by Tanya Kalinec
News Reporter
The Houston Alumni Organization presented three awards of distinction at the 45th Annual Alumni Awards Tuesday night at the University Hilton.
Gene McDavid, president of the Houston Chronicle, and community volunteer Jane Cizik were both given the Distinguished Alumni Award, and former University of Houston President Glenn Goerke and his wife Joyce were honored with the President's Award.
Steve Hall, HAO executive vice president, explained that McDavid and Cizik were picked from among 50 active nominees. "They represent distinction among the alumni," he said.
McDavid, a former HAO executive committee member, said he was honored to receive such an award. "I've been connected with the University of Houston for so many years. It is like being honored by your family," McDavid said.
McDavid joined the Houston Chronicle in 1958. At that time, he also began classes at UH, graduating cum laude in 1965 with a degree in business administration. McDavid worked his way up at the Chronicle, where in 1990 he became the company's sixth president.
McDavid is involved in many local, state and national organizations, and also serves on the UH College of Business Administration Development Board and the Dean's Executive Advisory Board.
The other Distinguished Alumni Award went to Jane Cizik. A 1983 magna cum laude graduate of UH, Cizik dedicates her time and talents to such charities as the Women's Home, the Houston Symphony, M.D. Anderson's Children's Art Project and The Honors College, of which she is an alumna and advisory board member.
"It was a total surprise (to be selected). You don't think about it happening and when it does, it is very sweet," Cizik said.
In HAO's tradition of recognizing nonalumni who contribute to the university, the Goerkes were presented with the President's Award. They are the first couple so honored since Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Roy Cullen received the award posthumously in 1977.
Goerke was appointed president of UH in 1995. As UH's 10th president, Goerke guided the approval of a massive campus renovation and beautification project.
Joyce Goerke said her No. 1 priority and first commitment has always been to the university and its immediate community.
According to Hall, the President's Award merits distinction since the recipient is rarely a university employee. Goerke is the second UH president to receive this award. The first was Philip G. Hoffman, who was honored in 1971.
"It is truly a pleasure to add these names to our annals of the University of Houston's most noted and most appreciated alumni friends," Hall said.
"They will join a prestigious group of alumni honorees including Jack Valenti, Vassar Miller and Carl Lewis, as well as nonalums like George Mitchell, Eric Hilton and Bill Yeoman, to name a few."