---

Alumni Awards honor distinguished grads

---

By Tom Uribes

Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn, a 1959 and 1965 graduate of Fresno State was honored Nov. 2 with the Distinguished Alumnus Award - the highest honor given by the university's Alumni Association - at its Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala.

The event included presentation of the Arthur Safstrom Service Award to local educator Freddie Jimenez, who was instrumental in establishing the Parent Association at Fresno State and served as its first president.

The 2001 Outstanding Alumni Awards also acknowledged the contributions to the university and community of 10 alumni - one from each of the academic school or colleges as well as the Division of Student Affairs and the Athletics Department. Guinn was chosen from this group as the 2001 recipient from the College of Health and Human Services.

This year's nine other outstanding alumni are Mark Astone, Larry Clemmensen, Annette La Rue, Michael Patton, Pat V. Ricchiuti, Jim Vidak, James D. Williams, Dr. Shek Nam Danny Wong and Jan Yanehiro (for full listing with occupations and awarding school or college, visit www.fresnostatenews.com). The annual awards are being offered in a new format this year, said Harry D. Moore, president of the Alumni Association's board of directors. Previously, the awards were announced in the fall and presented at Homecoming, the association presented the honors in a distinct, formal setting this year.

"The alumnus association wanted to honor its most prominent alumni in a special way by having a formal evening of celebration," Moore said.

The association has been honoring a distinguished alumni since 1953 when Robert Greelis, Class of '39, was the first honoree. In 1994, the association established the individual college/school outstanding alumni awards.

Other past recipients of the top alumni honor have included U.S. Secretary of Treasury Paul O'Neill; California Secretary of State Bill Jones; the late journalist H. Roger Tatarian; Houston Mayor Lee "Pat" Brown; the late Sen. Ken Maddy; the legendary coach and educator Cornelius A. "Dutch" Warmerdam; and former U.S. ambassador and publisher Philip Sanchez as well as numerous local leaders.

"This success reflects and inspires each individual who received his or her education at Fresno State," said President John D. Welty.

Back to University Journal, 11/12/01 Issue