Homecoming is a special time as many return to campus to reunite with friends and mentors and to remember and share stories in the place where it all began. As part of this celebration each year, the University honors alumni selected from a community of more than 60,000 who continue to live out Harding’s mission in their chosen fields all around the world. This year’s recipients continue the standard of excellence as they serve God, the church and their communities.
Distinguished Alumnus
Sylvia Rose (’75)
Distinguished Young Alumna
Det. Sgt. Jeff Mathes (’10)
Outstanding Young Alumni
Det. Ryan Cagle
Botham Jean Inspiration Award
Terry Davis (‘93)
College of Allied Health: Travis DeSisso (‘08)
College of Arts & Humanities: Michelle Goff (’99) and Keith Perry (‘89)
College of Bible & Ministry: Leonardo Gilbert (’81)
College of Business Administration: Jeff Tennyson (’84)
College of Education: Dr. Mike Hernandez
College of Nursing: Jordan Yarbrough (’06)
College of Pharmacy: Cmdr. Samuel Hubler (’12)
Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. David Fincher (’72)
Distinguished Young Alumna
Esperanza Massana Crane (’02)
Botham Jean Inspiration Award
Molly (’70) and Annabelle Dawidow ('04)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Allied Health: Dr. Michael (’77) and Marci Johnson Murphy (’77)
College of Arts & Humanities: Major Ryan Oldroyd Scott (’98)
College of Bible & Ministry: Art Smith (’73)
College of Business Administration: Paul Maynard (’87)
College of Education: Lewis L. Moore (’69)
College of Nursing: DeeAnn Martin (’75)
College of Sciences: Kristy Rollman Shelton (’80)
Distinguished Alumni
John (’74) and Beth Padenr Reese ('75)
Distinguished Young Alumni
Ryan Walters (’10)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Allied Health: Rebecca Oldroyd Weaver (’73)
College of Arts & Humanities: Rick Trujillo (’91)
College of Bible & Ministry: Dr. John D. Barton (’89)
College of Business Administration: Robert Chambers (’89)
College of Education: Mary Lou Dunn (M.Ed. ’77)
College of Nursing: Cathy Lott McLain (’77)
College of Sciences: Thomas Baird (’53)
Learn more about the 2021 recipients.
Distinguished Alumni
Dr. Mike (’68) and Nancy Lavender O’Neal ('75)
Distinguished Young Alumni
Dr. Will (’04) and Alisa Wright Copeland ('04)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Allied Health: Shelley Privett Chesney (’89)
College of Arts & Humanities: Shelly Parks (’01)
College of Bible & Ministry: Dr. Leslie J. Williams (’88)
College of Business Administration: Paul Woolard (’87)
College of Education: Dr. Charles E. Dupre (’84)
College of Nursing: Audrianna Ward Copeland (’12)
College of Sciences: Dr. Fortune S. Mhlanga (’84)
Distinguished Alumni
Jim Citty (’61) and Maralyn Bailey Citty (’62)
Distinguished Young Alumni
Steve ('02) and Lindsay Snow Cloer ('02)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Allied Health: Dr. Dan Tullos (’73)
College of Arts & Humanities: Tim Cox (’94)
College of Bible & Ministry: Dr. Leonard Allen (’73)
College of Business Administration: Byron Carlock (’84)
College of Education: Dr. Jan Chessir Morgan (’69)
College of Nursing: Kim Hardy Leverett (’98)
College of Sciences: Dr. Eddie Shields (’85)
Distinguished Alumnus
Elijah Anthony (’68)
Distinguished Young Alumni
Jay ('04) and Erin Kemp Brogdon ('03)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Allied Health: Dr. David Adams (’93)
College of Arts & Humanities: Dr. Randy Gill (’76)
College of Bible & Ministry: Doyle Kee (’58)
College of Business Administration: Lindy Lunceford Ingram ('84)
College of Education: Michael (’99) & Abigail Drayton Stone ('00)
College of Nursing: Rhonda Finnie (’02)
College of Sciences: Dr. Fred Massey (’59)
Distinguished Alumni
Dr. Billy Jo Thrasher (’61) and Barbara Godsey Thrasher (’63)
Distinguished Young Alumna
Terri Lee ('04)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Allied Health: Jeryn Kuehn Laengrich ('89)
College of Arts and Humanities: Mark Moore (’91)
College of Bible and Ministry: Dr. Elaine Huffard Denman ('78)
