2009 Alumni Awards Recipients
Distinguished Alumnus Award
William H. Lively (’70) earned his master of education from UNT. Mr. Lively served on the faculty and in the administration of Southern Methodist University for 25 years, the last eight as vice president. During his service he founded SMU’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Tate Lecture Series, John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies and SMU Athletic Forum and Doak Walker National Running Back Award.
In fall 2000, Mr. Lively founded the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Foundation and served as president and CEO through December 2008. In January 2009, Mr. Lively was appointed president and CEO of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee, chaired by Roger Staubach.
Charles Nelson (’50, ’51) received a high school diploma from the NTSTC Demonstration School in 1943, a bachelor of music in 1950 and a master of music education in 1951 from NTSC.
Charles Nelson has performed recitals, conducted master classes and choral clinics for 116 colleges and universities and has performed 79 major works with 71 different orchestras in 49 States and 15 foreign countries. In 1983 he received the East Texas State University Faculty Senate Distinguished Faculty Award. In 1987 the Abilene Christian University Alumni Association honored him with their Faculty/Staff Award and the university awarded him a doctor of music degree. In 1989 he received the UNT President’s Citation. In 1991 the Texas Choral Directors awarded him a Distinguished Service Award for his lifetime service to choral music. He was recognized by Texas Governor Ann Richards in 1993 for his distinguished musical career and his “…tireless work in promoting music and advancing the arts throughout the world.”
G. Brint Ryan (’88) earned his bachelor of science in accounting (emphasis in taxation) from UNT in 1988. He is the founder and CEO of Ryan, an international tax services firm with more than 775 professionals and associates serving Global 500 clients throughout the world.
Mr. Ryan is a member of the UNT College of Business Advisory Board and of the UNT Accounting Advisory Board, for which he previously served as chair. He has earned numerous awards at UNT including the Alumnus of the Year award in 1997 and the Outstanding Alumnus Service Award in 2003. He is a Distinguished Alumnus, Beta Pi Chapter, Beta Alpha Psi.
Green Glory Award
Jordan Case (’81) earned his bachelor of arts in communications from North Texas State University. A quarterback for Haden Fry’s Mean Green, he signed after graduation to play for the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League and was named a finalist for Rookie of the Year and the team’s MVP. He left football after three seasons to begin a career in the automotive industry as a sales consultant. By 2000 he had worked his way to the position of operating partner at Park Place Lexus in Grapevine and Plano.
In 2003 his Park Place Lexus store in Plano received the Texas Award for Performance Excellence, recognizing outstanding business practices — the only time a car dealership has ever received the award. In 2005 his two Lexus stores in Plano and Grapevine were named as award recipients in the small business category of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award — the highest level of national recognition for excellence given by the President of the United States.
In 2001 Mr. Case was inducted into the UNT Athletic Hall of Fame.
Honorary Alumni Award
Dr. Robert William McCarter and Mickey McCarter say they found a home when they joined the faculty at UNT.
Dr. McCarter earned his doctorate of education from Pennsylvania State University in 1968, his master of arts in 1963 and bachelor of fine arts in 1961 from the University of Georgia. Dr. McCarter has served as chair for the Division of Art Education and Art History, co-director and co-founder of the North Texas Institute for Educators on the Visual Arts, coordinator of Art Education and coordinator of the 2-D Design curriculum for the freshman core. ’s Council Teaching Award and UNT Favorite Professor Award.
Mickey McCarter earned her bachelor of science in education from Texas Tech University in 1961 and her master of education in art education from Pennsylvania State University in 1962. Mrs. McCarter served as a lecturer at UNT until her retirement in 2003. She coordinated both the metals and jewelry program and the basic design program. In 1992 she became director of undergraduate programs for the newly formed School of Visual Arts and in 2002 was named acting associate dean for Academic Affairs and Student Services.
Outstanding Alumnus Service Award
Paul Voertman began his studies at the age of five in the North Texas State Teachers College Demonstration School and continued through his sophomore collegiate year. He earned his bachelor of arts degree with minors in government and history from the University of Texas in 1949. Graduate studies were shelved due to military service from 1950-52 and the death of his father necessitated a return to Denton to take on the management of the family business. The store still bears the family name and is known to generations of North Texans.
Mr. Voertman is well known as a successful Denton businessman, philanthropist and long-time contributor to the University of North Texas. In the 1960s he established a scholarship program for art students known as the Voertman Art Award. Last October Mr. Voertman made a significant gift to the university when the 55-stop hybrid organ built by internationally known artisan Hellmuth Wolff was installed in Winspear Hall at the Murchison Performing Arts Center.
Ulys Knight Spirit Award
The Talons are the official spirit and service organization of the University of North Texas. This student group is the oldest organization on campus and for more than 50 years the organization has brought unique traditions to the university. Among the many traditions recognized: the annual homecoming bonfire; “Boomer” — the cannon used at UNT home games; flags; the Eagle mascot; the Ford Model A; the lighting of McConnell Tower after home games; and the Spirit Bell. The Talons’ crest is sacred to the organization, commanding much respect, and its meaning is known only by Talon members.
Bill Worrell (’74) earned a master of fine arts degree in painting and drawing with a minor in sculpture from UNT.
His sculptures, paintings and jewelry are in fine art galleries across the country and his works are in collections around the world. Mr. Worrell’s interests are wide and varied. He has appeared on the NBC Today Show, The Nashville Network, in music videos with country music performers Brooks and Dunn and other Nashville personalities. His two published books are Voices from the Caves - The Shamans Speak and Journeys through the Winds of Time. Self described as an outdoorsman, inventor, philosopher, songwriter, music-maker and lover of life, Mr. Worrell resides along the Llano River in Mason County near Art, Texas.
President’s Citation Award
Charles O'Neal sees his time on the campus of NTSU from 1969-74 as pivotal in his development as a citizen prepared to make a difference in the world. Mr. O’Neal has a long history of involvement in the Dallas community. He currently serves as vice president of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce and is responsible for the business development and economic development programs for the nation’s oldest and largest African American Chamber of Commerce.
An award-winning career in the newspaper business spanning more than 20 years provided the backdrop for O’Neal’s insight into the inner workings of our city, state and nation and helped shape credible opinions on the entire spectrum of the African American experience.
Among his numerous awards and accomplishments: the Juanita Craft Award in Journalism(Dallas NAACP); Outstanding Black Texan (Texas Legislative Black Caucus); Award of Excellence (Dallas Press Club); Citizen of the Year (Omega Psi Phi Fraternity); and the Mayor’s Business Development Mission to South Africa/Zimbabwe.