Saturday the Emporia State Alumni Association holds its annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. A big part of this event is honoring the Distinguished Service Award recipients. These are folks who have provided “unique and significant service” to the university.
A partial list of past honorees include: KVOE’s Ron Thomas, Don Hill, George & Gail Milton, Clair Hutchinson, Tom Tholen, Dave Eldridge, Skip Evans, Chuck & Doris Hanna, Russ & Jeanie Jenkins, Paula Sauder, Gilbert Rodriquez, Carl Hoffman, John Rich, DeWayne Backhus and my dad.
This is a big honor.
Four people will be recognized this year.
Virginia “Ginny” Higgins long time ESU instructor and leader who first graduated in 1962 and spent most of her life at Emporia State winning numerous awards for outstanding teaching and finally being inducted into the Kansas Speech Association Hall of Fame in 2006.
Dr. Loren Pennington started teaching at the university in 1960 and is an expert on World War II and the Korean War. He became involved in Emporia Veteran’s Day celebration and is a permanent fixture at the annual Veteran’s Roundtable. Dr. Pennington means history in Emporia.
Marion Stuart grew up in Emporia, attended the laboratory school, received 2 degrees from Emporia State and taught in 5 Kansas high schools. She and her late husband Chuck were fixtures at university events for decades.
The final honoree is my close friend John Staton who graduated in 1960 and has never quit promoting and supporting Emporia State.
In a letter in support of John for a different award I said “There is no better or more dedicated Hornet anywhere than John Staton!”
I suggested John should simply be recognized as a “Proud Hornet Supporter.”
John knows no strangers. He has a conversation with everyone he comes in contact with and more times than not he finds a connection to Emporia State.
There’s not time to list all the ways John and his lovely bride Connie support the university – they are endless.
John is well into his seventies, but he still found the energy to help with the ESU Foundation’s recent Now and Forever campaign – and in a significant manner.
Professionally both John and Connie succeeded nicely, but their real calling may be in helping others. They’ve done everything from hauling a dog-napped beagle across the country to its home in Kansas to assisting for nine years an aging Army General.
It is a busy weekend in Emporia, but these folks are all Proud Hornets and Distinguished servants……… We salute and thank them.
