Distinguished Alumni & Service Awards

The Distinguished Alumni and Service Awards celebrates the achievements of the University’s remarkable alumni and friends. This annual event is an opportunity to publicly recognize these inspiring individuals. USA alumni are continuously making a difference across the globe and setting an example for future generations of Jaguars. The 16th annual Distinguished Alumni and Service Awards gala will be held at the MacQueen Alumni Center on Thursday, March 5, 2020.

2020 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

2020 Distinguished Service Award
Mr. James J. “Jake” Gosa ‘73

2020 V. Gordon Moulton Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Joseph F. Busta, Jr.

2020 Inspirational Achievement Award
Mr. William J. “Happy” Fulford ’73, ’91

2020 Community Partner Award
Mrs. Merceria Ludgood

2020 Distinguished Alumni Awards
Mr. William B. Burnsed, Jr. ‘72
Mr. John T. Crowder, Jr. ‘69
Mr. Brian J. Cuccias ‘79

2019 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes outstanding achievement and/or leadership demonstrated by the recipients in their chosen fields of interest or to the University of South Alabama, over an extended period of time.

Mrs. Tanya Fratto Blair ‘83

Mr. Caleb F. Crosby ‘03

Dr. Edward A. Panacek, MD ’81, MPH

2019 Distinguished Service Award Recipient

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes exceptional or continuing service to the University of South Alabama, community, state, nation or international country. This award is designed to acknowledge those alumni who have made exemplary contributions including public service, philanthropy, volunteerism, time or talents benefiting the community, state, nation and/or an international country. Nominees must be University of South Alabama alumni.

Sr. Marilyn Aiello, O.P., MD ‘78

2019 V. Gordon Moulton Distinguished Service Award Recipient

The V. Gordon Moulton Distinguished Service Award recognizes exceptional or continuing service to the University of South Alabama and/or the Alumni Association. This award is designed to publicly acknowledge an individual or organization who has volunteered significant amounts of time, talent and resources to the University or the Association over an extended period of time. This award is named in honor of the second president of the University of South Alabama, V. Gordon Moulton, in recognition of his more than 45 years of service to the University. Nominees do not have to be University of South Alabama alumni.

Mr. Ralph A. Hargrove

Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2020 Distinguished Alumni and Service Awards. If you would like to nominate someone for an award, please read and complete the nomination form below. For questions, contact Karen Edwards, Executive Director of the USA National Alumni Association, at (251) 460-7084 or kedwards@southalabama.edu. The deadline for nominations is April 30, 2019.

Previous Winners
2018 Distinguished Alumni and Service Award Winners Stephen E. Clements '78, Christopher C. Melton '81, Thomas M. Miller, MD '81, Joseph I. Molyneux, Ph.D. '70 and Thomas Joe Purvis '74
2017 Distinguished Alumni and Service Award Winners James Busby MBA '83, VADM William Dean Lee '79, John Meigs MD '79, Dr. Patsy Capps Covey and Leeman Covey
2016 Distinguished Alumni and Service Award Winners Diana Kahler Laier '83, Dr. James E. Laier, Christopher L. Lee, Jonathan Hursh '04, James H. "Jimmy" Shumock '80 and Mark Sloan Williams MD '80
2015 Distinguished Alumni and Service Award Winners Greg Gabel '89, MBA '98, Andy Denny '68, MEd '72, Dan Grafton '75, V. Gordon Moulton, and Warren Nicholson '82, MSEE '89
2014 Distinguished Alumni and Service Award Winners Bobby Marks '71, Gerry Marks '73, '88, Laura Cayouette MA '88, Dr. Marshall Porterfield '93, Mary Rodning, Dr. Charles Rodning, Dr. Steven Furr '76, MD '81, Julian MacQueen'73
2013 Distinguished Alumni and Service Award Winners Dr. David Stearns, Larry Lilley, Jr. '92, Holle Briskman '69, Robbie McGhee '93, Tommy Zoghby '76, MBA '89
2012 Distinguished Alumni and Service Award Winners David Whiddon `69, Terrence Tumpey, Ph.D. `97, The Honorable Victor Gaston MA `70, Glenn Sebastian Ph.D., and The Honorable Don Davis `78.
2011 Distinguished Alumni and Service Award Winners Christie Miree `93; Michael Thompson `72; Herbert and Fanny Meisler; Dr. Damon Andrew `98, M.S. `99; Sydney Raine; and Carol Kittrell `83.
2010 Distinguished Alumni and Service Award Winners Dr. Frank V. Degruy III, M.D. '77; Geri S. Moulton; JoAnn S. Broadus, post-master’s certificate 1996; Michael Saxon; Dr. Pamela T. Henson '84, Lt. Col. Brian G. Casleton '87; Barbara S. Malkove '69 and John W. Mincy '70.
2009 Distinguished Alumni and Service Award Winners Gigi Armbrecht ’75, MBA ’88; The Crampton Trust; Don McCrory ’70; Dr. Johnson Haynes, Jr., COM ’80; Goldie Ungar; Major General Michael Sumrall ’70; Marlon Anderson; and Jim Yance ’70
2008 Distinguished Alumni and Service Award Winners E. Thomas Corcoran ’70, Dr. James L. Harris ’79, Celia Mann Baehr M.B.A. ’82, Dr. Steven H. Stokes, M.D., ’80, The Honorable Bob Riley, Robin A. Hurst ’68, The Honorable Samuel L. Jones, R. Bruce McCrory ’72.
2007 Distinguished Alumni and Service Award Winners The Honorable Kenneth Simon ’76; Capt. Robert “Ron” Jenkins III ’73; Steve Kittrell ’7, M.A. ’73; The Honorable Richard Shelby; the Mobile Press-Register; Judy Culbreth ’72 and Neil Henderson, M.S. ’90
2006 Distinguished Alumni and Service Award Winners The Honorable Herman Y. Thomas '83; John "Jack" Donovan, Jr., '85; the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Eugene de Juan, Jr., '79, Dr. Joseph Benoit, Jr., '82, '86, Luis Gonzalez, attended '85-'89 and The Honorable Herbert L. "Sonny" Callahan
2005 Distinguished Alumni and Service Award Winners Tina Allen'78; James and Ann Nix; Abraham Mitchell; Dr. Laurie Beth Owen'80; Jon Lieber; Mark Hoffman'74; Mike Dow, '71, MBA '77; Mayer and Arlene Mitchell.