College of Business Administration: David Waldron (’76)
College of Education: Angie Whitlock Raney ('89)
College of Nursing: Lynn Bradley McCarty ('77)
College of Sciences: Dr. Tim Duke (’72)
Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Milton Sewell (’64)
Distinguished Young Alumni
Matt ('02) and Rachael Harless Milligan ('02)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Allied: Health David Savage (’73)
College of Arts and Humanities: Dian Pritchett Eddleman ('81)
College of Bible and Ministry: Stan Granberg (’78)
College of Business Administration: Nancee Wilson Roberson-Caldwell ('93)
College of Education: Dr. Ed Higginbotham (’60)
College of Nursing: Sheila Cox Sullivan ('82)
College of Sciences: Nathan Ingram (’84)
Distinguished Alumni
Doyle Kee (’62) and Barbara Ethridge Kee (’58)
Distinguished Young Alumni
Brian ('00) and Becca Lewis ('00) and Bush
Outstanding Alumni
College of Allied Health: Jennifer Giesmann (’05)
College of Arts and Humanities: Gwen Crownover Moritz ('82)
College of Bible and Religion: Don Meredith (’63)
College of Business Administration: Charlie Elkins (’82)
College of Education: Dr. Bobby Coker (’56)
College of Nursing: Connie Farrar Horton (’88)
College of Sciences: Dr. Dan Davidson (’76)
Distinguished Alumni
John Simmons (’74) and Beverly Shankle Simmons (’74)
Distinguished Young Alumni
Williw ('95) and Korie Howard Robertson ('95)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Allied Health: Dr. Cheryl Rainey Billante (’86)
College of Arts and Humanities: Dr. Dennis Organ (’66)
College of Bible and Religion: Dr. Jerry Jones (’60)
College of Business Administration: Mark Stevens (’85)
College of Education: Cecil Boothe (’70)
College of Nursing: Jerry Myhan (’72)
College of Sciences: Jon Wood (’87)
Distinguished Alumni
Rodney (’71) and Suzanne Holland Waller (’71)
Distinguished Young Alumni
Tim ('02) and Holly McCulley Bewley ('03)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Allied Health: Dr. Richard Walker (’54) (posthumously) and Nancy Van Winkle Walker (’54)
College of Arts and Humanities: Dr. Joneal Shackelford Kirby (’74)
College of Bible and Religion: Randy Harris (’79)
College of Business Administration: John Freeman (’69)
College of Education: Rick Jones (’77)
College of Nursing: LaDonna Hutchison Johnston (’89)
College of Sciences: Richie Ray (’95)
Distinguished Alumni
Keith Stotts (’55) and Joan Oliver Stotts (’55)
Distinguished Young Alumni
Phillip ('96) and Laura Rice Shero ('94)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Allied Health: Sarah Kate Epperson (’07)
College of Arts and Humanities: Leon Sanderson (’54)
College of Bible and Religion: Dwight Albright (’70)
College of Business Administration: Lynn Wright (’83)
College of Education: Bill Barden (’64)
College of Nursing: Kyle Vath (’05)
College of Sciences: Esther Pipkin (’90)
Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Howard Wright (‘68)
Distinguished Young Alumna
Liza Freeman Wright ('02)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Allied Health: Dr. Scott Mills (’84)
College of Arts and Humanities: Dr. Tiffany Yecke Brooks (’01)
College of Bible and Religion: Arlin Hendrix (’70)
College of Business Administration: Bruce Binkley (’80)
College of Education: Dr. Betty Work Watson (’64)
College of Nursing: Jennifer Latham Huntley (’98)
College of Sciences: Dick Carter (’61)
Distinguished Alumni
Jerry Mitchell (’82) and Karen O’Donaghy Mitchell (’83)
Distinguished Young Alumni
Luke ('96) and Caroline Clements Smith ('96)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Humanities: Amy Blankenship Sewell (’88)
College of Bible and Religion: Dr. David Bland (’75)
College of Business Administration: Brett Biggs (’90)
College of Communication: Yavonda Fletcher Chase (’99)
College of Education: Janice Oneida (’88)
College of Nursing: Grace Johnson Farrar (’48)
College of Sciences: Dr. Swaid Swaid (’73)
Distinguished Alumni
Mike Bucchi (’69) and Marilyn Rogers Bucchi (’81)
Distinguished Young Alumni
