Hooked on UTEP

Beloved professor dedicated his life to students, community

by Cindy Ramirez
and Laura S. Ruelas

Ronald F. Challman

For more than a decade, Ronald F. Challman dedicated his life to UTEP.

His love of teaching was evident to his students, his family and peers. His love for the university and the El Paso community was not far behind.

"Ron had served in the Army and had been stationed at White Sands before we were married," says Florence Challman, his wife of 48 years. "So when it was time for our honeymoon, he said, ‘I want to take you where the cacti bloom.’ He loved El Paso with all his heart, and he loved UTEP even more."

Ron worked as an advisory systems engineer and project manager at IBM for 32 years. He was selected to come to UTEP through the IBM Faculty Loan Program, teaching computer science for two years in the mid-1980s. He returned to teach at the university in 1992.

Ron was hooked.

"When he retired from IBM, he could have done anything he wanted, but he chose to spend time educating students. He did it because he cared, students enjoyed him and he was terrific," says David Novick, an associate vice provost at UTEP who worked with Ron.

"Ron was always so impressed by

students who worked so hard

and had jobs or families, too."

Ron also taught at El Paso Community College and Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. He died of skin cancer two years ago at the age of 74.

photo by J.R. Hernandez

Florence Challman with Nidia Pedredgon

In honor of her husband’s love of teaching, Florence, with family and friends, established the Ronald F. Challman Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Computer Science in 2005.

"Now there is something in his name to help students. His spirit is still at UTEP and I hope recipients know something about him. He never sought glory; he just wanted to do his work in his quiet way," says Florence.

UTEP senior Nidia Pedregon, the first recipient of the scholarship, says she’s thankful for the Challmans’ generosity. A native of Juárez, Pedregron was close to graduating from a university there before coming to UTEP three years ago. The scholarship, she says, opened the doors to her future.

"There are more opportunities here," she says.

Florence says her husband was inspired by the perseverance of students like Pedregon.

"Ron was always so impressed by students who worked so hard and had jobs or families, too," she says. "He had a real admiration for them."

And his dedication was immeasurable.

Before heading to Calvary Hospital in New York City for hospice care in the fall of 2004, Ron stopped by his office at UTEP. Florence recalls him sitting in his chair and spinning around playfully, not quite wanting to leave. He had full hope he’d return to teach the following spring, Florence says, but he passed away on Sept. 24, 2004. He is survived by Florence, their five children and 11 grandchildren.

Though he was a quiet man, Ron’s involvement in the community was no secret. His wife was often at his side, also sharing of her time with those in need.

In their spare time, the Challmans served as Eucharistic ministers at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and volunteered at Providence Memorial Hospital. Ron was a regular blood donor and an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America. He tutored students in math and computer science.

Florence, who taught at the University of Iowa for three years, has volunteered as a reading and English as a Second Language teacher most of her life.

Today, Florence can be found volunteering at her local parish, Providence or the Assistance League of El Paso.

She says helping others, in whatever form, always brought her and Ron happiness. "We had a ball," she says about their life together.