2008 Alumni Awards Recipients
Wings of Eagles Lifetime Achievement Award
Special award
Dr. Euline Brock (’74) and Dr. Horace Brock are inextricably tied to the University of North Texas, the Denton community and the North Texas region. Euline earned her doctorate in history at North Texas and Horace was a dedicated faculty member for more than 30 years. In her professional career, Euline shaped North Texas through service to many boards and development committees. She led Denton as mayor from 2000 to 2006. Along the way she held positions at UNT as lecturer, instructor and adjunct professor.
Horace Brock bolstered UNT’s College of Business as a distinguished professor and beloved advisor. He founded the university’s Institute for Petroleum Accounting and was a force behind the creation of the Chief Executives Round Table. He also served as director of the Professional Development Institute.
The Brocks have generously supported the university with their time, expertise and financial resources, particularly the College of Music, the College of Business and Athletics.
Distinguished Alumna/Alumnus Award
Dr. Bill A. Nugent (’70) earned his Ph.D. in musicology from North Texas. He says he had the privilege of learning from the world’s best, including Helen Hewitt, Lloyd Hibberd, George Morey and John Haynie. His Renaissance career has taken him to composing, conducting, performance, teaching and authorship of the highest caliber. Dr. Nugent has been a consultant to colleges and universities across the United States. With help from the CBS Corporation, he founded the Edward R. Murrow School of Journalism at Washington State University. A distin-guished professor position and a graduate fellowship at the University of Illinois are named in his honor.
Dr. Jim Pawelczyk (’89) earned his Ph.D. in physiology at North Texas on his way to a career as a professor, researcher, author and a NASA astronaut. Dr. Pawelczyk currently is an associate professor of physiology and kinesiology at Penn State. He took leave from his faculty position in 1998 to join six others aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia for a 16-day research mission in space. He later testified to the United States Senate about the effects of microgravity on humans in space. Dr. Pawelczyk has earned numerous awards of distinction at NASA and his research has been supported by the National Institutes for Health and the Texas chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine.
Mary K. Suhm (’74, ’84) earned two master’s degrees from North Texas, first in library science and then in business administration a decade later. Her two areas of concentration came together when she became city manager for the City of Dallas. Prior to this career benchmark, she had taught school and served in libraries in Allen, Texas, and Dallas. Ms. Suhm was named North Texas Public Administrator of the Year in March 2007. This followed her recognition as Woman of the Year by the Women’s Council of Dallas County the previous year. Under her leadership, the City of Dallas is updating the way it does business by using new approaches that emphasize accountability, innovation, integrity and partnerships.
Green Glory Award
Joyce Duesman (’77) graduated magna cum laude from UNT’s School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management. She is a registered dietitian and has worked in the food industry since 1979. She managed food services at Texas Woman’s University from 1982 to 1990 and went on to work in national sales and marketing positions for PepsiCo, Sara Lee and The Brice Group. She currently is the senior manager for Industry Relations at PepsiCo. Ms. Duesman has served on numerous advisory boards and committees in and out of her profession, including nine years as a trustee for Denton County Mental Health and Mental Retardation. She currently serves as chair of the Board of Governors for the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management.
Outstanding Alumnus Service Award
Phillip “Phil” Glauben (’76, ’78) earned his bachelor of business administration in personnel and industrial relations from North Texas in 1976 and followed with a master’s degree in counseling and student personnel services. He began a 21-year career at Imperial Garment Supply in 1978 and served as president from 1999 to 2004. He currently works in professional sales with Komar Alliance in Dallas. Mr. Glauben has given generously of his time to his alma mater. He has served as a board member for the North Texas Exes Alumni Association and the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. He also has served on boards for the B’nai B’rith youth organization, Dallas Memorial Center for Holocaust Studies and the Dallas Holocaust Museum. Mr. Glauben is a past president of UNT’s alumni association and past international president for Sigma Alpha Mu; he received the Fraternal Service Award in 2001. Phil is a lifetime member of the North Texas Exes.
Harvey L. Zimmermann (’70, ’72) earned his bachelor of business administration in accounting and his master of business administration in accounting and finance from North Texas. He went to work for EXXON Corporation and KPMG before joining the College of Business in 2002 as an executive lecturer. Mr. Zimmermann serves the university in many ways. He is a member of the UNT Foundation’s board of directors and sits on advisory boards for UNT’s Professional Leadership Program and Department of Accounting. He is editor for the Petroleum Accounting and Financial Management Journal and director of the intern program for accounting. Mr. Zimmermann also is a lifetime member of the UNT President’s Council.
Ulys Knight Spirit Award
Charles D. “Chuck” Fuller (’67, ’79) earned his bachelor’s degree in history and a master of public administration degree at UNT. After working stints with the Burroughs Corporation and North American Phillips, he returned to North Texas to complete his graduate work and began what is now a 33-year career in the University of North Texas System. He currently serves as the assistant vice president for business services and in 2006 was an adjunct professor for the College of Public Affairs and Community Service. Mr. Fuller serves as advisor to UNT’s Alpha Phi Omega chapter, the Talons spirit group on campus and the American Humanics group. He has given his time to help students for 20 years, and he has been recognized with the Friend to Students Award and the UNT Community Award in 1995, the Health Educator Ward in 1998 and the Student Organization Award in 2003. This year he received the Daniel M. Johnson Award for Community Service and Leadership.
The mission of the College of Music Community Support Council is to strengthen a mutually beneficial relationship between the College of Music and the citizens of Denton and surrounding communities. The council’s support activities include holding a yearly welcome reception for new music faculty, hosting receptions after guest musician performances and recognizing music competition winners with a reception after the spring concert.
President’s Citation Award
Billy R. Harper (’65) earned his bachelor of music degree from North Texas in 1965 with an emphasis on dance band. He immediately ascended in his genre, and has performed with many artists and bands including the Randy Weston “African Rhythms” Sextet, the Charles Tolliver Big Band, the McCoy Tyner Orchestra and his own Billy Harper Quintet. Mr. Harper has been appointed cultural attaché to the Japanese city of Kishiwada and his 1976 album Black Saint earned him Jazz Record of the Year honors from the Modern Jazz League of Tokyo. Among his numerous other honors, former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier declared September 19, 1992 “Billy Harper Day” in the city.
Dr. G. Frank Lawlis (’62) earned his bachelor of science in mathematics and education and his master’s degree in education from North Texas. After completing his Ph.D. he completed his residency in clinical psychology in New York. He currently serves as chief content and oversight adviser for the Dr. Phil Show. Dr. Lawlis’ expertise is utilized by numerous public and private organizations nationally and internationally, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He also has served as director of the Pain Management Project in the pediatric oncology ward at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. Dr. Lawlis has held faculty positions at UNT, Texas Tech, the University of Arkansas and the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, among others.
Emily Ann Pulley (’95) earned her 1995 UNT master’s degree in music with an emphasis on vocal performance. Her exceptional talent was evident in 1992 when she was named outstanding graduate student in voice at UNT. Her professional career is decorated with similar superlatives. Ms. Pulley currently holds the distinction of principal soprano for the New York Metropolitan Opera. She has performed around the world with renowned groups and artists such as Placido Domingo and Frederica van Stade. In 2008, she received a special invitation to perform for the United States Supreme Court.