Bob ('93) and Laura Degnan Lawrence ('92)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Humanities: Diane Trombly (’78)
College of Bible and Religion: Jimmy Allen (’52)
College of Business Administration: Blair Bryan (‘84)
College of Communication: Joe Aaron (’83)
College of Education: David Fincher (’72)
College of Nursing: Arlene Hughes Morris (’78)
College of Sciences: Joe Hightower (’59)
Distinguished Alumni
Cliff Clark (’67) and Tish Larkins Clark (’71)
Distinguished Young Alumni
Craig ('90) and Caryllee Parker Cheatham ('92)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Humanities: Ginger Blackstone (’91)
College of Bible and Religion: Landon Saunders (’68)
College of Business Administration: Steve Clary (‘74)
College of Education: Mike Lucas (’71)
College of Nursing: Susan Kehl (’84)
College of Sciences: Tim Hacker (’74)
Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. A.R. Brown (’41)
Distinguished Young Alumni
Marty ('90) and Louise Koonce ('90)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Humanities: Bobbie Coleman (71)
College of Bible and Religion: Bernard Waites (’59)
College of Business Administration: Mark Wallis (’72)
College of Education: Dwight Thompson (’62)
College of Nursing: Christy Golden Mars (’90)
College of Sciences: Bill Chism (’72)
Distinguished Alumni
Tom Henderson (’69) and Linda Henderson (’69)
Distinguished Young Alumnus
Robert Chambers ('89)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Humanities: Jack Ryan (’59)
College of Bible and Religion: Virgil Jackson (’95)
College of Business Administration: Brian TreusDell (’84)
College of Education: Howard Morris (’76)
College of Nursing: Mark Priddy (’85)
College of Sciences: Jim Carr (’70)
Distinguished Alumni
Dean Priest (’61) and Carolyn Pogue Priest (’58)
Distinguished Young Alumni
Jody and Louise Venkatesan
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Humanities: Mark Woodward (’69)
College of Bible and Religion: Frank Mills (honorary)
College of Business Administration: Jeffrey Hearn (’82)
College of Education: Lauren Lawyer Jennings (’72)
College of Nursing: Sonya Curtis (’93)
College of Sciences: Joe Clements (’70)
Distinguished Alumni
Jerry Hill (B.A. ’61) and Fern Pasley Hill (’58)
Distinguished Young Alumni
Alex and Kari Keesling Aziamov
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Humanities: Khalil Jahshan (’72)
College of Bible and Religion: Don McLaughlin (’83)
College of Business Administration: Brant Bryan (’77)
College of Education: Lois Lawson (’59)
College of Nursing: Ruth Elizabeth Cole (’93)
College of Sciences: Lundy Neely (’71)
Distinguished Alumni
Neale Pryor (B.A. ’56) and Treva Pryor (B.A. ’66)
Distinguished Young Alumnus
Tony Tabora (posthumous)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Humanities: Leon Johnson (’82)
College of Bible and Religion: Dr. Herman Alexander (’57)
College of Business Administration: Jimmy Cone (’77)
College of Education: Dr. Maryann Cooper Felps (’72)
College of Nursing: Dr. Marty Farrar Highfield (’75)
College of Sciences: Dr. Bob Walker (’77)
Distinguished Alumna
Helen Mattox Young (’39)
Distinguished Young Alumni
Mark ('90) and Marty Moore ('92)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Humanities: Darren Irby (’93)
College of Bible and Religion: Fielden Allison (’70)
College of Business Administration: Dr. Randy Steger (’75)
College of Education: James Simmons (’76)
College of Sciences: Charles “Preacher” Roe
Distinguished Alumni
Bill Cox (B.A. ’58) and Pat Overman Cox (’60)
Distinguished Young Alumnus
Matt Bell ('87)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Humanities: Dr. Michael Westerfield (’74)
College of Bible and Religion: Bill Pratt (’74)
College of Business: Administration Rodney Waller (’71)
College of Education: Susanne Walker (’63)
College of Nursing: Georgia Hobby (’38)
College of Sciences: Jim Citty (’61)
Distinguished Alumni
David Smith (B.S. ’67) and Linda Byrd Smith (B.A. ’67)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Humanities: Winfred Wright (’57)
