FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas Alumni Association will honor ten award recipients at the 58th Annual Alumni Awards Banquet on Friday, Oct. 25, at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House.

The six awards to be given are the Andrew J. Lucas Alumni Service Award, the Citation of Distinguished Alumni Award, the Alumni Community Service Award, the Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award, the Honorary Alumni Award and the Young Alumni Award.

This year's Andrew J. Lucas Alumni Service Award will honor Dr. Curt C. Rom of Fayetteville, BSA '80, associate professor of horticulture in Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food & Life Sciences.

After receiving a degree in horticulture from the University of Arkansas in 1980, Rom entered Ohio State University, where he earned master and doctorate degrees. The Fayetteville native joined the UA faculty in 1989 after a stint at Washington State University.

Since returning to his alma mater, he has consistently given of his time, energy and expertise to the University and the Arkansas Alumni Association. He served in numerous ways, including faculty senate and chaired the Campus Task Force for the Reduction of Abuse and Misuse of Alcohol.

His love for, and involvement with, the University earned him a nomination to the Alumni Board of Directors in 1992. Chairing the Alumni Scholarship Committee in 1994-95, he was instrumental in the expansion of the program and was easily recognized as its enthusiastic spokesman.

Rom’s deep affection for the University and its alumni are evident by his tireless efforts in their behalf.

The Citation of Distinguished Alumni Award will be given to three honorees.

Dr. Fredric H. Clark, BSCEE’67, founder and president, CAS, Inc. in Huntsville, Ala., is a 1967 electrical engineering graduate. He contributed to the U.S. Space Program while working for IBM. During his distinguished career, he has worked on the Saturn/Apollo program, NASA Skylab Program and conducted research and analysis for the Surface-to-Air Missile Defense program, ultimately known as the PATRIOT Air Defense System.

Founded in 1979 by Clark and his partner William H. Stender, CAS, Inc. has grown to employ more than 750 employees working in 25 cities in 12 states and two foreign countries. As president of CAS, Clark’s leadership philosophy directed the company founded on principles of excellence in service, respect for employees and integrity in all aspects of business. The company performs analyses and studies for the U.S. Armed Forces as well as many of the United States’ allies.

For professional career distinction that has impacted nations and societies worldwide, the Arkansas Alumni Association proudly honors Clark for outstanding leadership in scientific research and discovery.

Dr. Edith Irby Jones, MD’52, is a medical director at Universal Healthplan of Texas, Inc. in Houston, Texas. A native of Hot Springs, Irby Jones was awarded the doctor of medicine degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, becoming its first black graduate. It was the beginning of many distinguished firsts in Jones’ prestigious life.

She is the only female founding member of the Association of Black Cardiologists, the first female president of the National Medical Association, and the first black female chairman of the Board of Trustees for Knoxville University where she earned her bachelor of science degree. Her hard work and dedication serving humanity have garnered her numerous accolades and appointments.

She has worked to build community and government support both in the states and in Haiti. A foundation was also established in the 90’s to provide scholarships for aspiring college and graduate students.

The Arkansas Alumni Association honors Irby Jones for distinguished contributions in the field of medicine, whose lifetime achievements exemplify perseverance and dedication.

Ricardo A. Martinelli, BS ’73, serves as chairman of the board & minister for canal affairs in Panama City, Panama. A native of Panama, Martinelli received his middle and secondary schooling in the United States. After earning a degree in business from the U of A in 1973, Martinelli pursued a master’s degree in finance from de Central American Institute of Business Administration in San Jose, Costa Rica.

He entered the business world working for CITIBANK in Panama. He currently serves as president and owner of Super Mercados 99, one of the largest supermarkets in Panama. His business savvy has garnered him a professional distinction in Panamanian business and government. Among his leadership positions, he served as general director of the Panama Social Security System.

In 1999, he was appointed by the president of Panama to serve as minister for canal affairs and chairman of the Panama Canal Authority. In this role, he was instrumental in the transition of the Panama Canal from the United States to the Republic of Panama.

Honoring His Excellency Martinelli, the Arkansas Alumni Association salutes his achievements for distinctive service and leadership in business and government, which have had a profound affect on international business and relations.

James L. "Skip" Rutherford, BA’72, of Little Rock will be honored with the Alumni Community Service Award. Serving as the executive vice president of Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods, Rutherford began a career of giving back to his community while attending the U of A. He served as editor of the student newspaper, The Arkansas Traveler, and as president of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Following graduation in 1972, Rutherford started a career in public relations while working as vice president of public affairs for ARKLA. He has been active in numerous political campaigns as well as local and statewide initiatives. Most recently President Bill Clinton appointed him to coordinate planning and implementation of the Clinton Presidential Library located in Little Rock.

Many community organizations and causes such as the Arkansas School for Mathematics and Science, the Little Rock School Board and the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Board of Directors have benefited from his leadership and energy. His pride of giving back has come full circle as he donates his time to teaching journalism classes at the U of A.

