Four Auburn graduates who went on to be movers and shakers will find recognition from the Auburn Alumni Association as its Lifetime Achievement Award is distributed next March.
The 2010 recipients will be Robert Kenneth Johns '57, Smith Lanier '49, Gerald Smith '61 and Kathryn Thorton '74.
"Numerous individuals are nominated each year who have had significant careers and made outstanding contributions over their life times," said Debbie Shaw, vice president for alumni affairs and executive director of the Auburn Alumni Association. "This award provides a way for the Auburn Alumni Association to bring deserved recognition to these people, to let them know Auburn appreciates their service and the impact they have made on society."
The award was created after Ed Dyas, former football player, surgeon and eventual recipient of the award himself, conceived the idea of an award to recognize distinguished alumni.
"So many lives have been touched by this one man's vision," said Tanja Matthews, alumni programs and awards coordinator. "It's not just about who all has donated money, it's about really giving back. If you look at the list of past recipients, they are all great people. It's just amazing what some Auburn folks have done to make an impact on the world."
According to the alumni association's Web site, Johns played for Shug Jordan as a lineman while at Auburn. He went on to develop the process of containerized shipping, founding the Hampshire Management Group Inc. and retiring as president and chief operating officer of Sea-Land Service Inc.
Lanier worked for J. Smith Lanier & Co., his family's insurance business, upon leaving Auburn and retired as its chairman. He also served as chair for the first dean's advisory board for the College of Human Sciences.
A selection committee composed of faculty representatives, alumni board members, the vice president for alumni affairs and the vice president for development chooses recipients of the award.
"Each member individually reviews the nomination packets on each applicant and scores them on a ballot, individually mailed to an outside accounting firm," Shaw said. "From this process, the top four recipients are chosen. It is a highly objective and fair process."
Smith spearheaded efforts to redesign and test improved solid rocket boosters following the Challenger accident. He then directed research operations at the Georgia Tech Research Institute and served as president of the Thiokol Corporation in Utah.
Thornton worked as a physicist at the U.S. Army Foreign Science and Technology Center in Charolettesville, Va., and became an astronaut in 1985. She has flown on space shuttles Discovery, Endeavor and Columbia.
Thorton is now serving as associate dean for graduate programs and engineering at the University of Virginia.
"I have coordinated this event for five years, and it's probably the best part of my job," Matthews said. "To me it's an honor to get to recognize these people and share their stories. Many of them are only known in their close circles, but with this award we have the opportunity to share just how great Auburn is, what a family it is and how full they are of the Auburn spirit."
Past recipients include Dean George Petrie, Coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan, Dean James Foy and former University of Georgia Coach Vince Dooley.
Matthews said other prominent figures associated with Auburn and its alumni attend the ceremony to show respect.
"People come and support these recipients, people like (former Auburn Athletic Director) David Housel," Matthews said. "It's just a great tribute to Auburn. It's hard work, but check with me at about 10:30 p.m. and I'll just be beaming off the walls. I love to let these people know how we appreciate them."
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