College of Bible and Religion: Steve Awtrey (’82)
College of Sciences: Kenneth Perrin (’55)
School of Business: Norman Bennett (’73)
School of Education: Bill Diles (’58)
School of Nursing: Elaine Boswell King (’79)
Distinguished Alumni
Monroe Hawley (B.A. ’45) and Julia Tranum Hawley (B.A. ’45)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Humanities: Jerry Wayne Mitchell Jr. (’82)
College of Bible and Religion: Bruce D. McLarty (’78)
College of Sciences: Bill Williams (’50)
School of Business: Robert Ulrey (’82)
School of Education: Marilyn Sanderson (’66)
School of Nursing: Nancy Faxon Kaplin (’80)
Distinguished Alumni
David B. Burks (B.A. ’65) and Leah Gentry Burks (B.A. ’65)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Jeff Davies (’71) and Stephen Smith (’72)
College of Bible and Religion: Keith Stotts (’55)
School of Business: Robert Neal (’71) (posthumous)
School of Education: Robert Abney (’52)
School of Nursing: Kathy Davenport (’77)
Distinguished Alumni
David B. Burks (B.A. ’65) and Leah Gentry Burks (B.A. ’65)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Jeff Davies (’71) and Stephen Smith (’72)
College of Bible and Religion: Keith Stotts (’55)
School of Business: Robert Neal (’71) (posthumous)
School of Education: Robert Abney (’52)
School of Nursing: Kathy Davenport (’77)
Distinguished Alumnae
Mildred L. Bell (B.S. ’49) and Winnie E. Bell (B.A. ’49)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Dr. Joan Coleman (’34) and Dr. Harry D. Olree (’53)
College of Bible and Religion: Charles B. Hodge (’53)
School of Business: Jim Bob Humphrey (’78)
School of Education: Cecil H Boothe (’70)
Distinguished Alumnus
Danny N. Smelser (B.S. ’73)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Rex V. Taylor (’78) and Evan Ulrey (’46)
College of Bible and Religion: Barbara “Barby” Kline Smith (’60) and C. Dwight Smith (’59)
School of Business: Kenneth Johnson (’66)
School of Education: Ronald Butterfield (’61)
School of Nursing: Linda Darnell Calvert (’83)
Distinguished Alumnus
Danny N. Smelser (B.S. ’73)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Rex V. Taylor (’78) and Evan Ulrey (’46)
College of Bible and Religion: Barbara “Barby” Kline Smith (’60) and C. Dwight Smith (’59)
School of Business: Kenneth Johnson (’66)
School of Education: Ronald Butterfield (’61)
School of Nursing: Linda Darnell Calvert (’83)
Distinguished Alumnus
James Kern Sears (B.S. ’42)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Larry Bills (’58) and Greg Hurst (’81)
College of Bible and Religion: Paul Pollard (’71)
School of Business: Phil Herrington (’74)
School of Education: Lois Cooper Freeman (’69)
School of Nursing: Julia Henderson Gist (’83)
Distinguished Alumnus
Kenneth Davis Jr. (’42)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Alvin (’37) and Georgia Pruett Hobby (’38) and Dr. David E. Smith (’67)
College of Bible and Religion: Dr. Carl Brecheen (’56)
School of Business: David W. House (’74)
School of Education: Gerald W. Casey (’65)
School of Nursing: Marcia Austin Moore (’85)
Distinguished Alumna
Pat Bell (B.A. ’58)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Claudette DuBois Jones (’60) and Virgil Lawyer (’46)
College of Bible and Religion: G. Gary Walker (’70)
School of Education: Margie Clark Wood (’62)
School of Nursing: Dr. Vicky Clark Bowden (’79)
Distinguished Alumnus
J. Michael White (B.S. ’60)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Dr. Mildred L. Bell (’49) and Dr. George DeHoff (’37)
College of Bible and Religion: Evertt Huffard (’46)
School of Business: Gary Chamblee (’74)
School of Education: Dr. Alfred Morris (’50)
Distinguished Alumnus
Robert H. Jones (B.S. ’61)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Gerald Ebker (’60) and Dr. John F. Wilson (’59)
College of Bible and Religion: H. Glenn Boyd (’52)
School of Business: James B. House (’66)
School of Education: Dr. Benny Gooden (’66)
School of Nursing: Connie Bowers Edelman (’79)
Distinguished Alumnus
