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Alumni awards


University awards were presented at the annual Alumni Awards Dinner April 11. The event honors alumni and others who have provided service and support to the university as well as alumni who have achieved prominence in their fields. This year's honorees were:

Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award
The university's most prestigious award for alumni, given to individuals who have achieved distinction in their professions and made significant contributions to society, therefore bringing credit to UNT

photo of Charlie BondCharlie Bond ('59) of Dallas, president and CEO of Elliott's Hardware Inc., with stores in Dallas, Grapevine and Plano. Bond, who graduated with a bachelor of business administration degree from North Texas, expanded Elliott's Hardware during a time when many of its counterparts failed due to competition from larger chains. The stores are known for their dedication to customer service and their wide selection of merchandise. Bond has been a member of the Chief Executives Round Table sponsored by UNT's Professional Development Institute and serves on the College of Business Administration's advisory board. He was a charter inductee into the college's Hall of Honor and the Kappa Sigma Hall of Honor.

photo of Michael FairclothMichael Faircloth ('83) of Dallas, Texas fashion designer. Since his graduation from the university with a bachelor of fine arts degree in fashion design, Faircloth has operated his own shop at the Lily Dodson boutique in the Highland Park Village of Dallas. Last year, he unveiled a ready-to-wear collection in New York. Besides designing for the upper echelons of Dallas society, Faircloth has created numerous dresses for first lady Laura Bush, including the royal red gown she wore to the presidential inauguration. He has served on the advisory board for the UNT School of Visual Arts, and his involvement in DIFFA, Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS of Dallas, has been the cornerstone of his public service. Since the group's foundation in 1984, it has contributed more than $30 million to hundreds of AIDS service organizations.

photo of Bill R. NealeBill R. Neale ('48, '53 M.A.) of Dallas, automotive fine artist. Neale received his bachelor's and master's degrees in art from North Texas and began working for one of the most prestigious advertising firms of the Southwest, Tracy-Locke. Later, he became the CEO of a subsidiary firm, Point Communications. His love of auto racing and art has made him a very popular figure in both fields. Since 1953 he has been a contributing illustrator for Automobile, Road and Track, Car and Driver, Motor Trend and Cavallino magazines. He now works as a contract painter, traveling to car-racing events and copying the likenesses of the sport's icons in watercolors, acrylics and oils. He is the founding member of the Automotive Fine Arts Society, an international organization that has shows throughout the United States.


Green Glory Award
Presented to individuals, not necessarily alumni, whose assistance to the university has enabled it to have "a substantial margin of excellence in its endeavors"

photo of Bruce StreetE. Bruce ('91 honorary) and Virginia Owens Street of Graham. Bruce Street, a partner in Street Investment Co. and co-founder and director of Breck Operating Corp., served the UNT System as a member of the Board of Regents for almost 20 years and held key positions including vice chair, chair of the facilities committee and member of the executive committee. He also helped create the UNT Foundation, which supports the university through the stewardship and acquisition of financial resources. He holds the 1981 Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine Founders Medal, and UNT awarded him an honorary doctor of educational leadership in 1991. Virginia Street, along with her husband, sponsors the Roger J. Williams Award in Preventive Nutrition, named in honor of the late pioneer in nutrition research. The award is given periodically by the UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth. In 2001, the Bruce Street Educational Fund was established to create a deferred gift currently valued at $8 million. In 20 years, the total of the fund will be donated to the UNT College of Education.

photo of Joseph E. HumphryJoseph E. Humphry of Irving, chief executive officer of Travelweb.com. Humphry has more than 35 years of experience in the travel industry and is a sought-after consultant. His previous company, Humphry Service Corp., serves clients such as American Airlines, Carlson Leisure Network, Liberty Travel and others. He has now focused his talents on the field of Internet travel. In 2001, he created Travelweb.com, a travel web site that offers hotel rooms at up-to-the-minute pricing through its direct connections to hotel reservation systems. Prior to Travelweb and his consulting career, Humphry worked at American Airlines as senior director of leisure marketing and managing director of sales development. Humphry is a member of the Chief Executives Round Table of the UNT Professional Development Institute and is on the board of governors of UNT's School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management.

photo of Nicholas D. RiccoNicholas D. Ricco ('61) of Dallas, president of Ricco Properties. Ricco, who graduated from North Texas with a bachelor of business administration degree, served in the U.S. Air Force and Navy in both active and reserve status. He became the first non-pilot in the Navy and the first naval reserve officer to be appointed as executive officer and commanding officer of Naval flying squadrons. Returning to the Dallas area from active duty, he began to accrue property and casualty insurance agencies as well as commercial and residential real estate. By 1987 he had amassed more than 40 insurance agencies, which he sold to William Rigg Co. in 1991. He continues to own and manage real estate investments in the Dallas area and actively promotes Navy affairs. At UNT he has instructed and mentored students through the Professional Leadership Program in the College of Business Administration and serves on the college's advisory board. He is also back on campus as a student himself, working on a master's degree in journalism.


