UNT names Philip J. Romano inaugural recipient of humanitarian award

UNT honored Philip J. Romano, nationally known restaurateur, with the inaugural North Texas Humanitarian Award on Feb. 15.

UNT founded the award this year to recognize community leaders whose selfless acts inspire the university family and others in the North Texas community. Recipients become UNT Humanitarian Laureates, esteemed for their ability to educate by civic example.

UNT President Norval Pohl bestowed the award upon Romano for founding Hunger Busters, a quest to feed the hungry. Each Wednesday evening, Romano, his wife, Lillie, and his son, Sam, deliver soup, sandwiches, fruit and cookies to hundreds of homeless people in Dallas.

Romano has been involved in the restaurant business for 30 years. In the course of his career, he has created more than 20 different restaurant concepts including Fuddruckers, Romano's Macaroni Grill and eatZi's. He is the only person in the restaurant industry who has created more than one national restaurant concept. Romano currently is affiliated with Brinker International as a consultant and joint venture partner.

"Phil Romano is not someone who passes the torch. He makes the flame burn brighter," says Pohl. "He illuminates the hungry in his neighborhood, and he feeds them."

Romano will receive an original work of art, a modern representation of a ceremonial academic mace, handcrafted by two graduate students in UNT's School of Visual Arts. Mark Herndon and Masumi Kataoka used sterling silver, gold plate and walnut in its design.

UNT will present the North Texas Humanitarian Award annually to individuals who embody a public spirit to better the North Texas region and whose accomplishments are consistent with the public service component of UNT's mission.

BY LAURA SHORT lshort@unt.edu

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• Law conference addresses key higher education issues
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• Five TAMS students named semifinalists in national Intel science competition
• Admissions Marketing Report awards best of show title to UNT undergraduate viewbook
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