Cougar news services
The Houston Alumni Organization will recognize prominent Houstonians during two upcoming events: the Young Alumni League's Alumni in Action reception Thursday and the 45th Annual Alumni Awards Dinner, to be held April 29 at the University Hilton.
Alumni in Action, which will be held in the Athletic/Alumni Facility, will honor outstanding young alumni. Dominique Sachse, an anchor for the KPRC-TV news, will emcee, and UH System Chancellor/University of Houston President Arthur Smith will deliver the keynote address.
The April 29 dinner will honor Houston Chronicle President Gene McDavid and community volunteer Jane Cizik, who will be presented with Distinguished Alumni Awards. In addition, former UH President Glenn Goerke and his wife Joyce will receive the President's Award.
The President's Award is presented to non-alumni who have contributed significant "time, talent and commitment." The Goerkes, according to HAO, will be the first couple to be honored with the award since Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Roy Cullen received it posthumously in 1977.
Former alumni award recipients include Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America; athlete Carl Lewis; coach Bill Yeoman; and hotelier Eric Hilton.
HAO, which was founded nearly 60 years ago, represents more than 120,000 University of Houston alumni. It also supports 22 associations and 17 area clubs.
The association consists of about 18,000 alumni members.