Alumni
2007-2009 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the most prestigious honor bestowed by Texas State University and the Texas State Alumni Association. The award recognizes graduates who have achieved prominence and distinction in their chosen business, profession, or life work on a national or international level. The leadership shown by these alumni inspires all members of the Texas State community.
2009 Distinguished Alumni Award Honorees
Darren B. Casey ('81)
National real estate developer; Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year; selected by Texas Business magazine as Texas’ Top Land Developer
William Ross King ('58)
Founder and president of Crown Worldwide, Inc., the dominant poultry company in Central Asia; founding teacher at Kazakhstan Institute of Management
Shawn McCormick ('85)
Chairman, CEO and co- founder of Zoey LP, which helps children dealing with asthma; created a pediatric asthma education program adopted in five states
John Moreau ('84)
Competed in 10 U.S. Olympic trials in fencing and modern pentathlon; served as an official at the 2008 Olympics; coached U.S. modern pentathlon team
Wayne Oquin ('99)
Award-winning composer with premieres by The Danish National Symphony, The Munich Philharmonic, The Nashville Symphony, and The Philadelphia Orchestra; Chair of Musicianship at The Juilliard School
2008 Distinguished Alumni Award Honorees
Paul "Chip" Carlisle ('71)
President of Wells Fargo’s Texas Region as well as Border Banking; board member of U.S. Consumers Bankers Association
Debs Cofer ('56 & '60)
Management consultant for sales, marketing, and manufacturing in Hong Kong and Japan; retired Dow Chemical international executive
Douglas L. Foshee ('82)
Founder and owner of Sallyport Investments, LLC; former chairman and CEO of El Paso Corporation, owner of North America’s largest natural gas pipeline system and one of North America’s largest natural gas producers
Carolynn Seay Vietor ('68)
Recognized leader in the rodeo industry; re-elected to a three-year term in 2013 as president of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association; WPRA’s Woman of the Year Award
2007 Distinguished Alumni Award Honorees
Heriberto Guerra ('84)
Chairman and CEO of Avanzar Interior Technologies; retired vice president for SBC Southwest; Hispanic Alliance on Free Trade
Steve Kemble ('82)
Solutions magazine Event Planner of the Year; International Special Event Society International Volunteer of the Year; Event Planners Hall of Fame
Marilyn Nolen ('66)
Conference USA Volleyball Coach of the Year; third on the active NCAA Division I victory list when she retired with a career record of 809-363-12
Wyatt G. Payne ('80 & '82)
Plastic surgeon specializing in wound healing; surgical education and reconstruction surgery; America’s Top Surgeons and Top Plastic Surgeons by Consumers’ Research Council of America
Michael R. Young ('71)
Owns 10 restaurants and seven Krispy Kremes with 1,500 employees; “Master Entrepreneur of the Year” by Inc. magazine
*Deceased