91ÇÑ×Ó

The awards are presented annually to families with three or more generations of 91ÇÑ×Ó graduates. The families will be honored during a private luncheon in the Student Center that precedes the Eagles’ football game against Western State.

The Feldhausen Family

The Feldhausen Family may not have the most graduates of this year’s recipients, but its roots run deep. Members of four generations of the Reading family have studied at 91ÇÑ×Ó.

The late Della Lura Clayton, a 91ÇÑ×Ó native who later married John Feldhausen, was among the first students to attend what was then Nebraska State Normal School at 91ÇÑ×Ó. She earned an elementary teaching certificate in July 1916, just five years after the institution’s founding.

Members of the family who have attended the institution, include the daughter and son of the Feldhausens– Betty (Feldhausen) Reading of 91ÇÑ×Ó and the late Clayton Charles Feldhausen.

Members of the family have completed studies in health administration, pre-nursing, business, aviation, science and education.

Three members of the family who are 91ÇÑ×Ó alumni are the children of Betty, and her late husband John Reading. They are John Reading of Blackfoot, Idaho, Steven Reading of Atlanta, Ga., and Joanne (Reading) Schulte of Rogers, Minn.

John Reading and his wife, Kay, are the parents of the two members of the two family members in the fourth generation, Clint Reading of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Kim Reading of Blackfoot, Idaho.

The Gillett Family

The Gillett family, which has had at least 20 members enroll at 91ÇÑ×Ó State, has lineage in northwest Nebraska that goes back to its 1880s family homestead on the Table area south of 91ÇÑ×Ó. Two members of the family, brothers Wallace and Steven Gillett, sent their children to the Nebraska State Normal School at 91ÇÑ×Ó.

Wallace and Mary Gillett’s son, Rowland Hill Gillett entered the institution in September 1911 as its 174th student, shortly after it was founded. He later married Harriet Dickerson, a school teacher who would earn a bachelor’s degree from 91ÇÑ×Ó State College at age 60 in the same ceremony that their son LaVern earned a master’s degree.

Other members of the first generation were Jerome Canning Gillett, Wendell Lynde Gillett, Roger Wallace Gillett, Fisher Schuyler Gillett and Alzina Luella Gillett. Agnes Gillett, the daughter of Steven and Fannie Gillett also is among the 91ÇÑ×Ó alumni.

The first Gilletts to attend the institution went on to use their educations in a variety of ways, including agriculture, service on local school boards, and teaching a variety of subjects, including science and art. Several were accomplished musicians.

Six of Rowland and Harriet’s 13 children, and/or their spouses, were among the family’s second generation to attend 91ÇÑ×Ó.

In addition to LaVern, who now lives in Lincoln, they are Phyllis Elsie (Gillett) and Orlando S. “Landy” “Slim” Osborn of 91ÇÑ×Ó, Robert Harry“Bob” Gillett of Lincoln, Neb., the late Willa Caroline Gillett, and Terence “Terry” and Phyllis Kay (Masters) Gillett of Harrison, Neb. Richard W. Davis, the husband of daughter Norie, also graduated.

Others family members who attended 91ÇÑ×Ó are Ellen Gillett of Grant, Neb., the daughter of Wendell and Emma Gillett, and the children of Alzina -- Elsie Marie Coleman, Rose Coleman, Ernest Coleman Jr., John Coleman and Ruth Coleman.

The third and fourth generation to attend 91ÇÑ×Ó includes a nephew and niece of the Osborns, Tony Elbert Lutz of Benkelman, Neb., and Brittney Lutz of Oshkosh, Neb.

The Lee Family

This family’s association with 91ÇÑ×Ó State College goes back to the institution’s beginning. More than 20 members of the family are members of the 91ÇÑ×Ó alumni.

Hattie Gertrude (Fox) Lee of Agate, Neb., in Sioux County was among the first class to enroll when the Nebraska State Normal School at 91ÇÑ×Ó was founded. The family has a copy of her registration card date June 13, 1911.

Hattie and her husband, Modie Lee, had six children, four of whom went on to study pursue degrees at 91ÇÑ×Ó. They are the late Dorothy (Lee) Scott, Edith (Lee) Murphy, Charles Lee and Louise (Lee) Hilton.

Family members have pursued a wide range of studies at 91ÇÑ×Ó, including education, administration, English, music and pre-dentistry.

Other members of the family who have attended or graduated from 91ÇÑ×Ó are Dave and Judy (Lissman) Hamaker of Lusk, Wyo., Judy (Hilton) Broeder of Mitchell, Neb., Gene Murphy of Mitchell, Neb., Marilyn (Lee) and Rick Cotant of Torrington, Wyo., and Cheryl (Lee) and William Schwarzkoph of Forsyth, Mont.

The fourth generation of the family to enroll 91ÇÑ×Ó includes Cindy (Hamaker) Bergstrom of Lusk, Wyo., Will Broeder of Mitchell, Amy (Broeder) Horst of 91ÇÑ×Ó, Cody (Murphy) Haun of Mitchell, Brian Cotant of Buffalo, Wyo., and Eric Locker of Pavillion, Wyo.

Dave Hamaker’s mother, Goldie, and several cousins also are among the 91ÇÑ×Ó alumni.

The Nitsch Family

At least 16 members of the Nitsch family have been among the 91ÇÑ×Ó State College student body, and several family members have been active on campus following their studies.

It started with Gil Nitsch of 91ÇÑ×Ó, a native of Hayes Center, Neb., who played football for the Eagles in 1962-1965 and was awarded a bachelor’s degree in business in 1966. His late wife Linda Nitsch, a native of Laramie, Wyo., was a business professor at 91ÇÑ×Ó from 1997-2004. She earned a bachelor’s degree from 91ÇÑ×Ó in 1990 and a master’s degree in 1995.

Combined, Gil and Linda have seven children. All seven of the children and four of their grandchildren, have either graduated or attended 91ÇÑ×Ó. Members of the family have completed studies in a wide range of majors, including business, pre-nursing, pre-medicine, education, psychology, and health, physical education and recreation.

Other members of the family who have either attended or graduated include Chris and Nancy Stein of 91ÇÑ×Ó, Kory and Becki Richardson of Gillette, Wyo., Stacy and Dan Beebe of Elburn, Ill., Cody Spinaci of Aurora, Colo., Dean Nitsch of Cheyenne, Wyo., Kristin Yeutter of Bellevue, Neb., and Tyson and Debbie Floyd of Torrington, Wyo.

The third generation to attend 91ÇÑ×Ó includes three of Chris and Nancy’s children, Kassi Hartman, Karyssa Stein and Kendra Stein. Kayla Sayer, Kristin’s daughter, also attended.