Congratulations!

Gaby Paredes received the Master’s Student Phoenix Award from the Graduate and Professional Student Government Association (GPSGA).  This award is given annually and recognizes exemplary achievement in leadership and scholarship, community and university service, and professional involvement, especially as it relates to the OSU graduate student body.

Maxwell Smith and Caitlyn Osborne were married during an outdoor ceremony in Vernon, Texas on May 9.

Necrology

Dr. William "Bill" Bruce Massey Jr., age 86, of Kingston, Oklahoma, died on April 19, 2026, at his home in Kingston.  He was born on April 1, 1940, in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, to William Bruce Massey Sr. and Charlie Mae Reed Ipharr.  Bill graduated from Sherman High School in Sherman, Texas, in 1958.  He served his country in the U.S. Naval Security Group from 1961-1966 and as an Ordinance Worker with the U.S. Naval Ammunition Department in McAlester from January to September 1966.  On October 10, 1964, he married Glynda Kay Hibdon in Talihina, Oklahoma.

Following his military service, he received his B.S. degree in Animal Science in 1969, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Entomology from OSU in 1970 and 1973, respectively, under the direction of Dr. Jerry Young.  His M.S. thesis was titled, “Thermal Mortality Study on the Bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie)” and his Ph.D. was titled, “Effects of Predator Populations, Insect Damage, Fruiting Characteristics, and Yield of Cotton Interplanted with Corn or Sorghum.”  During his time at OSU, he was active in Tau Kappa Epsilon, Sanborn Entomology Club, Entomological Society of America and Sigma Xi.

He began his career with OSU Extension in Guymon, Oklahoma, where he worked as an Area Extension Entomologist from 1973 until his retirement in 1996.  His major responsibilities were related to corn, wheat, and sorghum.  Bill initiated and hosted the first multi-state meeting on the Russian wheat aphid on September 23, 1988 in Guymon.  He was active in the Southwestern Branch of the Entomological Society of America and the ESA.  He received the Extension Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Stored Grain Integrated Pest Management Program Committee in 1989.

After retirement, he moved to Hobart, Oklahoma, where he served as director for Boll Weevil Eradication.  In 2002, Bill moved to Kingston, where he spent the remainder of his life.  He had a deep love for gardening and was well known for sharing his vegetables with friends and neighbors throughout the community. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting, watching his grandchildren play sports, canning vegetables, and making homemade jelly.

He is survived by his wife Glynda; his children: Guy Massey and wife Hillary of Kingston, Jannon Hofferber and husband Heath of Kingston, Jennifer Hofferber and husband Kevin of Hooker, and Gina Hill and husband Brad of Hooker; his brother John Massey and wife Beth of Watonga; and his sister Ginger Kellogg and husband Larry of Bixby. Bill was blessed with eight grandchildren: Jacy Mae Hofferber, Jake Henry Hofferber, Kamryn Shea Hofferber, Kallie Ryanne Hofferber, Charli Jean Massey, William Bruce Massey, Embrie Kay Hill, and Easton Marie Hill.

Memorial service was held at Watts Funeral Home in Kingston on April 25.