Classmate News
Richard Spencer
Richard Spencer, MSSU Assistant Profession of Criminal Justice, was awarded MSSU's Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award on May 21, 2011 at MSSU's Commencement ceremony. Congratulations on this honor Richie Spencer!!!
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Hand-carved beauties from Missouri
William Jeffrey Jones Guitars is a one-man shop in southern Missouri where Jeffrey Jones pours his decades of commercial carving and sculpting experience into a line of handbuilt custom guitars. Jones has been running a table saw since he was a kid, thanks to the tutelage of his woodworking father, Willy. His artistic skills led him to a career sculpting toy prototypes for companies like McFarlane and NECA. He has played guitar for 35 years, and his desire for creative freedom eventually brought him back to the guitar.
Jones has been building guitars full-time for a year and a half, and in that time he has built a gorgeous collection of instruments. His models range from intricately carved affairs like the Dragonwing to smoothly contoured models like the Kronos and simpler instruments like the Arcadia double-cutaway.
Jones uses local woods almost exclusively, ranging from exquisitely figured walnut to sassafras. He favors chambered and semi-hollow guitars—he loves the response—and most of his instruments weigh less than seven pounds. Jones uses Tru-Oil finish on nearly all of his guitars because the thin film “lets the wood sound like wood.” Jones also enjoys building fretless guitars because he says they’re so fun to play
Jones has been building guitars full-time for a year and a half, and in that time he has built a gorgeous collection of instruments. His models range from intricately carved affairs like the Dragonwing to smoothly contoured models like the Kronos and simpler instruments like the Arcadia double-cutaway.
Jones uses local woods almost exclusively, ranging from exquisitely figured walnut to sassafras. He favors chambered and semi-hollow guitars—he loves the response—and most of his instruments weigh less than seven pounds. Jones uses Tru-Oil finish on nearly all of his guitars because the thin film “lets the wood sound like wood.” Jones also enjoys building fretless guitars because he says they’re so fun to play
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Scott Berry
MERIDIAN, Miss. —
Why he’s in the news
Neosho native Scott Berry had his No. 30 jersey retired at Meridian Community College (Miss.) on Jan. 24. Berry served as the baseball coach at MCC, where he amassed a 186-57 record in his four years at the helm of the program.
What he accomplished
In his four years at MCC, Berry guided the Eagles to the NJCAA World Series twice, won the Region 23 championship three times and captured the Mississippi/Louisiana championship all four years.
Other honors received
Berry was named the Regional Coach of the Year in 1997, 1998 and 2000, District Coach of the Year in 1998 and 2000, Diamond Sports ABCA Region Coach of the Year in 1998, and the Louisville Slugger Coaching Award twice.
What he’s doing now
Berry is entering his first season as head coach of the University of Southern Mississippi’s baseball program. USM is a Division I school, where Berry served as an assistant coach for 9 seasons. USM has advanced to 6-straight NCAA regionals.
Neosho native Scott Berry had his No. 30 jersey retired at Meridian Community College (Miss.) on Jan. 24. Berry served as the baseball coach at MCC, where he amassed a 186-57 record in his four years at the helm of the program.
What he accomplished
In his four years at MCC, Berry guided the Eagles to the NJCAA World Series twice, won the Region 23 championship three times and captured the Mississippi/Louisiana championship all four years.
Other honors received
Berry was named the Regional Coach of the Year in 1997, 1998 and 2000, District Coach of the Year in 1998 and 2000, Diamond Sports ABCA Region Coach of the Year in 1998, and the Louisville Slugger Coaching Award twice.
What he’s doing now
Berry is entering his first season as head coach of the University of Southern Mississippi’s baseball program. USM is a Division I school, where Berry served as an assistant coach for 9 seasons. USM has advanced to 6-straight NCAA regionals.