From Lincoln LaPaz, mathematician and meteoritist, who was awarded the first Achievement Award in 1955 to this year's honorees, Wichita State University has celebrated the accomplishments and service of a long line of extraordinary alumni, faculty and staff.
The 1999 award winners, introduced below, will be honored Feb. 3 with a banquet at the Hyatt Regency, Wichita. Each of the honorees has, in unique and far-reaching ways, made superior contributions to Wichita State University and to society.
Lachlan "Mac" Beatson '66
Achievement Award
Mac Beatson has engineered a life-time record of true excellence. Recently retired as president of Learjet Inc., he graduated from wsu in 1966 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in mathematics, then moved to St. Louis to work as a human factors engineer on McDonnell Douglas' F-4 project. He was later involved in the development of both the F-4 Phantom and the AV-8B Harrier combat jets. He also served as general manager of AlliedSignal's Tucson plant before accepting the LearJet presidency. As Robert E. Brown, president of the Bombadier Aerospace Group, told the Winfield Daily Courier in 1996, "We are fortunate to have his talents."
Phillip T. May
Recognition Award
He's been a professor in wsu's School of Accountancy since 1974, and it's a safe bet he's never had an unbalanced checkbook. Dr. May holds a bachelor's degree from Lawrence University, a master's from Indiana University and a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin. A CPA, he taught at Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before joining wsu's faculty. He teaches advanced courses in computer systems and auditing areas at Wichita State and is also active in the development of computer applications in the accounting curriculum.
Max '57 & Lois (Burris) '56 Hubbard
Recognition Award
Talk about a dynamic duo. The Hubbards are no strangers to those who keep up with university and association events. Max recently ended a stint as the wsu Alumni Association's president, but he's used to being at the helm. He co-founded Kansas-Oklahoma Machine Tools Inc. in 1962 and became half-owner of Milling Precision Tools in 1983, retiring in 1994. Lois is one of the first graduates of wsu's music education program. One exceptional aspect of this couple is their dedication to Wichita State and its alumni. They're clearly committed to Shocker baseball. When their daughter, Amelia, married in 1994, they requested she not do so on a home-game date. Amelia agreed, but there's an ironic twist: She was married on the first day the Shockers played in Omaha at the College World Series.
Wanda M. Maltby
The Laura Cross Service Award
From 1958 until 1995, Wanda Maltby was the driving force behind wsu's Student Health Services. A Kansas Board-certified advanced registered nurse practitioner and an American Nurses Association-certified adult nurse practitioner, she came to the university to serve as coordinator of Student Health Services, a position she held until 1988 when she became wsu's health-services director. She retired in 1995. The result of her commitment to providing high quality, affordable health care to wsu students has been that Student Health Services continues to hold the respect of both faculty and students.
Sheryl L. (Miller) Wohlford
Young Alumnus Award
Sheryl Wohlford first became active in wsu Alumni Association events and programs as a student. She hasn't let down since. This vice president and co-owner of Automation-Plus, Wichita, has expanded her volunteer activities to encompass the entire Wichita community, accepting leadership roles with the American Cancer Society, Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce and Wichita Festivals Inc. At wsu, her involvement approaches the legendary. Now serving as the alumni association's president-elect, she has worked on nearly every association committee in existence. She's also an active supporter of the Shocker Athletics Scholarship Organization.
