Alumni Affairs

University Advancement

Distinguished Alumni Award

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Lamar University Distinguished Alumni

The Distinguished Alumni Awards are the highest awards presented by Lamar University to its alumni. The Lamar University Alumni Association established the awards in 1970 to recognize extraordinary alumni who have enhanced the reputation of the university by distinguishing themselves in their careers or life's service and have made significant contributions to their community, state and nation through professional service, public service, and civic activities.

Each year, the Alumni Affairs Advisory Board honors alumni who have distinguished themselves professionally and through service to Lamar University. These individuals exemplify the loyalty, passion and interest found in all dedicated cardinals. Honorees are recognized at the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner held in February.

Lamar University Distinguished Alumni Awards Past Recipients

  • 2020-Present

    2023

    Hester (Briscoe) Bell '61
    Carl R. Griffith, Jr. '81, '83, '87
    George J. Hirasaki '63
    Fred R. Vernon II '12, '13, '13

    2022

    Orlando A. Alvarez '87
    Myrna (Pirnack) Dunnam '67
    Frank G. Messina '71
    Julie M. Wenah '08

    2021

    Shannon (Pier) Allen '01, '13
    Christopher L. Bates '08
    Keith F. Giblin '86
    Larry D. Norwood '73

    2020

    Larry W. Lawson '12
    Clarence L. Ross, Jr. '83
    Elaine (Norman) Shellenberger '74
    James P. Singletary '72

  • 2010-2019

    2019

    Joseph D. Deshotel '74
    Anthony D. George '88
    Susan Conn McCurry '82
    Robert J. Wortham '71

    2018

    James E. Bell, Jr. '77, '84
    Angela Blanchard '84
    Ellen Walker Rienstra '62, '80
    Don S. Shaver '76

    2017

    Becky Dickson Mason '71
    Chuck Mason '72
    Jorge L. Quijano '73, '74
    Hyattye O. Simmons '79

    2016

    Yolanda Lee Conyers '89
    Glen Morgan '75
    Pat Parsons '71
    Anita Riddle '93, '96

    2015

    David Bernsen '73
    Sandra French Clark '76
    George Dishman, Jr. '49
    Roosevelt Petry '96

    2014

    Brent Bost '78, '92, '96, '97
    Rena Clark '84
    Sina Nejad '80, '81, '15

    2013

    Will Flowers '72
    Bob Jones '73
    Jerry Reese '66
    Bill Scott '70
    Susan (Williams) Simmons '68

    2012

    Jim Gilligan '69, '70
    Steve Moore '78
    Don Pumphrey '88
    Michele (Yennie) Smith '88

    2011

    Vernon Durden '04
    Grace (Davis) England '55
    Bill Macatee '78

  • 2000-2009

    2009

    Larry Beaulieu '77
    Byron Dyer '57
    Paul Fregia '81

    2008

    Madelyn (Davis) Hunt '69
    Don Lyle '06
    Bart Simmons '78, '79

    2007

    Randy Best '67
    Clara (Brown) Cooper '89
    Charles Cutler '61

    2006

    Phil Drayer '67
    Sarah (Pickens) Joseph '84
    Wayne A. Reaud '71
    Robert Swerdlow (Posthumous) '70, '71
    Milt Wing '54

    2005

    Joe Domino '75
    Nick Lampson '68, '74
    Dewey Mosby '63
    Paula (Tate) O"Neal '69, '79

    2004

    Keith Carter '70
    Tamerla Chavis '83
    Bette Stead '57
    Billy Tubbs '58

    2003

    Norman Bellard '79
    Charles Garrett '59, '11
    Dan Smith '69

    2002

    Gilbert Castro '61
    Dan Hallmark '65
    Mary Frances (Dishman) Sherlock '80

    2001

    Patricia Adams '70
    Stephen Grace '64
    Andy Green '54

    2000

    Mary Jo (Lampson) Ford '55
    W.S. "Bud" Leonard '50, '53, '76
    Joe Tortorice '71

  • 1990-1999

    1999

    Mike Aldredge '65
    John Alexander '68
    David Beck '61, '12
    Bill Childs '62
    Bill Mitchell '58
    Ray Moore '50
    J. Donald Warren, Jr. '63

    1994

    Carolyn (Honea) Crawford '64, '75
    M. Bonner Denton '67
    Mary (Hahn) Gray '25
    Ann (Hayes) Die Hasselmo '66
    Bob Lanier '67
    Joan LeTulle '76
    Doug Matthews '74
    Charles Ramsey '72
    Lawrence Schkade '56
    Homer Walles '41

  • 1980-1989

    1989

    Jack Gill '58
    Bob McDill -65

    1987

    Allen Louviere '56
    Charlie Schmucker '34

    1985

    Thomas Odiorne '65
    Pat Weber '62

    1983

    Herring Coe '26
    Marvin Hayes '63
    Alvin LeBlanc '50
    Debra Mafett '80
    Jack Moncrief '58

    1982

    C.W. Conn '69

    1980

    Gilbert Adams, Sr. '26

  • 1970-1979

    1979

    Merlin Breaux '58

    1978

    Pike Powers '62

    1977

    John Long '34

    1976

    Randolph Yost -30

    1975

    Jack Brooks '41

    1974

    Elvis Mason '59, '82

    1971

    Will Davis '50

    1970

    John Gray '25, '80
    Celeste Kitchen '28

Frequently Asked Questions

How are the award recipients chosen for the award?

The Office of Alumni Affairs accepts nominations of outstanding alumni up until September 30th each year for the following year's awards ceremony and a committee from the Alumni Advisory Board chooses 3-4 candidates per year.

How can I nominate someone for the Distinguished Alumni Awards?

Nominations can be submitted on the Lamar University Alumni website or by email to alumni@airllevant.com. Instructions on how to submit a nomination and award criteria is on the nomination website.

How do I access the livestream of the event?

Once the event starts at 7:45pm on Friday, April 5, 2024, the video will begin playing on our website airllevant.com/daa.

Will I be sent tickets for the event once I register?

No. Tickets are not mailed out for this event. You will receive a confirmation email with more details closer to the event. Your name will be on the reservation list at the check in table at the event. 

When will the video be posted after the event?

The final video recording of the event will be posted on the Distinguished Alumni Awards event website approximately two weeks after the event to give time for the video to be edited and uploaded to our website.