Media advisory issued August 14, 2002, effective immediately.
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Presenters Pegged for Profiles and Perspectives 2002-03

ARDMORE — Five speakers representing a variety of careers, backgrounds and expertise will be appearing in Ardmore during the 2002-03 Noble Foundation-sponsored Profiles and Perspectives community enrichment series.

The speakers range from a U.S. Army colonel held captive in the U.S. Embassy in Iran for 444 days, to an agricultural economist at Purdue University, and from a nationally recognized cardiovascular researcher to an internationally known outdoor photographer. All public evening programs begin at 7 in the Plainview School Auditorium.

"The operations and activities of the Foundation bring it into contact with people from varied and diverse backgrounds," said Michael A. Cawley, Noble Foundation president, in explaining the implementation of the Profiles series. "Through those contacts, we want to enable the southern Oklahoma community to enjoy interesting and stimulating discussions and lectures otherwise not available to area citizens — a program consistent with the Noble Foundation's strong interest in the quality of life of the people of Ardmore and southern Oklahoma."

Starting out the series will be Dana Bowman, a former member of the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachuting team who lost both legs during a skydiving training accident in 1994. Bowman, who will be appearing in Ardmore on Sept. 12, re-enlisted in the army nine months after the accident. Now retired, he is a motivational speaker who stresses the importance of perseverance and the relevance to the physically handicapped in society and even the military.

Col. Chuck Scott, now retired, a military expert on the Middle East and terrorism who was held captive for well over a year in Iran, will speak in Ardmore on Nov. 7. His talk will cover a number of topics including the declining potency of the "oil weapon," the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the Middle Eastern psyche.

The first speaker slated for 2003 is Dr. Mike Boehlje, an agricultural economist at Purdue University who will be bringing his nationally recognized expertise on cattle markets and beef production on Jan. 21.

A recent inductee into the National Academy of Sciences and the holder of the Lloyd Noble Chair in Cardiovascular Research at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation in Oklahoma City, Dr. Charles Esmon, will be speaking on April 3, 2003. His presentation will cover the latest research in preventing blood poisoning, heart attacks and strokes, and how new insights in the medical research field may help predict patient risk.

A photographer who originates from Oklahoma but has traveled the globe shooting wildlife photographs for such noted magazines as National Geographic and Life, as well as for several books, will return to his native state April 29, 2003, to end the series. Joel Sartore's work has also been featured in several national television shows.

Mary Kate Garner, chairman of the Profiles and Perspectives Committee at the Noble Foundation, said this is the fifth year for the program.

"We have secured a wonderful group of speakers from a variety of backgrounds for this year's series," Garner said. "It is an opportunity for southern Oklahomans to listen to high quality speakers without having to travel far from home."

Additional information about the speakers and their presentations will be provided to local news media prior to the programs and can also be found on the Noble Foundation Web site at www.noble.org.

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Photos:
Dr. Michael Boehlje	Dana Bowman	Dr. Charles Esmon
Col. Chuck Scott	Joel Sartore

Cutline information:
Noble Foundation 2002-03 Profiles and Perspectives speakers will be presenting public programs at 7 p.m. at the Plainview School Auditorium, with the first program slated in September and the last one scheduled for April 29, 2003. Top row, left to right: Dr. Michael Boehlje, agricultural economist, Purdue University; Dana Bowman, former U.S. Army’s Golden Knights parachute team member, motivational speaker; and Dr. Charles Esmon, cardiovascular researcher at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation in Oklahoma City. Bottom row, left to right: Col. Chuck Scott, retired, former captive in the U.S. Embassy in Iran and Middle East authority; and Joel Sartore, wildlife photographer for National Geographic and others.

Photos/Submitted by the presenters

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a non-profit organization conducting agricultural, forage biotechnological, and plant biology research; providing grants to numerous non-profit charitable, educational and health organizations; and assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs.

To learn more, visit the Noble Foundation Web site at http://www.noble.org.

More news releases available at www.noble.org/Press_Release