Riley, Jones honored at alumni dinner

The University of South Alabama National Alumni Association recognized eight distinguished alumni and service award recipients on Feb. 15 at the USA Mitchell Center. They were recognized for outstanding achievement and leadership. The Distinguished Alumni Award presents medallions to recipients who have attained major personal or professional successes in their chosen fields of interest, or to the University of South Alabama. The Distinguished Service Award recognizes past or continuing service to USA or the National Alumni Association. Alumnus who have put in a significant amount of time, talents and resources to the association over the years or have serviced the community, state, nation or international country in the form of philanthropy and volunteerism are also lauded for their contributions. The program, held once a year, began with the presentation of colors by the USA Army ROTC, followed by the national anthem and an invocation. A history of the awards and introduction of previous recipients presented by Thomas A. Zoghby, event chair, followed dinner. Awards were then presented to Celia Mann Baehr, who received her M.B.A. in1982, Mobile Mayor Samuel L. Jones and Alabama Gov. Bob Riley for the Distinguished Service Award. The Distinguished Alumni Awards were presented to E. Thomas Corcoran, Dr. James L. Harris, Robin A. Hurst, R. Bruce McCrory and Dr. Steven H. Stokes, M.D. "This is a really significant event because it truly honors all of our alumni," Sonia Savani, a USA junior and Southerners ambassador, said. Celia Baehr, the first Distinguished Service Award recipient of the night, is known as "the force behind the symphony," due to her leadership of the Mobile Symphony board of directors. In 2006, she received the Greater Mobile Area Arts Volunteer of the Year Award. Baehr is also the president of the Gulf States Chapter of Financial Planning Association, a lifetime member of the USA National Alumni Association, and has also served the University as a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Leadership Council. "This award is the biggest thing that has happened in my life," Baehr said. "You wouldn't have even noticed me if it wasn't for the Mobile Symphony, so I'm glad people recognize the importance and impact of its institution." Mayor Samuel L. Jones was elected in 2005 as the first African-American Mayor of Mobile. Jones was in the U.S. Navy for nine years and served as a Mobile County commissioner for four terms prior to his election as mayor. Jones currently serves on the board of the University and has been an avid supporter of University initiatives such as the Mitchell Cancer Institute and the new football and marching band programs. "I consider South to be a really great University because it is growing leaps and bounds," Jones said. "The partnership of the community and school is a collaboration we really welcome." Gov. Bob Riley, whose agenda includes expanding successful educational programs, attended the alumni program as well. Riley's main involvement toward USA is in his creation and support of the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute. "With the leadership they have at this University in starting the football program and the cancer research center, being able to receive this award makes it even more special," Riley said. Thomas Corcoran served as president of Fort Dodge Animal Health, a pharmaceuticals and health care company, which is now a $1 billion global veterinary medicine business. Corcoran also received the Animal Pharm Lifetime Achievement Award and the Banfield Industry Leadership Award in 2007. That same year, the Corcorans established the Corcoran Scholar-Athlete Endowed Scholarship at USA. Harris earned his Bachelor of Science in nursing from USA in 1979. He now serves as program director for nursing leadership development at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. He also provides nursing program consultations for many colleges, including USA. Robin Hurst has been instrumental in encouraging the students at USA into the engineering field through the Alabama Power scholarship. Since beginning his career in 1970, Hurst has demonstrated national leadership as chairman of the Power Delivery and Markets Sector Council of the Electric Power Research Institute. He is also on the University of South Alabama Engineering Council. Bruce McCrory is co-owner of the Kiker Corporation of Mobile. He was an instrumental alumni leader in the recent campaign to build the Joseph and Rebecca Mitchell Learning Resource Center at the Mitchell College of Business. He serves on the College of Arts and Sciences' Dean's Leadership Council and the Mitchell College of Business Advisory Board. Dr. Steven Stokes was elected chairman of the USA board of trustees in 2006. He completed his medical degree at USA and opened a thriving oncology clinic in Dothan, Ala. He and his wife made the largest gift to USA, a $2 million gift to be used toward scholarships in creative writing and for the College of Medicine. The recent donations bring their total gifts to $2.42 million to the University. "I was very excited and shocked to find out I won this," Stokes said. "I mean, usually these awards go to people like CEOs." Some sponsors for the program include Alabama Power Co., ARAMARK and AT&T, Liberty Mutual, US Bank, Marsh Affinity Services and Southern Earth Sciences. \ Nominations for continuing programs honoring alumni and service award recipients may be made by person or via nomination form to the office of alumni relations.