UW Board of Trustees Gains Three New Members; Another Reappointed

March 7, 2013
Two men and a woman
Larry Gubbels, Dave True and Wava Tully

An energy, banking and agricultural businessman, a retired car dealership owner and a retired educator are the three new members of the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees.

Dave True of Casper, Larry Gubbels of Douglas and Wava Tully of Lusk were appointed by Gov. Matt Mead and approved by the Wyoming Senate. They replace Ann Rochelle, Jim Neiman and James Trosper, whose terms expired. All three new trustees’ terms will run through 2019.

Current Board of Trustees President David Bostrom of Worland was reappointed. His term also runs through 2019.

True is a joint partner/owner and senior manager for the True companies headquartered in Casper. These companies include True Oil, True Drilling LLC, Eighty-Eight Oil, Black Hills Trucking, Belle Fourche and Bridger pipelines, Toolpushers Supply Co. and True Ranches LLC. He also is director and chairman of the board for Hilltop National Bank.

His appointment to the Board of Trustees continues a family legacy of serving UW. True’s father, H.A. “Dave” True Jr., served as a trustee from 1965-1977; and his brother, Hank, was a trustee from 1995-2007.

“Our family’s been involved with the university and the state of Wyoming for, literally, generations,” True says. “We are certainly supportive and want to see the university grow and flourish, and continue to be a great resource for the state of Wyoming and its population.”

He has been active in local, state and national organizations, including the International Association of Drilling Contractors, Petroleum Association of Wyoming, Independent Petroleum Association of America, United Way of Natrona County, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Casper Area Economic Development Alliance, Casper Petroleum Club, Wyoming Stock Growers Association, the Republican Party, Rotary Foundation, UW College of Business Advisory Board and the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Council.

In 2009, True was named to the Rocky Mountain Oil & Gas Hall of Fame. For 2011-2012, he was named the UW College of Business Outstanding Alumnus.

“Certainly, I’m hopeful I can bring to the board a continued experience with industries that are very important to the university as well as the entire state,” True says. “Our family has been involved in oil and gas, as well as agriculture and banking, for decades. Those are mainstays in the state.”

True attended Purdue University and received his bachelor’s degree in business administration (graduated cum laude) from UW in 1973.

True married his wife, Melanie, in 1972. They have four children and five grandchildren.

Gubbels is the former owner (1988-2007) of Gubbels Ford and Chrysler in Douglas. He graduated from St. Frances de Chantel High School in Randolph, Neb., and served in the U.S. Army.

He is currently president of the Douglas Trap Club; a delegate and member of the Wyoming State Trapshooting Association; board member and past president of the Douglas Senior Center; and a board member of Converse County Aging Services. He also is a current member of the American Legion, Douglas Moose Club, Douglas Country Club, Mountain States Paralyzed Veterans Chapter and the Good Sam RV Club.

Gubbels has served on the Douglas City Council, and is a past president of the Douglas Chamber of Commerce and the Douglas Kiwanis Club.

“I feel like I have common sense and that will be helpful to the trustees,” says Gubbels, who is retired. “I want the university to continue the growth of our youth. I want to keep them (students) in Wyoming and look forward to them being our future. Kids that are educated are beneficial to Wyoming.”

He and his wife, Barbara, have a son, Martin Gubbels; a daughter, Mary Oneski; and one granddaughter.

Tully is a 1983 graduate of UW, where she received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She spent her entire 25-year teaching career (1983-2008) with the Niobrara County School District. She is retired.

“As an educator who has made agriculture a focus in the classroom, I realize the importance of utilizing and showcasing the university resources,” Tully says. “My experience, in working with the youth of today and the future adults of tomorrow, would be the basis for my decisions as a board member.”

A lifelong Wyoming resident, Tully says serving as a community volunteer, having small-town roots, a teacher’s heart and loyalty to UW are assets she brings to the board.

In 2008, Tully was honored as a Niobrara County alumna. In 2004, she received a national award for the Agriculture in the Classroom program. Ag in the Classroom is a national organization that supports state programs by providing a network that seeks to improve agricultural literacy -- awareness, knowledge and appreciation -- among pre-K teachers and their students. In 2000, she was recognized with the Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom Exemplary Teacher of the Year Award.

Tully is a member of the International Chapter Professional Educational Organization (P.E.O.) Sisterhood, Niobrara Hospital Auxiliary, Niobrara Friends of the Library, where she serves as treasurer; and the UW Alumni Association. She also is an outreach instructor for Eastern Wyoming College, where she teaches a studio class through Niobrara Community Education.

Tully and her husband, Joe, have three daughters -- Bridget Anspauch, Tami Zamborelli and Kellie Allison -- and seven grandchildren.

The UW Board of Trustees has the responsibility to approve and adopt the general policies governing the university and provide board oversight for the fiduciary management, academic policies and the general welfare of UW students.

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