George D. Tipps (B.A. ’45)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Theodore R. Lloyd (’57) and Michael J. O’Keefe (’77)
College of Bible and Religion: Charles R. Coil (’52)
School of Business: Dr. Don J. Helms (’59)
School of Education: Eunice Hogan (’51)
Distinguished Alumnus
Robert L. Hare (B.A. ’50)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Dr. Phillip F. Elliott (’70) and Dr. Robert H. Jones (’61)
College of Bible and Religion: Mike Cope (’78)
School of Business: Bill J. Dismuke (’58)
School of Education: Katie Darling Wesche (’63)
School of Nursing: Kathy Hood (’78)
Distinguished Alumna
Marilyn McCluggage Allen (B.A. ’50)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Bernie L. Cox (’66) and David Ryan Smith (’74)
College of Bible and Religion: Joe Betts (’52)
School of Business: Dr. David Burks (’65)
School of Education: Dr. W. Mitchell Murphy (’71)
Distinguished Alumnus
Jack W. McNutt (B.S. ’56)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Dr. Ray D. Dearin (’63) and Dr. Richard T. Hughes (’65)
College of Bible and Religion: Dr. Gary Elliott (’62)
School of Business: James H. Cone, Sr. (’48)
School of Education: Dr. Janette Staton Rogers (’69)
School of Nursing: Sara Starling Bolton (’77)
Distinguished Alumnus
Jack Wood Sears (B.S. ’40)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Dr. John M. “Mike” White (’60) and Dr. Art Williams (’64)
College of Bible and Religion: Dr. F. Furman Kearley (’56)
School of Business: C. Mac Angel (’57)
School of Education: Dr. Calvin Leonard Johnson (’35)
Distinguished Alumnus
Eddie Shewmaker (B.A. ’44)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Dr. Joel Anderson (’64) and Dwayne Van Rheenen (’66)
College of Bible and Religion: Joe Cannon (’47)
School of Business: Lott R. Tucker, Jr. (’51)
School of Education: Lester Balcom (’52)
Distinguished Alumnus
W. Clark Stevens (B.S. ’49)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Rees Bryant (’52) and Dr. Gene Rainey (’58)
College of Bible and Religion: Dr. Rubel Shelly (’68)
School of Business: Harry Risinger (’68)
School of Education: Robert G. Neil (’32)
Distinguished Alumnus
James H. Cone (’48)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Dr. Paul Gardner (’65) and Dr. James Kern Sears (’42)
College of Bible and Religion: Gailyn Van Rheenen (’68)
School of Business: Pat Bell (’58)
School of Education: Dr. Thomas Whitfield (’41)
Distinguished Alumnus
Landon B. Saunders (B.A. ’68)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Dr. Jimmie Lawson (’64) and Dr. Clark Stevens (’49)
College of Bible and Religion: Robert L. Hare (’50)
School of Business: Jack W. McNutt (’56)
School of Education: Milton Peebles (’34)
Distinguished Alumnus
Jimmy Allen (B.A. ’52)
Outstanding Alumni
College of Arts and Sciences: Dr. Calvin Downs (’58) and Myrtle Rowe (’32)
College of Bible and Religion: Owen Olbricht (’54)
School of Business: Dr. Axel Swang (’46)
School of Education: J.C. Shewmaker (’30)
1979
Distinguished Alumnus
Gottfried J. Reichel (B.A. ’53)
1978
Distinguished Alumna
Louise Nicholas Ganus (B.A. ’42)
1977
Distinguished Alumnus
Emmett F. Smith Jr. (B.A. ’46)
1976
Distinguished Alumnus
J.D. Bales (B.A. ’37)
1975
Distinguished Alumnus
Henry C. Farrar (’48)
1974
Distinguished Alumnus
Joseph E. Pryor (B.S. ’37)
1973
Distinguished Alumnus
Richard E. Burt (B.S. ’56)
1972
Distinguished Alumnus
Clifton L. Ganus Jr. (B.A. ’43)
1971
Distinguished Alumni
Louis E. Green Jr. (B.S. ’42) and E. LaMar Baker (B.A. ’40)
1970
Distinguished Alumnus
Dale R. Larsen (B.A. ’45)
1969
Distinguished Alumnus
Jule L. Miller (B.A. ’49)
1968
Distinguished Alumna
Annie May Alston Lewis (B.A. ’39)
1967
Distinguished Alumnus
Fount William Mattox (’33)
1966
Distinguished Alumnus
Lloyd Cline Sears (Cordell)
1965
Distinguished Alumnus
James Alvin Hobby (B.A. ’37)
1964
Distinguished Alumnus
Jim Bill McInteer (B.A. ’42)
1963
Distinguished Alumnus
George Stuart Benson (B.A. ’25)
1962
Distinguished Alumnus
John Dow Merritt (Cordell)
1961
Distinguished Alumnus
Robert T. Clark (B.S. ’39)
1960
Distinguished Alumnus
Lloyd O. Sanderson (B.A. ’28)