Three Southwestern College graduates will be inducted into the Natural Science Hall of Fame on Saturday, Nov. 5, in Deets Library on the campus of Southwestern College. The new members are Michael Porter ’81, James Morgan ’77, and Ken Lockwood ’80 (posthumously). 

The celebration will begin at 5 p.m., with a reception and dinner (cost is $25 per person, seating is limited, and RSVPs are necessary) in Deets Library. The induction ceremony will begin following dinner at approximately 6 p.m., all are invited to attend (no reservations are required). To make dinner reservations, contact Ashlee Mayo, director of alumni engagement, (620) 229-6155.

This hall of fame honors Southwestern College alumni who have made significant contributions in the natural sciences.

James Morgan ’77, James Morgan, graduated with a bachelor of science in biology and a minor in chemistry. While at Southwestern he participated in track for four years, A Capella Choir for three years as well as a year each on the cross country, football, and soccer club squads. After Southwestern, he received a master of science degree in biology with an emphasis in comparative endocrinology from the University of Oregon and a PhD in zoology from Oregon State University doing research in Neurophysiology. After graduating from Oregon State, research continued with gastric ion transport and stress physiology at the University of Arkansas. While teaching physiology and anatomy to nursing students at the University of Arkansas, Morgan became interested in sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture combined ecology and environmentalism with experience gained as a youth on a family farm in Kansas.  In the early 2000s, he and his wife, Teresa, were hired to manage the Katahdin Sheep National Breed Association. He used the position to continue teaching, by educating and encouraging shepherds to use “appropriate” science to improve environmentally sound lamb production.  This teaching encompassed several fields of biology including physiology, genetics, ethology, ecology, developmental biology, reproduction, and botany. In addition, Morgan worked with genetic researchers at Universities and USDA to develop new programs to improve sustainable and profitable sheep production in the USA. He was very effective at helping design data collection and recruited flocks to participate in the research. Resulting data were used by academic researchers to develop the first Estimated Breeding Values for parasite resistance and for total pounds weaned per ewe in the USA. This eventually led to incorporating genomics and modern DNA technology to more accurately identify superior sheep genetics. Along the way, he has been invited to speak on sheep genetics at the World Sheep and Wool Congress, as well as conferences in Mexico, Brazil, Canada, and around the USA. He served as President of the National Sheep Improvement Program for all breeds for 10 years, and Chairperson of USDA’s Southern Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education Council (the main granting agency for sustainable agriculture in the Southern USA). He is a member of the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control and participates in committees for the American Sheep Industry Association. Jim and Teresa still have a sheep farm, market lamb meat at the Fayetteville Farmers Market, develop lamb recipes and sell sheep breeding stock.

Ken Lockwood ’80, grew up in Brockway, Penn., where he graduated from high school and was offered a football scholarship at Southwestern College which led him to spend the rest of his life in Kansas. Lockwood was one of the original starting players of the Wichita Flyers a semi-pro football team. His employment career included working for a meat packing plant, KGE, and the United States Post Office, where he met his wife of thirty-one years, Susan Ewertz Lockwood. He left the post office in 1999 which led him to a new adventure and passion. He was hired to be an animal and groundskeeper for what is now known as Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Ken and Susan lived on the park grounds for five years while caring for the animals and developing educational tours for the public. Ken owned a Siberian tiger named Maya. In 2003, Ken and Susan built their home in rural Cheney and established the Eagle Valley Raptor Center. Ken acted as the program director and head rehabilitator for eagles, owls, and hawks. Ken also developed educational tours at the site as well as providing educational presentations with animals at schools, churches, and other public events. Ken was an avid lover of all wildlife and nature. He possessed a vast knowledge about many animal species and was passionate about sharing this knowledge. He also volunteered at the Safari Zoological Park. Ken passed away on June 20, 2023.

Michael Porter ’81, MD, FACS, FASCRS, is an Associate Professor of Surgery and is the Program Director of the General Surgery Residency Program at the University of Kansas - Wichita. Born and raised in Kansas, he received his bachelor of science degree from Southwestern College in 1981 with majors in biology and chemistry. He then pursued his medical degree at The University of Kansas School of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency in Wichita, followed by a colon and rectal fellowship at the prestigious Ferguson Clinic in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He returned to Wichita to begin his practice with Wichita Surgical Specialists and joined the faculty of the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1991. Over the years, Porter has established himself as a highly respected surgeon and educator, eventually taking on the role of Program Director for the General Surgery Residency Program in 2016. His leadership in training the next generation of surgeons has been recognized for fostering excellence and innovation in surgical education. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Porter is deeply committed to his family. He and his wife, Lori, have three children and are proud grandparents. Outside of medicine, he is an accomplished trombonist, performing in jazz bands, orchestras, and concert bands. His passion for music is matched by his enthusiasm for running marathons. 

To see Southwestern College's halls of fame and a full list of inductees visit sckans.edu/hof.