The Arkansas Alumni Association honors Rutherford’s exemplary steadfast contributions of continuing community service.

Three UA faculty members will be honored with the Arkansas Alumni Association's Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award.

The Arkansas Alumni Association will salute Dr. Evan Bukey, history professor in the Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences, for outstanding research. Since joining the UA faculty in 1969, Bukey has distinguished himself as a scholar and teacher. His research has produced many essays, articles, reviews, grants and fellowships. In addition, he has authored two books, Hitler’s Austria: Popular Sentiment in the Nazi Era, and Hitler’s Hometown: Linz, Austria, 1908-1945, which have earned him an international reputation as an authority on modern European history. Internationally known and respected among historians of modern Austria, he has received high praise and worldwide recognition for his publications and academic expertise. Bukey’s writings have won accolades from Austrian reviewers and Hitler’s Austria is a prize-winning book in Austrian cultural studies.

Bukey is held in the highest professional regard for his knowledge of subject matter. Students thrive in his classrooms and note that his enthusiasm is contagious. He has brought his research to bear in the classroom, seminars and public speaking engagements.

The Arkansas Alumni Association will honor Dr. Merry Moiseichik, health, science, kinesiology, recreation/dance professor in the College of Education and Health Professions, for service.

A faculty member for 13 years, Moiseichik has garnered a service-oriented reputation through UA community partnerships as well as through professional organizations. Her teaching load in the recreation program includes the full spectrum from undergraduate to graduate courses.

Her students are challenged as she provides an opportunity to address real-world problems that they will face when they enter the recreation profession. As part of her curriculum, her students have been involved with a number of outreach projects that have had major impact on recreation programs in several Arkansas communities.

The partnerships are win/win situations whereby students gain practical experience in dealing with administrative challenges and issues while the local communities receive published projects that are highly professional and completed at an affordable cost.

Dr. Molly Rapert, professor of marketing & transportation at Walton College of Business, will be honored for teaching.

Humor, enthusiasm, inspiration, and respect -- all of these qualities are attributed to Rapert’s teaching.

Demonstrating an enthusiastic commitment to maximize the students’ learning experience, Rapert recruits and maintains corporate relationships that bring the "real world" into her classroom. Using a partnering philosophy, she and her students have conducted projects for Tyson Foods and Wal-Mart and other corporations. These partnerships are designed to enhance the learning process while providing a service to the companies. Her students have touted her teaching saying that she has the ability to motivate and "make lessons more than academic -- students understand both the theory and how to apply it."

Rapert was instrumental in developing the dean’s Student Advisory Board for the Walton College in 1994 and continues to serve as a faculty advisory to student board members. She has also demonstrated a devotion to students through her advising skills.

Rapert’s outstanding teaching has enriched the lives and enhanced the professional potential for many of our recent graduates and current students.

The Honorary Alumni Award will go to the late Orville Henry (1925-2002) of Little Rock, Sportwriter with the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

Orville Henry worked in the Arkansas news media for more than 50 years. Early in his sportswriting career, he was not only a writer for multiple sport disciplines (including his beloved Razorbacks), but was also an administrator, editor, headline and caption writer and page layout specialist. It has been said that he educated generations of Arkansans about their University through the Razorbacks. He will be remembered as the man who wrote thousands of words about the Arkansas Razorbacks each week at a time when sportswriters did more than repeat statistics. He told a story.

His hat and glasses became personal trademarks. For decades some thought the Razorbacks could not play without Orville seated in the press box. He has been praised as being one of the most captivating (and read) sportswriters of his generation. His stories often took on "official word" status for many Arkansans.

Henry was informed of his nomination for this award prior to his death last spring.

The Young Alumni Award will be bestowed on Dr. Charles King, BA ’90. King is an associate professor at the School of Foreign Service & Department of Government at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Graduating summa cum laude in history and philosophy from the U of A in 1990, King took J. William Fulbright’s vision to heart. As a Sturgis Fellow, King developed a passion for studying diverse viewpoints, cultures and traditions. Following his studies at Oxford University where he earned a master’s degree in philosophy in Russian and East European Studies as a Marshall Scholar and a doctorate in philosophy in politics, he joined the Georgetown University faculty.

King is noted internationally as a specialist on the politics and history of Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the former Soviet Union. He travels frequently to this region and speaks fluent Romanian. His expertise has distinguished him as an authority on the region. He has appeared frequently as a commentator on CNN, the BBC, Voice of America and other media outlets.

This young alumnus has earned international and professional distinction for his work as an educator.

Award presenters at the event will include Arkansas Alumni Association Executive Director Mike Macechko, Arkansas Alumni Association President C. Edward Bradford, and University of Arkansas Chancellor John A. White.

The Arkansas Alumni Association seeks to foster loyalty, lifelong relationships, commitment and communication among all alumni, future alumni and friends to advance the best interests of the University.