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Ceremony honors noted UH alumni

Cougar News Services

In its annual Distinguished Alumni Awards dinner ceremony, the Houston Alumni Organization will honor nine prominent UH graduates and community leaders on April 11.

The ceremony will also include a tribute to outgoing UH System Chancellor and UH President Arthur K. Smith and his wife, June D. Smith. Smith, who announced his retirement in January, marked his sixth year of service to the University on April 1.

Receiving alumni awards are Houston Independent School District Superintendent Kathryn Stripling, former UHS Regent Vidal G. Martinez and Michael Cemo, currently serving as a UHS Regent and as president and CEO of AIM Distributors, Inc.

The other five award recipients will get Distinguished Service Awards for contributions to the UH and Houston communities. The married couple Larry and Joanne Doherty, two UH-educated attorneys, will each receive awards. Larry Doherty, who got his UH law degree in 1970, came to prominence as a lawyer practicing with Doherty, Long, Wagner, LLP before taking on the fame as the host of the <I>Texas Justice<P> Fox television show. Joanne Doherty, who graduated with her UH law degree in 1985, has retired from practice but continues to be active, volunteering for the Greater Houston Womenis Foundation.

Thaddeus "Bo" Smith, a UHS Regent, and his wife, Josanna Smith, are also receiving service honors.

Wilhelmina "Beth" Robertson, former chair of the UHS Board of Regents and a noted philanthropist for the University, who most recently raised $1.5 million for the Frank Stella ceiling in the Moores Opera House, will also be honored for her service.

A first-time award, called the Outstanding Alumni Volunteer award, will go to retired finance and marketing director Donald McKusker, who graduated from UH in 1950.

The awards dinner will be held in the UH Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom at 7 p.m. April 11. The entire event includes a reception, dinner, ceremony and video presentation. Tickets are available by calling 713-743-9550.
 

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