By Clare Homan

*Dean C. DeCarli, dairy farmer and community leader, will be inducted into the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity's Hall of Fame on July 1 in Monterey. DeCarli is a native Californian from Stockton who served as president of AGR's alumni board of directors for 29 years. DeCarli was also a key figure in raising funds for student scholarships and for construction of the Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center and the Memorial Union at UC Davis; in 1953 the university dedicated the Dean DeCarli Room in the MU in recognition of his leadership role in that campaign. In addition to his many projects on the campus, DeCarli operated the Happy Home Dairy company for 30 years before becoming an appraiser for San Joaquin First Federal Savings and Loan. An active citizen of Stockton, DeCarli was a longtime member of its city council and a two-term mayor.

Miles W. Kratka has just retired and writes that he is greatly enjoying the company of his dog.

Janet (Waldron) Gonzalez-Mena, columnist, author, teacher and mother of five, recently added to her body of child development literature with her latest book, Dragon Mom, which humorously details effective parenting strategies. Gonzalez-Mena also co-produced a series of videotapes titled "Diversity," for use by teachers of young children. In addition, the English graduate is a faculty member of child and family studies at Napa Valley College and writes parenting columns for the Napa Valley Register and Twins Magazine. Gonzalez-Mena lives near Napa with her husband, Frank, son, Tim, two cats and a computer.

Stephen W. Russell, D.V.M. '66, Ph.D. '72, the Wilkinson Distinguished Professor of Cancer Research at the University of Kansas Cancer Center, was chosen by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine as one of three recipients of the 1996 Alumni Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the school. Russell received the award in recognition of his distinguished career as an academician and administrator serving both human and veterinary medicine, and his preeminent research on macrophage-tumor cell interaction.

*Mary Bigelow Horton, M.S. '66, is actively involved with the Cal Aggie Alumni Association and attended her fourth UC Legislative Conference this year. Horton also served as a float judge at this year's Picnic Day parade.

Ceramics by David Gilhooly, M.A. '67, will be featured at an exhibition at the John Natsoulas Gallery in Davis from July 9 to Aug. 4. Gilhooly studied art at UC Davis with Robert Arneson, helped shape the California Funk movement and, through his playful frog sculptures, was a primary figure in establishing ceramics as a significant medium. The Natsoulas exhibit will also include works on paper by William T. Wiley, a UC Davis faculty member in the '60s and '70s.

Bennie I. Osburn, Ph.D., associate dean for research and graduate education programs at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, was chosen as one of three recipients of the 1996 Alumni Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the school. Osburn received the award in recognition of his outstanding regional, state and national leadership in policy development for food safety and animal health, and his internationally recognized research on the pathogenesis of infectious diseases of animals. His current research focuses on viral immunopathology and viruses, including bluetongue, that affect ruminants.

*Richard S. Normington was appointed by Gov. Pete Wilson to the Education Council for Technology in Learning. Normington, a member of the California Education Technology Task Force, will also co-chair the UCLA Business Roundtable subcommittee on public education. A Danville resident, Normington has worked for Pacific Telesis since 1984.

*Douglas J. Herthel, D.V.M. '71, founder of the Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, was one of three recipients of the 1996 Alumni Achievement Award from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. He received the award in recognition of his development of innovative techniques in equine orthopedic and colic surgery and anesthesia recovery, and for his development of a humane ambulance system for injured horses.

*William J. Owen, J.D. '72, is a partner in the law firm of Owen & Owen, which recently joined that of Ordas & Timmons, forming Ordas, Timmons, Owen & Owen Inc. in Sacramento. Owen specializes in civil litigation and criminal defense.