Alumni Reminiscences of the Family and Consumer Sciences Department.

These are some of the reminiscences of alumni of the FCS Department in commemoration of the Department's 100th anniversity in 2008-09:

Betty L. (Davis) Pool | Karina (Godsey) Christopher

Betty L. (Davis) Pool

My connection with Northwest Missouri State Teachers College began at mid-term in January 1948 in the Home Economics’ Department.

Ms. Anthony taught a class entitled “Home Nursing”. Class members soon learned one of the high fashion accessories, string of pearls worn over a sweater, was not acceptable to Ms. Anthony. On the way to her class the pearls slid inside the neck of the sweater, not to be seen until class was dismissed.

Since entering school at mid-term, the Resident Hall rooms were full. Only housing available was two bedrooms in the Home Management House. Another student, Patricia Murphy and I occupied those with our meals at Residence Hall, until there was a room available later.

We reserved a room for fall of 1948-1949 year in Residence Hall. We settled down to college life. In the fall of 1949-1950, I became secretary to Dr. June Cozine and Ms. Mabel Cook, filing in-coming mail and answering out-going mail. Peggy Ford was my roommate at the dorm as well as partners for off campus practice teaching. We were the first class to be sent off campus to Liberty High School, Liberty, MO. Home Economics students, also, spent time at Horace Mann School for practice teaching courses. When we returned we moved into the Home Management House for supervised studies of the home. The supervisor suggested I bring my 4 year old son, Rodney to visit us, letting the other students get some “child development” experience worked into their schedule. Everything worked out nicely with he exception of the hour before dinner; it was my turn to cook dinner. With the help of a friend of mine, Jim Pool, who came by and picked Rodney up to go play at the park or watch the ducks, etc. and brought him back to have dinner with the house members. Not unusual for Rodney to fall asleep at the table. It wasn’t hard for the designated person to get Rodney to bed.

To my knowledge Rodney is the only pre-school child to ever live in the Home Management House.

I graduated in the Spring Class of 1950 and in the fall began teaching in the High School at Oregon, MO. In 1951, I moved to Cameron, MO. to teach, which was closer to my parents farm. In July 1952, Jim and I were married and Rodney came to Cameron to live with us and start the first grade. We became a family of 3.

As time passed by, we had moved to St. Joseph, MO. And Rod was a freshman at Central High School. Ms. Frances Lemon was the Home Economics teacher at Central High School. One day, Rod passed by her class room as school was over for the day and he noticed no one was in the room except Frances so he dropped in and introduced himself as the “little boy who slept in her bed at the college Home Management House”. They had a good visit. He often dropped in to visit with her as his school years progressed. I saw Frances on the average of once a month at our City Home Economics Club meeting. When Rod graduated she said she missed him. Makes a Mother proud.

-- Betty L. (Davis) Pool, Class of 1950

Karina (Godsey) Christopher

Haven't touched base with you in a while. I hope you are doing well and your family is well. I received a newsletter a few months back with the Family and Consumer Sciences featured. I was shocked to see my picture in it. I love getting the Alumni Magazine and I hope you do the FCS newsletter more often. It was great to see my old professors as well.

Things are going well here in Kentucky. My daughter, Rebekah, is 2 1/2 now so she is a lot of fun. She keeps us on our toes and bosses us around.

I am still working for Saint Joseph Hospital which recently joined with all the other Catholic Health Initiative Hospitals in kentucky to form the Saint Joseph Health System. I am still manager of all Nutrition Care Assistants at the main campus as well as the Dietitians and Diet Techs at three of the campuses. There is talk of me being the chief clinical manager over all 7 hospitals. That would be a lot of fun.

I won the Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year award this year for the Kentucky Dietetic Association. I think my name should be in the journal sometime soon. I even got a certificate from the ADA about it.

I am also the president of our local organization, Bluegrass District Dietetic Association. You must have "raised" me right. I really enjoy all of these types of things and being involved. If you ever want to contact me for anything or need me for anything let me know. I still feel awful that I didn't get the chance to help you with your accredidation but I noticed in the newsletter that you did get it. Congratulations!

Karina L. Christopher, MS, RD, LD
Clinical Nutrition Manager
Saint Joseph Hospital

For more information contact:

Family and Consumer Sciences
Northwest Missouri State University
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468-6001
Phone: 660.562.1168
E-mail: dfravel@nwmissouri.edu