Continuum

Misaka BS’48 (pictured top) and Ferrin BS’66 were recognized with Lifetime Achievement awards from U Athletics during a basketball game at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in December. As student-athletes, these two helped the U take its first NCAA basketball tournament game and title, a Cinderella story win, at Madison Square Garden in 1944, and both went on to play professionally.

Misaka was drafted by the NY Knicks, becoming the first person of color to play in what became the NBA. The only four-time All American at Utah, Ferrin joined the Minneapolis Lakers in 1949 before later returning to the U to finish his degree, then served as the Utes' athletic director from 1976 to 1985. He and Misaka were also honored at the Dec. 1 game by the Marriott Library for their contributions of personal papers, scrapbooks, and photographs to Special Collections.

Robert Milich MS’73, retired municipal court judge, has been inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. In the Vietnam War era, Milich interrupted his law school studies to join the Air Force. He later served during Operation Desert Storm, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Milich pioneered the Youngstown Veterans Treatment Court, in which nonviolent charges can be dismissed if participants complete monitored, court-ordered mental-health or drug-treatment programs. He completed his law degree at the University of Akron.

Phyllis Vetter BS’84 JD’87 was recently appointed general counsel for the U, where she has worked as an attorney for 20 years. She graduated from law school Order of the Coif (top 2 percent), was an editor for Utah Law Review, and completed a Utah Supreme Court clerkship with the Honorable Michael D. Zimmerman BS’67 JD’69.  “It is an amazing privilege to lead one of the strongest legal teams in Utah and in higher education nationally, especially at this time of remarkable growth and progress at the U,” she says.

Brad Mortensen PhD’09, longtime vice president of university advancement at Weber State University, was selected as its 13th president. Mortensen previously worked for the Utah System of Higher Education, Utah governor’s office, and Arizona Legislature. He joined Weber State in 2004 and served 11 years in his most recent role. He holds a bachelor’s from Utah State and a master’s from Syracuse University in addition to his doctorate from the U in educational leadership and policy.