College of Engineering Honors Outstanding Alumni

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas will welcome three new members into its Hall of Fame at its first Alumni Awards Dinner Saturday, April 9, at the Fayetteville Town Center. The school will also present two new awards:  the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Young Alumni Award. 

The purpose of the dinner is to honor, preserve and perpetuate the names and accomplishments of the people who have provided extraordinary service to the engineering profession, the College of Engineering and the University of Arkansas.

“We are using the words 'Imagination.  Innovation. Inspiration.” to represent the attitude and achievements of our alumni,” said Ashok Saxena, dean. “Our alumni are one of our college’s biggest strengths and it is truly incredible to see the difference they are making in the world.”

The Hall of Fame Award, the College of Engineering’s top honor, was established in 1965.  The award recognizes prominent graduates and leaders who have made outstanding contributions to the engineering profession and to society as a whole.  This year’s recipients are:

• Edward M. Harvey, BSME ’54
  Founder, Chairman and CEO, Harvey Industries, Inc., Little Rock, Ark.
• Charles D. Morgan, BSME '66
  Company Leader, Acxiom Corporation, Little Rock, Ark.
• James T. Womble, BSCE '66
  Global Development Leader, Acxiom Corporation, Little Rock, Ark.

The Distinguished Alumni Award honors the exceptional professional and personal achievement of College of Engineering graduates who have achieved distinction in their fields of endeavor and have provided outstanding leadership and service to the College of Engineering, their organization and communities.  The recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award are:

• Wesley F. Buchele, MSAGE '51
  Professor Emeritus, Agricultural Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
• Fredric H. Clark, BSEE '67
  President and Co-Owner, CAS, Inc., Huntsville, Ala.
• Dan Flowers, BSCE '69
  Director, Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, Little Rock, Ark.
• David D. Foust, BSIE '64
  President and CEO (retired), Seneca Wire and Manufacturing Company, Rogers, Ark.
• Grady E. Harvell, BSCE '72
  President, AFCO Steel, Little Rock, Ark.
• Ron Morris, BSIE '58
  CEO, Lyons Manufacturing, Inc., Dallas, Texas
• Stanley E. Reed, BSAGE '73
  Owner and operator, Reed Farms, Marianna, Ark.
• Larry G. Stephens, BSIE '58
  CEO, Mid-South Engineering Co., Hot Springs, Ark.
• Kay Watson Tait, BSChE '83
  Supply Chain Planning Manager, Basic Chemicals, Celanese Chemicals, Dallas, Texas
• R. Terral Whetstone, BSME '59
  Director of Production (retired), Southwestern Electric Power Company, Shreveport, La.
• Lang Zimmerman, BSCSEG '85
  Vice President, Yelcot Telephone Company, Mountain Home, Ark.

The Young Alumni Award is designed to recognize exceptional professional and personal achievements of College of Engineering graduates who are under the age of 40.  Recipients have shown significant promise for professional leadership in state, national and international activities.  The 2005 recipients are:

• Scott E. Bennett, BSCE ’89, MSCE '94
  Assistant Chief Engineer, Planning, Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, Little Rock, Ark.
• Shannon D. Harrop, BSME '92
  National Account Director, Heil Environmental Industries, Ltd., Chattanooga, Tenn.
• Bruce D. Lilly, BSChE '92
  Manufacturing Support Manager, Exxon Mobil Chemical, Baton Rouge, La.
• Marji McNeill, BSChE '91
  Director, Audit and Assurance, Koch Industries, Inc., Wichita, Kan.
• Jerry Lynn Moore, Jr., BSCSE ’94, MSCSE '96
  Chief Executive Officer, Focus Technologies, LLC., Plano, Texas
• Brett A. Peters, BSIE '87
  Professor and Head, Industrial Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
• Bruce Westerman, BSBAE '90
  Engineer and Forester, Mid-South Engineering Company, Hot Springs, Ark.

“I would like to personally congratulate each of this year’s honorees,” said Saxena.  “When I came to the University of Arkansas, I knew the school — especially the College of Engineering — enjoyed the support of generous, loyal alumni.  I am grateful to have seen that commitment in action.