Southwestern College Natural Science
Hall of Fame
to Induct New Members
Winfield,
Kan., Oct. 28, 2024 — Three
Southwestern College graduates will be inducted into the Natural Science Hall
of Fame on Saturday, Nov. 9, in Deets Library on the campus of Southwestern
College. The new members are Michael Porter ’81, James Morgan ’77, and Ken
Lockwood ’80 (posthumously).
The
celebration will begin at 5 p.m., with a reception and dinner (cost is $25 per
person, seating is limited, and RSVPs are necessary) in Deets Library. The
induction ceremony will begin following dinner at approximately 6 p.m., all are
invited to attend (no reservations are required). To make dinner reservations,
contact Ashlee Mayo, director of alumni engagement, (620) 229-6155.
This
hall of fame honors Southwestern College alumni who have made significant
contributions in the natural sciences.
- James Morgan ’77, James
Morgan, graduated with a bachelor of science in biology and a minor in
chemistry. While at Southwestern he participated in track for four
years, A Capella Choir for three years as well as a year each on the cross
country, football and soccer club squads. After Southwestern, he received
a masters of science degree in biology with an emphasis in comparative
endocrinology from the University of Oregon and a PhD in zoology from
Oregon State University doing research in Neurophysiology. After
graduating from Oregon State, research continued with gastric ion
transport and stress physiology at the University of Arkansas. While
teaching physiology and anatomy to nursing students for the University of
Arkansas, Morgan became interested in sustainable agriculture.
Sustainable agriculture combined ecology and environmentalism with
experience gained as youth on a family farm in Kansas. In the early
2000s, he and his wife, Teresa, were hired to manage the Katahdin Sheep
National Breed Association. He used the position to continue
teaching, by educating and encouraging shepherds to use “appropriate”
science to improve environmentally sound lamb production. This
teaching encompassed several fields of biology including physiology,
genetics, ethology, ecology, developmental biology, reproduction, and
botany. In addition, Morgan worked with genetic researchers at
Universities and USDA to develop new programs to improve sustainable and
profitable sheep production in the USA. He was very effective at
helping design data collection, and recruited flocks to participate in the
research. Resulting data were used by academic researchers to
develop the first Estimated Breeding Values for parasite resistance and
for total pounds weaned per ewe in the USA. This eventually led to
incorporating genomics and modern DNA technology to more accurately
identify superior sheep genetics. Along the way he has been invited
to speak on sheep genetics at the World Sheep and Wool Congress, as well
as conferences in Mexico, Brazil, Canada, and around the USA. He
served as President of the National Sheep Improvement Program for all
breeds for 10 years, and Chairperson of USDA’s Southern Sustainable
Agricultural Research and Education Council (the main granting agency for
sustainable agriculture in the Southern USA). He is a member of the
American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control and participates
in committees for the American Sheep Industry Association. Jim and
Teresa still have a sheep farm, market lamb meat at the Fayetteville
Farmers Market, develop lamb recipes and sell sheep breeding stock.
- Ken
Lockwood ’80,
grew up in Brockway, Penn., where he graduated from high school and was
offered a football scholarship at Southwestern College which led him to
spending the rest of his life in Kansas. Lockwood was one of the original
starting players of the Wichita Flyers a semi-pro football team. His
employment career included working for a meat packing plant, KGE, and the
United States Post Office, where he met his wife of thirty-one years,
Susan Ewertz Lockwood. He left the post office in 1999 which led him to a
new adventure and passion. He was hired to be an animal and grounds keeper
for what is now known as Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Ken and Susan lived on
the park grounds for five years while caring for the animals and
developing the educational tours for the public. Ken owned a Siberian
tiger named Maya. In 2003, Ken and Susan built their home in rural Cheney
and established the Eagle Valley Raptor Center. Ken acted as the program
director and head rehabilitator for eagles, owls, and hawks. Ken also
developed educational tours at the site as well as providing educational
presentations with animals at schools, churches, and other public events.
Ken was an avid lover of all wildlife and nature. He possessed a vast
knowledge about many animal species and was passionate about sharing this
knowledge. He also volunteered at the Safari Zoological Park. Ken passed
away June 20, 2023.
- Michael
Porter ’81,
MD, FACS, FASCRS, is an Associate Professor of Surgery and is the Program
Director of the General Surgery Residency Program at the University of
Kansas - Wichita. Born and raised in Kansas, he received his bachelor of
science degree from Southwestern College in 1981 with majors in biology
and chemistry. He then pursued his medical degree at The University of
Kansas School of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency in
Wichita, followed by a colon and rectal fellowship at the prestigious Ferguson
Clinic in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He returned to Wichita to begin his
practice with Wichita Surgical Specialists and joined the faculty of the
University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1991. Over the years, Porter
has established himself as a highly respected surgeon and educator,
eventually taking on the role of Program Director for the General Surgery
Residency Program in 2016. His leadership in training the next generation
of surgeons has been recognized for fostering excellence and innovation in
surgical education. In addition to his professional accomplishments,
Porter is deeply committed to his family. He and his wife, Lori, have
three children, and are proud grandparents. Outside of medicine, he is an
accomplished trombonist, performing in jazz bands, orchestras, and concert
bands. His passion for music is matched by his enthusiasm for running
marathons.
To see Southwestern College's halls of fame and a full list of inductees
visit sckans.edu/hof.
