Shirley and Don Beggs and Ann Konecny; back row from
left, RonBaldwin, Lorraine and Jim Mann and John Davis.
For the 49th time, Shockers of every ilk came together to applaud the achievements of fellow Shockers.
Jan. 28 blanketed Wichita with a few inches of snow — but that didn’t stop 275 people from attending the 2004 WSU Alumni Awards banquet at the Marriott Hotel.
These snowy Shockers showed up to toast the best of their ranks — and to welcome the university’s first couple into their midst.
Honorees at the annual event, emceed by KAKE TV anchor Larry Hatteberg fs ’68 and with music by Bill Thomson ’63/65 on piano and Tom Fowler ’68/79 on sax, were WSU President Don and First Lady Shirley Beggs, Honorary Alumni Awards; Ann Konecny ’91, Young Alumna Award; John Davis ’75, Distinguished Service Award; Ron Baldwin ’75, Alumni Recognition Award; Mary Herrin ’72/76, University Recognition Award; and Jim Mann ’56, chairman and CEO of SunGard Data Systems of Wayne, Penn., and this year’s Alumni Achievement honoree.
Kathy Sexton ’88/89/92, alumni association president, delivered welcoming remarks. She comments, “You might think that at some point, we would ‘run out’ of fabulous alumni to recognize. But every year, it is actually more difficult to choose among all the outstanding alumni and people with lifelong careers of service to WSU.”
Among the crowd were several previous Achievement Award recipients: Pete Armstrong ’42, who was presented the award in 1996; Linwood Sexton ’48, awarded in 1977; Dan Carney ’53, in 2002; and John “Jack” Jonas ’54/67, 1988.
Chairing the 2004 WSU Alumni Awards Committee, members of which were responsible for selecting the honorees, was Tammy Allen ’82/85/95. Other committee members were Sexton, Don Beggs, Mike Babich ’84, Nancy Blackman, Dave Dahl ’71/74, Kevin Dreiling ’90, Ross Hollander ’73, Hassan Jabara ’62, Kaye Monk-Morgan ’93/96 and Terri Moses ’80/90.
Present to offer their applause were many WSU administrators, including Vice President and General Counsel Ted Ayres, Dean of the Business School John Beehler, Dean of the College of Health Professions Peter Cohen, Dean of the College of Education Jon Engelhardt, Dean of the College of Engineering Walter Horn, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Research John Hutchinson, Dean of the Graduate School Susan Kovar, Vice President of University Advancement Elizabeth King, Vice President of Student Affairs Ron Kopita, Vice President of Administration and Finance Roger Lowe, Dean of the College of Fine Arts Rodney Miller and Director of Governmental Relations Eric Sexton ’87/92.
Also attending were Mickey Armstrong ’45; Cindy Baldwin fs ’73; Emily and Matt Baldwin; Gayla Carney; Dan ’59 and Linda Foley; Brenda and Britt Fulmer; Debbie Haynes ’76; Sherry Jabara; Beverly Jonas; Don King; J.V. fs ’60 and Karen Lentell; from Mechanicsville, Va., Susan Mann and Frank Wilson; from Pratt, Kan., Barbara Prater; Dale ’55/65 and Marilyn fs ’57 Richmond; John Rolfe ’85; from Payson, Ariz., Art ’73/74/78 and Steffie Stone; and Dorothy Tillery.
