Rows upon rows of broken hearts stood side-by-side on Friday, September 14—their spirits solemn as they came together in Woodburn Circle to pay tribute to the thousands of victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks on America.

WVU students, faculty, staff, and members of the Morgantown community—over 7,000 strong, many carrying American flags and dressed in red, white, and blue—came to remember, to pray, and to contemplate. On that national day of prayer and remembrance, it was truly an amazing display of patriotism not only to honor the fallen, but to salute the many heroes who emerged from the tragedy.

"I feel grateful to live in America," one person commented after the service. Another added, "America will overcome this evil."

In his memorial remarks, Student Government Association President Chris Ferro called for unity and understanding. "Let us be vigilant and not pass judgment on those around us or around the world who shoulder no responsibility for these acts," Ferro said.

President David Hardesty, addressing the crowd that gathered in Woodburn Circle and spilled over onto Oglebay Plaza and in front of the Mountainlair, said that while the nation is stunned, democracy will prevail.

"Men and women who valued freedom above all else founded America," Hardesty noted. "At a time of great tragedy during his own time, President Lincoln said that our nation should be dedicated to the 'great task remaining before it,' and that our nation must resolve that those who died to preserve our democracy shall not have died in vain." (The text of President Hardesty's speech can be found at www.wvu.edu.)

Following the brief service, a moment of silence was observed. As the Woodburn Hall tower clock struck noon, Gretchen Russell, representing the Alpha Phi Omega national service fraternity, rang the bell of the armored cruiser USS West Virginia 21 times. The bell from the World War I ship is in Oglebay Plaza along with the mast from the battleship USS West Virginia, which served in World War II. Russell was accompanied by an Air Force ROTC color guard.

Gus Paglialunga, a professor of music and resident faculty leader, sang "God Bless America," concluding the ceremony.

WVU canceled classes during the service, said Provost Gerald Lang, "so that the University community could collectively express their feelings."

In the aftermath of the September 11 tragedy, blood drives and fundraisers were held on campus, and University counselors helped individuals sort through their emotions of shock, fear, sadness, anger, and empathy.

Alumnus is Lost in World Trade Center Attack

By Dan Shrensky

Chris Gray was the kind of guy who easily could have inspired jealousy in other men. That is, if he wasn't so damned likable.

Tall, blond, and good-looking, bright and witty, with a winning personality, Chris sufficiently undermined my ability to be an objective journalist while working as a sportswriter for the Dominion Post from 1989 to 1995. Objectivity could take a break—you could not help but root for the guy.

I can't pretend to have been great friends with Chris, but I was well acquainted with him, having covered WVU football for the DP. Chris, from Manalapan, New Jersey, was a quarterback for the Mountaineers from 1987 to 1991. Not a great player, to be sure, but memorable nonetheless. I have several lasting impressions of Chris that merely offer a small glimpse of his personality. These recollections may, however, give some depth to the tragedy of his loss.

The first time I met Chris was when I interviewed him for a story. For the uninitiated, the process of interviewing WVU players at preseason camp goes like this: journalists from all over the state mill around a small lobby outside the cafeteria at the Milan Puskar Facilities Building while players file past en route to lunch. After eating, the players are then available for interviews.

I didn't know who Chris was, but he made an immediate impression when someone pointed him out to me. Typically, the athletes who walk past do their best to maintain a stern, no-nonsense, tough-guy look. Not Chris. He appeared wearing wraparound Ray Ban sunglasses and a loud Hawaiian shirt. All the while he was beaming, seemingly enjoying the attention as well as his presence among his teammates.

"Who is this cocky kid?," I immediately thought. But that notion quickly vanished. During the interview, Chris never stopped smiling. After the first question, I heaved a sigh of relief knowing I wasn't going to get the typical, one-dimensional answers so many players offer. This was a well-spoken young man who was clearly enjoying himself.

To WVU fans, Gray is undoubtedly most remembered for fumbling near the goal line in a heartbreaking loss to Virginia Tech at Mountaineer Field in 1991. Although devastated in the locker room after the game, Chris did not shy away from talking to the media, a courageous display that further endeared him to me and other media members.

After his playing days, I was amazed as I watched him put people at ease by openly talking about it. On many occasions, I saw him humorously recreate the play for delighted onlookers at bars and tailgates.

Chris could give as well get, though. After his playing days, he joined the press corps for a brief stint as a contributor for the Blue and Gold News. In the press box before a game against Boston College, I heard someone disparaging a lengthy feature story I had written about BC quarterback Glen Foley. I whipped my head around in anger only to be greeted by Chris's grin. Gotcha.

