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.
Hester (Briscoe) Bell '61
Carl R. Griffith, Jr. '81, '83, '87
George J. Hirasaki '63
Fred R. Vernon II '12, '13, '13
Orlando A. Alvarez '87
Myrna (Pirnack) Dunnam '67
Frank G. Messina '71
Julie M. Wenah '08
Shannon (Pier) Allen '01, '13
Christopher L. Bates '08
Keith F. Giblin '86
Larry D. Norwood '73
Larry W. Lawson '12
Clarence L. Ross, Jr. '83
Elaine (Norman) Shellenberger '74
James P. Singletary '72
Joseph D. Deshotel '74
Anthony D. George '88
Susan Conn McCurry '82
Robert J. Wortham '71
James E. Bell, Jr. '77, '84
Angela Blanchard '84
Ellen Walker Rienstra '62, '80
Don S. Shaver '76
Becky Dickson Mason '71
Chuck Mason '72
Jorge L. Quijano '73, '74
Hyattye O. Simmons '79
Yolanda Lee Conyers '89
Glen Morgan '75
Pat Parsons '71
Anita Riddle '93, '96
David Bernsen '73
Sandra French Clark '76
George Dishman, Jr. '49
Roosevelt Petry '96
Brent Bost '78, '92, '96, '97
Rena Clark '84
Sina Nejad '80, '81, '15
Will Flowers '72
Bob Jones '73
Jerry Reese '66
Bill Scott '70
Susan (Williams) Simmons '68
Jim Gilligan '69, '70
Steve Moore '78
Don Pumphrey '88
Michele (Yennie) Smith '88
Vernon Durden '04
Grace (Davis) England '55
Bill Macatee '78
Larry Beaulieu '77
Byron Dyer '57
Paul Fregia '81
Madelyn (Davis) Hunt '69
Don Lyle '06
Bart Simmons '78, '79
Randy Best '67
Clara (Brown) Cooper '89
Charles Cutler '61
Phil Drayer '67
Sarah (Pickens) Joseph '84
Wayne A. Reaud '71
Robert Swerdlow (Posthumous) '70, '71
Milt Wing '54
Joe Domino '75
Nick Lampson '68, '74
Dewey Mosby '63
Paula (Tate) O"Neal '69, '79
Keith Carter '70
Tamerla Chavis '83
Bette Stead '57
Billy Tubbs '58
Norman Bellard '79
Charles Garrett '59, '11
Dan Smith '69
Gilbert Castro '61
Dan Hallmark '65
Mary Frances (Dishman) Sherlock '80
Patricia Adams '70
Stephen Grace '64
Andy Green '54
Mary Jo (Lampson) Ford '55
W.S. "Bud" Leonard '50, '53, '76
Joe Tortorice '71
Mike Aldredge '65
John Alexander '68
David Beck '61, '12
Bill Childs '62
Bill Mitchell '58
Ray Moore '50
J. Donald Warren, Jr. '63
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
Jack Gill '58
Bob McDill -65
Allen Louviere '56
Charlie Schmucker '34
Thomas Odiorne '65
Pat Weber '62
Herring Coe '26
Marvin Hayes '63
Alvin LeBlanc '50
Debra Mafett '80
Jack Moncrief '58
C.W. Conn '69
Gilbert Adams, Sr. '26
Merlin Breaux '58
Pike Powers '62
John Long '34
Randolph Yost -30
Jack Brooks '41
Elvis Mason '59, '82
Will Davis '50
John Gray '25, '80
Celeste Kitchen '28
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@36837a.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 36837a.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.