Stormont and Cowan Families Honored as Emporia State's 2026 Hornet Heritage Family
Emporia, KS (09/23/2026) — Two families with their own deep connections to Emporia State University - brought together through marriage and united by generations of Hornet experiences - have been selected as the 2026 Hornet Heritage Family.
The ESU Alumni Association recognized the Stormont and Cowan families Saturday, Sept. 19, during the Family and Friends Day football game. The annual award honors a multigenerational family of ESU alumni and former students whose connections demonstrate an enduring commitment to the university.
The Stormont family's connection began with David's father, Riley Stormont, who supervised the university's Physical Plant and played an important role in adapting the campus to serve returning veterans and improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
Riley's nieces, sisters Janet (Stormont) Coulter and Donna (Stormont) Luna, came from Oklahoma to attend the university. Both graduated from Emporia State in 1959, helping establish an educational tradition that would continue through successive generations of the Stormont family.
The Stormont and Cowan family histories came together through the marriage of David Stormont and Lorna (Cowan) Stormont. They became acquainted in a freshman English class, and both graduated from Emporia State in 1965.
For Lorna, an ESU education opened doors to work in several fields. She held positions in business, with the superintendent of Emporia schools and in ESU's Department of Foreign Languages. She also credits assistance from the Jones Trust with making her degree possible.
David worked for the university as a student. After serving in Vietnam, he returned to Emporia State and joined Information Services as Director of Photography.
Their sons, Douglas and Scott, both graduated from Emporia State.
Douglas built a career in information technology. He is married to Mary (Noll) Stormont, who earned bachelor's degrees in art and sociology from ESU and is now self-employed.
Scott joined the Emporia Police Department and now serves as captain of its Patrol Division. Scott's wife, Helena, earned her nursing degree from Emporia State in 2001 and is a nurse practitioner at Newman Regional Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine.
Education became one of the strongest traditions on the Cowan side of the family. Lorna's brother, Ron Cowan, attended ESU for several years. His son, Jeff Cowan, would later continue the family's ESU legacy.
Mary Lou Cowan-Pearson, Jeff's mother, earned education degrees in 1959 and 1969 and became a high school teacher. Her sister, Carol Reneau, earned degrees in 1965 and 1971 and taught elementary school in Emporia.
That tradition extended to the family of Jeff and Cassie Cowan. Cassie earned her education degree in 1995 and became a teacher at Seaman High School. Her father, Mark Henry, earned a master's degree from Emporia State in 1976 and worked as a teacher and counselor at Shawnee Heights.
Athletics created another line of connection across generations of the Cowan family.
Lorna and Ron's cousin Bill Cowan established a place in Hornet baseball history that remains visible in the record book more than five decades later. He pitched on ESU's 1969 and 1970 NAIA World Series teams and earned all-area and honorable mention All-American recognition. His 168 single-season strikeouts and 342 career strikeouts remain Emporia State records.
Bill signed with the Kansas City Royals in 1971 and pitched professionally for one year. He then devoted his career to education, coaching and athletic administration, including coaching football, basketball and baseball at Olpe and Belle Plaine. He was inducted into the Emporia State Athletics Hall of Honor in 2024. His daughter Stacy (Cowan) Green earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from ESU.
Jeff and Cassie carried that athletics tradition forward. Jeff played football for the Hornets, while Cassie played basketball. Their sons Dalton and Reid later played ESU football, while their daughter Riley competed in soccer.
The younger Cowans also continued the family's academic legacy. Dalton earned business degrees in 2021 and 2023 and married Taylor (Otting) Cowan, whom he dated at ESU. Taylor played volleyball and earned an ESU nursing degree. Riley earned a nursing degree in 2024, and Reid earned a business degree in 2025.
Today, Hornet football continues to bring the family together. Jeff and Cassie host family tailgates before home games and have filled a basement with black-and-gold decor and Corky memorabilia.
Another family tradition centers on a tree planted near Plumb Hall in memory of Florine Stormont. Leaves from the tree often decorate the family's Thanksgiving table - a simple reminder that Emporia State remains part of the family's everyday life.
"It's an honor that ties the family to the university and celebrates some wonderful years and memories," Lorna Stormont said. "It strengthens an already strong bond to a school we all love."
Through education, service, athletics and careers, the Stormont and Cowan families each built enduring connections to Emporia State. Joined by David and Lorna, their stories now form a rich extended family history that continues with each generation of Hornets.
About Emporia State University
Emporia State University offers a range of academic programs through its seven schools: Applied Health Sciences, Business and Technology, Humanities and Social Sciences, Library and Information Management and Library and Archives, Science and Mathematics and Visual and Performing Arts, along with The Teachers College.
ESU stands out for its innovative education practices. It ensures accessible education by offering in-state tuition rates to full-time undergraduate students from all lower-48 United States. Additionally, full-time undergraduates benefit from flat-rate tuition - students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours with at least one credit hour on campus pay a flat rate.
For more information on how to build your future at Emporia State University, please visit www.emporia.edu.
Media Attachments
Members of the Stormont and Cowan families gathered Saturday, Sept. 19, during the Family and Friends Day football game. They were recognized as the 2026 Hornet Heritage Family by the ESU Alumni Association.
Emporia State University
Gwendolynne Larson, ESU director of media relations, (620) 341-5528, glarson1@emporia.eduShare this Story
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