Lastly, I remember often running into Chris at the Sports Page downtown, where we shared a passion for the golf-themed pinball machine in the corner. "I'm gettin' pretty teed off" was the electronic catch phrase the machine emitted at random intervals. It became an in joke that we used to serve notice that we were in the bar.

During this time, I became a little better acquainted with Chris. We didn't often talk about sports, but I discovered he was even brighter than I had originally surmised. The last time I saw Chris, he was leaving Morgantown to take a job in international finance somewhere in New York City. This would not turn out to be the job that placed him in the World Trade Center. That would come later, a career advancement with unforeseen and dire consequences.

Some of my last thoughts of Chris resurfaced when I learned he was missing in the aftermath of the September 11 disaster. My thoughts were of Chris's future and how he had everything ahead of him in life: a great job, a fiancée, and a magnetic personality that was hard to resist.

He was to be envied for sure, but never begrudged. He was too good a person for that.

Now Chris is mourned, denied the bright future he so richly deserved.

The WVU Band:
One Hundred Proud Years

By Jim Davis

The American playwright Wilson Mizner once quipped, "Life's a tough proposition, and the first hundred years are the hardest."

If such is the case, easy times are ahead for the nationally renowned WVU Marching Band.
"The Pride of West Virginia," as the band is widely known, turns 100 years old this year, and director John Hendricks and his 350-plus musicians have planned several events to mark the centennial.

An official birthday party will be held at WVU's Homecoming game against Rutgers on Saturday, November 3, at Mountaineer Field. The band will perform with the WVU Alumni Band during pre-game and halftime shows and will debut a musical number specially written by nationally known composer Jay Chattaway '68, '96 M.M.

Unofficially, however, the band has been celebrating since the fall semester began. In addition to its football game performances, The Pride participated in the 2001 Charleston Sternwheel Regatta in September. On October 13, the band made its first trip ever to South Bend, Indiana, to perform at the WVU vs. Notre Dame game. The WVU Alumni Association helped with the costs of the trip.

"The Notre Dame trip was a special bonus because we only perform at one road game each year, and Notre Dame has a certain prestige. It's nice that it coincided with the 100th anniversary," Hendricks says.

The WVU Marching Band began in 1901 as an eight-man ROTC band under the direction of Walter Mestrezat, who led it for 37 years. The modern era for the band began in the 1950s and '60s under directors Larry Intravaia and Bud Udell.

In 1971, Don Wilcox began his 27-year stint as director. Under his leadership, the band experienced rapid growth and development, tripling in size and tackling more challenging musical selections. In 1972, women were allowed to join the band.

An announcer at the 1975 Peach Bowl was the first to introduce the band as "The Pride of West Virginia," and the phrase quickly became the unit's official nickname. In 1997, the band gained national recognition when it was awarded the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Trophy, the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy for marching bands.

Hendricks became the band's 10th director in 1998 after serving as assistant director for five years. The 1983 WVU graduate was also a band member from 1979 to 1982. He received his master's degree in 1990.

Through the years WVU's band program has expanded to include a concert band, wind symphony, and basketball pep band. The anniversary celebration recognizes these bands as well.

On being director during the band's centennial year, Hendricks says: "Having been a member of the band and worked with it for years before taking over, it's a great feeling. It's quite humbling to be part of a band with such great traditions."

Band members such as senior Melissa Hostutler of Hundred, W.Va., feel just as honored to be associated with the unit as it turns 100.

"I'm honored that my last year with the band is its 100th year," says Hostutler, who plays the piccolo. "Every time I walk out onto the field, I think of all the former band members and the rich history. Once you're a member of The Pride, you're always a member."

An Enterprising Musician Voyages Home

By Jim Davis

Composer Jay Chattaway is the man behind the music of the later Star Trek television series. The WVU alumnus is also the composer of a special commissioned piece marking the 100th anniversary of the WVU Marching Band.

It's a very important commission for him, he says, because he was a member of the band from 1964 to 1968 and did a lot of arranging for it as a graduate assistant in 1969.

The Pride of West Virginia will debut Chattaway's composition during an official anniversary celebration on Saturday, November 3, during halftime of the Homecoming game against Rutgers.

"I was honored to be selected to compose a piece of music for the 100th anniversary of the band," says Chattaway, who earned bachelor's and master's degrees in music at WVU. "I would like it to have lasting value and be performed by different organizations."

Chattaway, a resident of Malibu, California, recently received a 10th Emmy nomination for his score on the final episode of Star Trek: Voyager. He has also composed music for Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and 27 motion pictures.

