Awards dinner honors UH
alumni, contributors
Houston Alumni
Organization recognizes distinguished members
and volunteers
in UH community
By Sylvia A. Rocha
Daily Cougar Staff
Thursday was an evening of recognition
for the annual Houston Alumni Organization, which distributed four Distinguished
Alumni Awards, two President's Awards and one Distinguished Service Award
at its 51st annual awards dinner.
"Tonight's awards go to those who consistently
show voluntary effort in the Houston community and who serve and support
the Houston Alumni Organization," HAO President Downey Bridgwater said
at the dinner, which was held at the University Hilton.
"Together we share commitment and pride
in supporting the University of Houston," Bridgwater said. UH President
Arthur K. Smith was also in attendance of the ceremony to thank alumni
for their contributions.
UH alumna and mistress of ceremonies Dominique
Sachse, of KPRC-TV Channel 2, agreed. "It couldn't be a better time to
be a Cougar," she said.
In 1994, the HAO created a new award, the
Distinguished Service Award. This year's audience watched two films showing
footage of people describing this year's recipient of the award -- Janet
Blair, vice president of Morgan Keegan & Co. Inc.
Investor Lee
Hogan, left, talks with UH President Arthur K. Smith at the Houston Alumni
Organization's annual awards dinner Thursday. Hogan was recognized with
the President's Award, which is given to non-alumni whose generosity and
service to UH have been exemplary.
Christine McCreary/
The Daily Cougar
"If we don't show and care about the people
around us, what is important, who is? You have got to lead by example and
I truly believe in that," Blair said.
The President's Awards were presented to
Cheryl L. Thompson-Draper and investor Lee W. Hogan.
The President's Award is given to non-alumni
whose education and service to UH has been exemplary. Recipients are recognized
for their generous contributions of time, talent and resources on behalf
of the University and its future.
Thompson-Draper is owner, chairwoman and
CEO of Houston's largest female-owned business, Warren Electric Group,
and serves as a member of the President's National Advisory Council and
the College of Engineering Advisory Board at UH.
Hogan is an investor.
"I would like to express how much all of
us appreciate this award. I think it's really important that the University
and the Alumni Organization would give out such an award to a non-alumni
like myself," Hogan said.
Only 87 alumni have been recognized as
distinguished, Sachse said.
One of this year's recipients was retired
judge Mary E. Bacon. She was in attendance with her daughter, Elizabeth
Johnson, and stepson Chuck Johnson, who flew from Kansas City, Mo., for
the dinner.
"My children have said that me going to
school at the time that I did (after I had raised them) made a very big
impression on their lives. They now all have graduate degrees," Bacon said.
Bacon received her undergraduate degree
from Georgia State University in Atlanta and began law school at UH at
the age of 42. She is now a retired judge and sits on the Texas Board of
Criminal Justice, the policy board that oversees the operations of the
Texas correctional system.
Kenneth L. Barun, president and CEO of
Ronald McDonald House Charities, was also one of the Distinguished Alumni
Award recipients.
His parents, Elayne and Sam Barun, were
in attendance to see their son receive his award. "We're originally from
New York, but we moved the whole family down to Houston because Kenneth
wanted to attend UH," Elayne Barun said.
Burdette W. Keeland II, a former professor
at the Hines College of Architecture, was also awarded a posthumous Distinguished
Alumni Award.
One of the main projects on which the late
Keeland worked was the study of monuments at cemeteries. He and his wife
traveled all over the United States and photographed all types of monuments.
This massive collection of slides is in the process of being donated to
UH.
B. Montgomery Pettitt, who holds the Cullen
Distinguished Chair in chemistry, was the last Distinguished Alumni Award
recipient of the night.
Pat Dunn and guest Lena Sorrells came to
the dinner in Pettitt's honor. "I've known Monte since we were 7 years
old," Dunn said.
Pettitt is a native Houstonian and received
all three of his degrees from UH.
