award honorees, from left, are Mike Burrus, Trisha Bittle
(Jerry Bittle’s wife), Roland Banks, Greg Meissen, Ruth David
and Sam Cohlmia. Not pictured are B. Roberto Cruz II (Roberto
Cruz’s eldest son) and Velma Wallace, who could not attend
but sent video greetings to the crowd.
Greeted by more than 200 well-wishers, toasted with champagne and fêted with fine dining were the 2003 Alumni Awards honorees during a celebratory banquet Feb. 12 at the Wichita Marriott Hotel.
The gala event, emceed by Wichita’s KAKE TV-10 anchor Larry Hatteberg fs ’68 and featuring music by Bill Thomson ’63/65, piano, and Tom Fowler ’68/79, saxophone, highlighted the extraordinary — and varied — accomplishments of award winners Ruth A. David ’75, Achievement Award; Jerry W. Bittle fs ’73, Achievement Award, posthumous; B. Roberto Cruz ’64, Achievement Award, posthumous; Gregory J. Meissen ’77, Faculty Recognition Award; Michael C. Burrus ’77, Alumni Recognition Award; Velma L. Wallace, Alumni Recognition Award; Roland L. Banks, Distinguished Service Award; and Sam N. Cohlmia ’89, Young Alumnus Award.
Special speakers during the banquet festivities were WSU Alumni Association President Terri Moses ’80/90, alumni association Executive Director Brad Beets ’87 and Wichita State President Don Beggs. Special guests were Trisha Bittle of Dallas, Texas, who accepted her late husband’s award in recognition of his many achievements as an illustrator and Geech comic strip creator, and B. Roberto Cruz II of San Jose, Calif., who accepted his late father’s award in honor of his accomplishments as an educator and founder of the National Hispanic University.
Members of the alumni association’s Alumni Awards Committee, whose task it was to select the 2003 honorees, were Pamela Clancy Ammar ’80, committee chair, Tammy Allen ’82/85/95, Don Beggs, Steve Boleski ’85, Jeff DeGraffenreid ’88, Valarie Florio ’98, Moses, Clay Nickel ’96, Joe Norton ’73 and Bill Wiesner ’59.
Among the evening’s attendees were a number of past winners, including these Achievement Award recipients: Dan Carney ’53, awarded in 2002; Jack Jonas ’54/67, 1988; D. Cramer Reed ’37, 1987; and Linwood Sexton ’48, awarded in 1977.
Many WSU administrators were on hand to offer their congratulations: Dean of Students Cheryl Anderson, Associate Vice President for Development Lisa Baronio, Interim Dean of the College of Fine Arts Elaine Bernstorf ’76/78/93, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences William Bischoff, Dean of the College of Health Professions Peter Cohen, Interim Dean of the College of Engineering Walter Horn, Vice President of University Advancement Elizabeth King, Vice President of Student Affairs Ron Kopita, Dean of the Graduate School Susan Kovar, Dean Emeritus of Students James Rhatigan, Associate Vice President of Finance Patsy Selby ’74/80 and Director of Athletics Jim Schaus.
Attendees also included WSU First Lady Shirley Beggs; Jerry Bittle’s parents, Shelby and Virginia Bittle; Ruth David’s parents, Walter and Iris David; Gayla Carney; Don King; Lydia Banks ’85; Bryan Frye ’87/88; John ’85 and Felicia ’87/88 Rolfe; Kathy Sexton ’88/89/92; Chris Shank ’69; and Greg Stucky and Gracia Toubia-Stucky ’80/84.