"Making a living in the music business is very difficult and based a lot on personal relationships and luck," he says. "Talent is also important, but first one has to be asked to prove it constantly. There is no tenure."

Chattaway, who grew up in Monongahela, Pennsylvania, began composing in junior high school and wrote his first extended work in high school. Chattaway attended WVU on a Board of Governors Scholarship, obtaining his bachelor's degree in 1968. He began working on his graduate degree the following year before being drafted into the military. He became a member of the U.S. Navy Band, serving as the unit's chief arranger and composer-in-residence.

After his discharge from the Navy, Chattaway moved to New York and began writing music for recording artists such as Maynard Ferguson and Carly Simon. A growing interest in composing for film sent him to Los Angeles. His early scores were for action-adventure films such as Missing in Action, Red Scorpion, and Steven King's Silver Bullet. He eventually moved into television, writing music for the Star Trek series and National Geographic programs.

In 1996, at long last, he obtained his master's degree in music from WVU.

Chattaway remembers his formative years at the University as nurturing ones in which he was encouraged to pursue a musical career.

"The best part of my WVU experience was the fact that the faculty was open to encouraging me to be a composer and actually performed my music," he said. "I had great teachers and lots of individual attention and nurturing."

WVU Eye Institute Opens

The newest addition to the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center is the West Virginia University Eye Institute. John Linberg, M.D., chair of the Department of Ophthalmology in the WVU School of Medicine, talked about the new facility.

Why does West Virginia need an Eye Institute? The WVU Eye Institute is a place where people can come with any kind of eye problem and know that they will get the most modern and most effective treatment. No one needs to leave the state for specialized care. We have ophthalmologists who specialize in glaucoma, pediatrics, retinal problems, vitreous surgery, cornea and refractive surgery, neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastic and orbital surgery, and other areas. This is the only place in West Virginia with all these services.

Tell us about the new facility. The building cost $8.5 million and contains about 53,000 square feet of space. Of that, 22,000 square feet is clinic space, including a special area for children. The new building has a state-of-the-art classroom, a surgical practice laboratory, basic science research laboratories, and a new library. We have the state's only training program for future ophthalmologists and the new facility improves an already strong program. We have added a lot of new diagnostic and therapeutic equipment. Senator Byrd helped with an appropriation of $3 million, which allowed us to include state-of-the-art educational facilities and a large Low Vision Rehabilitation Center.

What is low vision rehabilitation? Unfortunately, there are many people whose vision cannot be restored to normal with surgery or medical treatment, but they are not blind. Because of their "low vision," they have trouble in school or with employment. If they are elderly, they may have difficulty living independently.
Low vision rehabilitation uses various optical devices and assistive technology, training, education, and resources in the community to help people so they can go to school, get a job, and live independently. This improves their lives and reduces the cost to society. It's estimated that 80,000 people in West Virginia have low vision. Senator Byrd has taken a special interest in our low vision program. Not only did he help us obtain $3 million to establish the center, this year he's obtained another $1 million to provide personnel and services.

Of course, we have a long history of providing low vision services. For years, our Children's Vision Rehabilitation team has been meeting with children who have vision challenges, and with parents and teachers in communities throughout the state. We want to expand these services to adults.

Will the new Eye Institute enable other expansion? We have two pediatric ophthalmologists and we are adding an orthoptist, a person specially trained to evaluate children with strabismus, or crossed eyes. The new building includes an entire suite for refractive surgery. We have acquired the newest VISX Excimer laser, which can be used to treat farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism.

West Virginia has a high prevalence of diabetes, the leading cause of preventable blindness. Our three retinal specialists are using new equipment that provides immediate diagnosis, so patients can be treated the same day.

We've already started a program to expand research. We recently hired a scientist who works in retinal disease and cellular biology. We've undertaken a national recruitment effort for a research director. The collaboration between researchers and doctors creates the highest level of care.

We also are changing our medical records to an electronic format. We use a lot of pictures in ophthalmology: digital images of the optic nerve and retina. We will have immediate access to this patient information.

How have Lions Clubs helped your program? We have a long relationship with the Lions. Some of our current equipment was donated by the Lions, who have dedicated themselves to preserving sight. We are working with the Lions to get an international grant to provide transportation so patients can come to the new Low Vision Rehabilitation Center. Of course, we will continue to work with the Lions on screening and educational programs throughout the state. We also provide free surgery to indigent patients sponsored by Lions Clubs.

Who can receive services at the Eye Institute? Anyone can call directly for an appointment (1-800-842-3627 or 304-598-4820). You don't need to be referred to be seen here.

Fall 2001 Contents

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