda “Gail” Underwood Coburn (’94 MSSW; ’93 BSW) 71, Feb. 21, Dallas.
Michael Joseph Dellies (’94 MS, Civil Engineering) 61, March 22, Fort Worth.
Phillip R. Meads (’94 BA, Exercise and Sports Studies) 56, April 15, Piedmont, Oklahoma.
Douglas Craig Lovelace Sr. (’95 BBA, Finance) June 18, Dallas.
Monte Bryan Hutchins (’96 BBA) 47, July 28, Corsicana, Texas.
Sarah Boutwell Johnson (’97 BA, Psychology) 46, May 31, El Paso, Texas.
Mark John Wood (’97 MS, Marketing Research; ’95 MBA; ’92 BS, Computer Science and Engineering) 51, April 26, Grapevine, Texas.
2000s
Elizabeth Marie Moore (’05 MSW) 52, June 23, Arlington.
Wonda Deleta Jones Ashley (’07 BBA, Finance) 59, May 2, Grand Prairie, Texas.
2010s
Kimberly Keener Stelwagen (’11 MS, Education) 52, March 23, Arlington.
Julissa “Juli” Aurora Galvan (’19 BBA, Management and Marketing) 23, June 23, Arlington.
Landon Sommerfeld (’19 BS, University Studies) 24, June 23, Arlington.
FACULTY AND STAFF
Toby R. Goodman, 72, July 18, Mansfield, Texas. An adjunct professor from 1974-84 with the College of Business in finance and real estate, Goodman, a former state representative, was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2004.
Irene Martha Koby, 82, July 8, Midlothian, Texas. She was an administrative assistant in the School of Architecture from 1969-1976 and the College of Business from 1971-1981
Ann Charlotte Kelley, 68, April 7, Arlington. A librarian from 1989-2008, she also taught Spanish 2004-05.
David “Davey” Naugle (’98 PhD, Humanities; ’75 BA, History) 68, June 11, Duncanville, Texas. He served as an adjunct professor of religion and a campus minister at UT Arlington. At Dallas Baptist College, he established, chaired, and taught in the Philosophy Department for nearly three decades.
Wyl Parker, 77, July 4, Knoxville, Tennessee. He held several leadership positions in student life and housing from 1971-2010. He retired as assistant vice president for Auxiliary Services.
Brenda Sue Perry, 62, April 13, Athens, Texas. She was an administrative assistant for the Biomedical Engineering Office from 1980-86.
Thomas Christopher Tansil (’91 MS, Structural Engineering; ’90 BS, Civil Engineering) 54, July 4, Dallas. An adjunct professor, he taught advanced steel design.