85th Virtual Grand Chapter Meeting Issue

TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE

Prince E. McJunkins, III 1960-2021 Retired Football Player, Corrections Ofcer

1981 and 1982. At the conclusion of his collegiate career, McJunkins held or shared career records for most points, rushing attempts, total offense and plays, and ranked third in rushing yards and second in passing. Curtis Whitten, on his former college teammate, "I always tell people today that if Prince was playing in these days and times, he would have been like Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson, a combination of those guys. He could run the ball. He could throw the ball. You name it, he could do it. Every time he stepped on the field, we knew we had a chance." McJunkins signed with the NFL Washington Redskins franchise but was released. He subsequently played two seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Ottawa Roughrid- ers. After he retired from football, McJunkins returned to WSU to earn a B.S. degree in criminal justice. Professionally, McJunkins worked for the Department of Corrections and the Veterans Administration, where he remained for years before transitioning to a contract worker in Iraq and Afghani- stan. For the last ten years, Prince de- voted his life to assisting our American government and military as an overseas contractor. McJunkins is a member of the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame in 2008, and WSU retired his #1 jersey. He was inducted into the Muskogee Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011. He was presented the WSU Young Alumni Award in 1997 and inducted into the Shocker Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. Brother Prince McJunkins was pre- ceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 14 years, Shantel (née Billings) McJunkins; sons Prince McJunkins, Journey McJunkins; daugh- ters, Crystal Pierce, Janae McJunkins, Cherish Thompson; brothers Eric (Lin- da) McJunkins, and Donald McJunkins; sisters Pam Murray and Gwendolyn (Marvin) Freeman. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, family, and friends, who will mourn his passing and

miss his smile, but will forever remem- ber him as the man on and off the field that touched many lives. Col. Ramon C. Noches (Ret.) 1941-2021 Vietnam Veteran, U.S. Air Force

Record-setting collegiate quar- terback Prince McJunkins is a legendary figure in the Wichita State University (WSU) athletics

Ramon C. Noches (Rho 1961), a Life Member of the Fraternity, entered the Chapter Invis- ible on January 29, 2021. Ramon Crespin Noches was born in Lawrence, KS on

history. WSU Shocker fans recall the elusive yet strong 170lb. McJunkins running the option offense for Shocker teams in the early 1980s. Brother Prince E. McJunkins, III (Delta Upsilon 1980) entered the Chapter Invisible on February 9, 2021, at age 60. McJunkins' college teammate, Reuben Eckels, "He was a wonderful gentleman and an ambassador for Wichita State University. I was truly inspired by him." A native of Muskogee, OK, McJunkins was born on December 16, 1960, to Prince Eddie McJunkins II and Verna (née Desmuke) McJunkins. He gradu- ated in 1979 from Muskogee (OK) High School, where he played quarterback leading his team to state playoffs his senior year. He attended Wichita State University in Wichita, KS. McJunkins played four seasons as quarterback for WSU Shocker teams led by College Football Hall of Fame coach Willie E. Jeffries (Alpha Lambda 1959). He was the first player in NCAA history to rush for 2,000 yards and pass for 4,000 yards for a college career. He ran Jefferies' option offense, including an 8-3 record in 1982, WSU's best record in 21 years. Highlight in his playing career was the Shockers 13-10 upset of the University of Kansas, where McJunkins threw a 50-yard touchdown pass late in the game. McJunkins set WSU and Missouri Val- ley Conference records for total offense with 6,591 yards. He was honored as the MVC Player of the Year in both

January 5, 1941 to Rose (nee Newman) Noches and Ramon Francis Noches, a Tuskegee Airman. Noches attended Lawrence and Topeka Public schools, including Lincoln Ele- mentary, Monroe Elementary and Crane Junior High. He attended Washburn University in Topeka, KS. He also was a member of the school’s the Air Force R.O.T.C. program. After graduating in 1963, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) com- missioned him as an Air Force Officer. He married the former Nancy Jane Todd in 1964 at St. John AME Church in Topeka, KS. After the wedding, the Noches family moved to Kincheloe AFB, Kinross, MI. Later assignments sent them to Guam, Alabama and Shreveport, LA. In 1970, USAF deployed to Vietnam for a year. Later, the family moved to Rhein-Main AFB, Frankfurt, Germany. During this time, he graduated from the University of Arkansas with an M.S. degree in business management. Noches also graduated from the Air Command and Staff College, the Air War College, the National Defense University, and the USAF Academic Instructor School. Noches managed numerous USAF pro- grams including executive training pro- grams. As Chief of Plans and Programs, USAF Headquarters, Directorate of Information Management and Adminis- tration, he led funding and planning that

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VIRTUAL 85 TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING

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