Alton Thibodeaux Jr., Denton, a pioneer in the university's diversity programs, died June 6 in Denton. Joining North Texas in 1972 as assistant director of financial aid, Thibodeaux became founding director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and the university’s first African American equal opportunity officer in 1977. He retired in 1992 as associate vice president for equity and diversity. In 1993, he received the university’s Honorary Alumnus award and the Alton Thibodeaux Scholarship was established in honor of his work at UNT. The Student Government Association also established the Alton Thibodeaux Leadership Diversity Award. Thibodeaux was honorary co-chair of UNT’s yearlong observance of the 50th anniversary of its desegregation in 2004 and was a committee member for the annual Emerald Ball, which raises funds for the Emerald Eagle Scholars program. Thibodeaux was a graduate of Grambling State University. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Shepherd Thibodeaux (’76 Ph.D.), associate dean and longtime faculty member in the College of Business.