From www.zLaTech.com . . .

Alumni of the Year Recipients

Retired clergyman Dr. Doug McGuire of Ruston will be recognized Oct. 25 as Louisiana Tech's Alumnus of the Year for 2002.

Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau will make the presentation in a ceremony that will also honor alumni of the year for each of the university's colleges.

The Alumni Awards Dinner will be open to the public. Tickets are $25 per person. Information about tickets is available at 318-255-7950.

McGuire received a bachelor of arts degree in English from Tech in 1941. He continued his academic pursuits with three additional degrees -- bachelor of divinity from Duke Divinity School, master of sacred theology from Boston University and doctor of divinity from Centenary College.

A retired district superintendent of the United Methodist Church, McGuire served as pastor of Methodist churches of various sizes in rural, small-town and metropolitan areas across Louisiana during his years as a pastor.

He also served in denominational roles at the state, regional, national and international levels. Additionally, he was a chaplain in the Navy during World War II.

An active supporter of his alma mater, McGuire pioneered Wesley Foundation work in 1937. He and friends endowed a professorship in English, and he was named one of Tech's Top 100 Distinguished Alumni during the university's Centennial.

McGuire has also been active in community activities, including veterans' programs, community relief agencies, the Council on Aging and the Kiwanis Club.


Recipients of college alumni of the year recognition are listed below by colleges.


Administration and Business
William Ardis Marbury Jr., Ruston -- Marbury earned his bachelor's degree in business in 1936. Upon graduation, he entered the fire and casualty insurance business.

In 1944, he and his wife, Virginia, established William A. Marbury & Co. Inc., a managing general insurance agency. After selling that agency, the Marburys and their associates founded Bankers Life of Louisiana. Today the Marbury Companies thrive in Ruston and have had a major impact on the community and its economy.

Marbury's support of Tech was recognized with the Tower Medallion Award in 1995. In 1987, he and Mrs. Marbury were granted honorary doctor of law degrees, and in 1996 Tech officials renamed the alumni facility the Marbury Alumni Center in honor of the family's close ties to the university.

Not only did both of them receive degrees from Tech, but their two daughters, one grandchild and Mr. Marbury's father did also.

Marbury received the Robert E. Russ Award for service to his community, which includes being a board member for Lincoln General Hospital and the Louisiana Commerce and Industry Board and helping to found the Ruston Civic Symphony.

He also received the Silver Beaver Award and was named a James E. West Fellow for service to the Boy Scouts of America.


Applied and Natural Sciences
Lisa Stansbury, Shreveport -- Stansbury has two degrees from Tech, a bachelor of science in dietetics in 1981 and a master of science in nutrition and dietetics in 1986.

Since May 2001 she has been regional manager-dietitian educator with CHRISTUS Schumpert Diabetes and Bariatric Health Center in Shreveport. A certified diabetes educator, she has served in various positions with that institution since 1996. Concurrently, she is consultant dietitian for Brentwood Behavioral Hospital in Shreveport, a position she has held since 1997.

Stansbury is active in professional organizations, having served as a board member and in a number of offices, including president, of The Louisiana Dietetic Association and its Shreveport affiliate.

She has also held several offices and been a board member of the Louisiana and Shreveport affiliates of The American Diabetes Association. Since 1996 she has been chairman of ADA's Walk for Diabetes.

In 1986 Stansbury was the Recognized Young Dietitian for Louisiana. She has received the President's Award at the Shreveport and state levels of the ADA, and she was named the Shreveport Chapter's Volunteer of the Year twice.

Stansbury's service to Tech includes being an adjunct faculty member from since 1982 and being chair of the Louisiana Tech Coordinated Undergraduate Program Advisory Board in 1987-88.


Education
Wayne Watson, Cypress, Texas -- A 1976 graduate with a degree in music education, Watson has become one of the nation's top writers and performers of contemporary Christian music since releasing his first album in 1980.

In the years since, his songs have covered a multitude of topics and emotions. One, "For Such a Time as This," impressed a television executive so much that she used it in the climax of an episode of "Touched By An Angel."

The appeal of his music is demonstrated by recognition from the public and his peers. Twenty-three of his songs have reached No. 1 on Christian radio stations -- an indication of his popularity with listeners.

In Gospel Music Association competition he has won Male Vocalist of the Year, Contemporary Song of the Year for "Home Free," Song of the Year for "Friend of a Wounded Heart" and Contemporary Album of the Year for "Watercolour Ponies." His "Wayne Watson" CD was nominated for Inspirational Album of the Year in 2001.

He also has been nominated for Grammy Awards for Best Pop Gospel Album and Best Male Gospel Performance.


Engineering and Science
Ronald Harrell, Houston, Texas -- Harrell received a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering in 1957 and is chief executive officer of Ryder Scott Co., a petroleum consulting business that he joined in 1968.

During his tenure at Ryder Scott he has held a number of positions, including senior vice president, director, executive vice president, corporate secretary and president.

Harrell is an expert in reservoir management, optimum well spacing, unitization, gas-storage operations, gas-delivery studies, potential gas supply for pipeline construction and optimum rates of production. He has testified on these and other topics before regulatory agencies and in courts at various levels.

His professional activities include being a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers' Reserves Committee from 1996 through 2001, including chairing the committee in 1999-2000. He has also served on committees for the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers.

Harrell has also made presentations at international and local conferences.


Liberal Arts
Kathy Spurlock, Monroe -- Spurlock received a bachelor of arts degree in journalism in 1975 and has been executive editor of The News-Star since 1995.

Spurlock's professional career began with The News-Star and The Monroe Morning World in 1975. After starting as a reporter, she held several editorial positions and was a columnist for the papers until 1982. She went on to positions with Louisiana Suburban Press in Baker, The Advocate in Baton Rouge and The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., before returning to Monroe.

Under her leadership, The News-Star has won numerous awards in the state and nation, including national recognition for its freedom of information and public-service work, for taking an active stand in statewide legislative ethics issues, for its work on education reform and for its economic development activities.

Spurlock's professional involvement includes membership on the Craft Development and Journalism Education committees of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, the state board of the Louisiana Freedom of Information Coalition, and the Outreach and Freedom of Information committees of the Louisiana Press Association.

Her statewide service includes membership on the boards of the Louisiana Chapter of the March of Dimes and Med-Camps of Louisiana.

In her community she is a member of the advisory board of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce President's Circle and chairs the advisory board of Southern Voices Literary Journal. She also was chair of the March of Dimes WalkAmerica for 2000-2002 and has been media trainer of Leadership Louisiana since 1996.

Spurlock was Tech's commencement speaker in the summer of 1999 and was keynote speaker for the Louisiana Supreme Court Conference on Media and the Courts that year. She also is a published freelance writer in regional magazines, a published songwriter, a freelance editor and a seminar leader and trainer.


For the latest Louisiana Tech University News, visit www.zlatech.com