Honorary Alumnus/Alumna Award
Awarded to individuals who were never students at UNT, but whose outstanding devotion to the university has been clearly demonstrated

photo of Barbara B. ColegroveBarbara B. Colegrove of Addison, retired UNT journalism instructor and a former writer for the now defunct Addison Reporter. Colegrove joined the North Texas journalism faculty as a visiting lecturer in 1961. She had previously worked for four years as a reporter and researcher for Time magazine. She left the faculty in 1972 for Southern Methodist University but returned to North Texas to teach from 1984 to 1986. The death of two of her former students — Margaret "Maggie" Brown Kennedy ('63) and Stanley Houston ('65) — prompted her and her husband, the late Don Colegrove, to create a journalism scholarship endowment at UNT in 1998. After leaving the North Texas journalism faculty for the second time, Colegrove served as a lab assistant for reporting students at Brookhaven College in Farmers Branch. She was also editor of Where magazine in Dallas and a staff writer and columnist for the Addison Reporter. Her columns were recently compiled into a book recounting the history of Addison.

photo of John P. FullingimJohn P. Fullingim of Dallas, management consultant with Applied Behavioral Sciences Marketing, formerly the Addison Marketing Group. Fullingim was honored specifically because of his in-kind contributions in the area of market research and consulting, which led to the development of marketing strategies for the university. As president of the Addison Marketing Group, a Dallas-based management-consulting firm, he conducted research that guided the university's development of graduate and undergraduate recruitment materials; strategies for fundraising; and direction for increasing regional, state and national news coverage in addition to improving UNT's overall institutional identity in the North Texas region. After the implementation of the new recruitment materials, UNT's freshman enrollment increased 17 percent the first fall, reversing a six-year enrollment decline.


Outstanding Alumnus/Alumna Service Award
Given to alumni who have "rendered volunteerism of exemplary nature" to the university

photo of G. Brint RyanG. Brint Ryan ('88, '88 M.S.) of Dallas, founder and managing principal of Ryan & Co., one of the largest state and local tax consulting firms in the United States. After graduating with bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting, Ryan built a firm with more than 100 professionals serving numerous Fortune 500 companies. He is a regular speaker for the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and received its Houston chapter's Salute to Excellence Award. He also regularly addresses state and local tax topics for the Institute of Professionals in Taxation, the National Business Institute and the Tax Executives Institute. At UNT he has served as a member and chair of the Department of Accounting's advisory board and served on the search committee for a new department chair, in addition to supporting the department's internship program.

photo of Alfred and Kimberly WinderAlfred ('88) and Kimberly ('88) Winder of Denton. Since earning a bachelor of business administration degree in real estate from UNT, Alfred has become a controller at Rhino Steel Building Systems in Denton. Kimberly received her bachelor of science degree in recreation and leisure studies from UNT. She is the regional alumni officer for Denton County at UNT and is also a Tupperware consultant. The Winders are the co-presidents of the Denton chapter of the North Texas Exes and have planned numerous social events to help encourage new memberships to the society. They recently organized and hosted a successful fund raising event, with proceeds used to support UNT scholarships. While in college, Alfred played on the North Texas football team and has been a die-hard UNT sports fan ever since. The Winders are season ticket holders for UNT football and men and women's basketball and have played an active role in the Mean Green Club.

President's Citation
Awarded to individuals who have given extraordinary service and support to UNT either in enhancing its reputation or in helping the university accomplish its mission

photo of Bob Ray SandersBob Ray Sanders ('69) of Fort Worth, associate editor and columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Sanders, who received his bachelor's degree in journalism from North Texas, is a frequent guest lecturer for UNT journalism classes and was inducted into the department's Hall of Honor. He began his career with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as a courthouse reporter and political writer in 1969. In 1972, he left the newspaper to become a reporter at KERA-TV, Channel 13, Dallas' PBS affiliate. He produced and hosted the award-winning program News Addition and served as vice president and station manager before returning to the Star-Telegram in 1994. He was promoted to associate editor in 1997 but continued his association with KERA for several years as the host of Between the Lines, a weekly news and public affairs program. During his career, Sanders has received some of journalism's most prestigious honors, including five Dallas Press Club KATIE awards, a National Association of Black Journalists' award for television sports reporting and a National Headliner Award for investigative reporting


Ulys Knight Spirit Award
Awarded to a UNT alumnus, alumna or group that has made noteworthy efforts to sustain spirit among the UNT family. Ulys Knight ('28) was on North Texas' championship basketball team in the early 1920s and was named the most popular student on campus. He was later known as "Mr. North Texas" for his participation in alumni activities.

photo of Brad and Vicki OlsonBrad ('73) and Vicki Olson of Frisco. Brad received his bachelor of business administration degree in marketing from UNT. He has worked in outside sales for Frisco Wholesale Lumber for almost 17 years. He is a board member of the North Texas Exes and serves as chair of the Athletics Committee, reporting on all athletic events and encouraging members of the Exes to support athletic programs. Vicki, who attended North Texas from 1968 to 1970, is the office manager for the Trumpkard Team at Keller Williams Real Estate in Frisco. During the past year, both Olsons initiated a North Texas Exes chapter in Frisco, conducting social events in their home and organizing events at other locations. The chapter, later renamed the Collin County Chapter, has more than 100 members. In addition, the Olsons are active members of the Mean Green Club.


Wings of Eagles Citation

photo of Alfred and Joanna HurleyThis special award was presented to Alfred F. Hurley, Chancellor Emeritus of the UNT System and President Emeritus of UNT, and his wife, Joanna, recognizing the many years of service and dedication they have given to the university. Hurley came to North Texas on Sept. 1, 1980, to serve as vice president for administrative affairs. In February 1982, he became UNT's 12th president and the second chancellor of the informal UNT System. Hurley became the system's first full-time chancellor in October 2000, after the Board of Regents voted to separate the offices of system chancellor and university president. At the time he left the presidency for duties exclusively as chancellor, he had served as UNT's chief executive longer than any other president in university history. He is currently preparing history and higher education courses to teach during the 2003-04 year. Joanna is serving as president of the Texas Committee for the National Museum of Women in the Arts, a statewide organization promoting the recognition of women artists, past and present.

 



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