The Carl and Ruth Looney Humanitarian Award

2000 Rick and Sarah Gruver Poland graduated from Emory & Henry in 1981 and 1980, respectively. Mr. Poland received his master of divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Mrs. Poland holds a bachelor of arts degree from Emory & Henry and a bachelor of science degree from Old Dominion University. She is a home educator for the six Poland children, four of whom are adopted. The Poland's currently operate a family farm that welcomes persons in transition from prison to mainstream society.

2001 Dr. David T. St. Clair, E&H '73, is a United Methodist minister who has served Holston Conference churches in Knoxville, Morristown, Maryville and Chattanooga, Tenn., and Smyth County, Va. He served as chaplain of Emory & Henry College from 1991 to 2000, strengthening the campus religious life program and serving as counselor and pastor to the E&H community. Dr. St. Clair was the College's first Bonner Scholars coordinator. He currently serves as pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Bristol, Tenn.

2002 Brian K. Spencer, E&H '87, is an area supervisor for Shoney's Inc., and is responsible for restaurants in Hillsville, Galax, and Dublin, Virginia. In 1998, he established the Etoile Berry Children's Art Foundation. The mission of the foundation is to generate funds for the purchase of art supplies for local elementary schools and to provide scholarship assistance for college students pursuing art degrees. Nearly $23,000 has been raised for the foundation through a collaboration between the Hillsville restaurant and local artists.

2003 Elizabeth McKee graduated from Emory & Henry in 1963 and served the Washington County school system for 25 years as a teacher and librarian. She is active with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, the Washington County and Town of Damascus Tourism Committee, Adopt-A-Highway, People, Inc., Washington County Habitat for Humanity, Virginia Clean Washington County Committee, and the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc. Mrs. McKee has been a leader and participant in the Washington County 4-H program, the Rock School auditorium renovation, school and town beautification projects, and the District 3 RSVP Board. She is a lifetime member of the Damascus Rescue Squad, was given the Local Hero Award from the Damascus Little League, and has received countless certificates of appreciation from area community organizations. Mrs. McKee served as the Mayor of Damascus for many years.

2004 Rev. Marcus F. West, Class of 1956, is in private practice as a marriage and family therapist in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is also the adjunct minister of counseling at Providence United Methodist Church. He received his B.D. in 1959 from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, and pursued a Ph.D. degree from Florida State University. His hobby of pen and ink sketching also has become a ministry and cottage business.

2005 Mark R. Graham, Class of 1985, is shareholder and director at Boucher, Hutton, Kelly & Graham, P.C., Attorneys at Law in Abingdon, Virginia. He received a J.D. from T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond in 1989. Mr. Graham is a member of the Virginia State Board for Community Colleges and a former board member at Virginia Highlands Community College. He is assistant governor for District 7570 of Rotary International and was named a Paul Harris Fellow in 2000. Mr. Graham was chair of the Washington County Democratic Committee and was recognized as a "40 Under Forty" business leader by the Tri-Cities Business Journal in 2002. An active Rotarian, Mark made a personal commitment to secure a college education for a Bolivian Rotary exchange student who successfully graduated from Emory & Henry College.

2006 Dr. Paul Brown, Jr., is a 1964 E&H graduate. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia with a medical residency at Tuft's University St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Boston. Dr. Brown is a clinical professor of medicine at the James H. Quillen School of Medicine and is a staff member at several hospitals in the Tri-Cities (Tennessee) region.

The Rev. James Dougherty is a 1962 E&H graduate. He received his master of divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary and a doctor of ministry degree from Emory University. An ordained United Methodist minister, Rev. Dougherty served the New York and the Holston Conference for 40 years.

The two received the award jointly for their years of devotion to a medical mission to Mexico.

2007 Dr. Tal Stanley graduated summa cum laude from Emory & Henry College in 1983 with a B.A. degree in history. He received a M.Div. degree in 1986 from Emory University's Candler School of Theology. In 1996 he received a Ph.D. in American studies from Emory University. He is the director of E&H's Appalachian Center for Community Service and chair of the Department of Public Policy and Community Service. Tal showed remarkable dedication to community enhancement that resulted in a new medical facility in downtown Meadowview.

2008 Elizabeth Crowgey Young, Class of 1934, was a history major at Emory & Henry, a debater in the Thalian Literary Society, and a member of the women's basketball team. She was a public school librarian in Bristol, Virginia, and in Dade County, Florida, until her retirement. Mrs. Young holds a master's degree in education from East Carolina University. She and husband, Jack (Class of 1936, deceased), have two daughters. Elizabeth, although well into her 90s, continued to volunteer several times a week with Alzheimer's patients at the local Veteran's Hospital.

2009 Jennifer Murphy, Class of 2000, earned her bachelor's degree in biology at E&H and a Ph.D. in environmental microbiology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She is conducting her post-doctoral research, focusing on methods for identifying and purifying contaminated drinking water, through the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at UNC Chapel Hill's School of Global Public Health. Ms. Murphy has recently made presentations to the NATO Working Group on Field Water Standards in Ottawa, Canada, and the United States Department of Defense Joint Medical Field Water Subgroup Meeting, Hampton, Virginia. Jennifer's time in Cambodia was spent researching means of providing clean drinking water to residents of developing countries.

2010 Gina Horton Fimbel earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Emory & Henry in 1998.  She has served as a social worker at a homeless shelter for women and children in Fairfax, Virginia.  She also worked for Child Protective Services in that same city.  She is currently serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Wilmington, North Carolina.  She is the founder of Andrew’s Toybox; an organization that provides toys for children with life-threatening or chronic illness. 

2011 David G. Foster, E&H 1981, is Executive Director of the American Cave Conservation Association (ACCA) located in Horse Cave, Kentucky.  At Emory & Henry he received a B.A. degree in Music Theory with a minor in Geology. He earned a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree in Geology at Mary Washington College, and studied at Western Kentucky University.  He has received the Cave Conservancy of the Virginia’s Award for Volunteer Achievement in Cave Conservation and Management, and under his leadership the ACCA was named the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education’s Organization.  He also won first, second and third place honors in the National Cave Ballad contest in 1979.  He is a member of the National Speleological Society, the National Caves Association, and is a past Commissioner for the Hart County Tourism Commission. 

2012 Lt. Col. Lewis "Bucky" Burruss, E&H 1965, is retired from the U.S. Army. He worked with the late Colonel Charles Beckwith to help form and train the first Special Forces Operational Detachment (known as Delta Force). He completed the British Special Air Service Selection Course, volunteered for the Special Forces, and was assigned to Special Forces’ Mobile Strike Force. He was awarded the Silver Star, four Bronze Stars, the Air Medal, and three Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry. He retired from military service in 1987 to pursue a career in writing and is the author of several novels and works of history. He is an active supporter of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation which serves to support surviving children of fallen soldiers. The organization had its beginnings when Mr. Burruss served as a participating member of Operation Eagle Claw (the attempted rescue of Iranian hostages in 1980).

The Distinguished Achievement Award

2000 Dr. Bob Buchanan graduated cum laude from Emory & Henry in 1958 with a bachelor of arts degree in biology. He joined the faculty at the University of California at Berkeley in 1963, and is currently a professor in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology. His work with redox regulation and seed germination has led to the development of many new technologies and has earned him the Charles F. Kettering Award for Excellence.

2001 Sue Sisk Walker, E&H '57, has devoted her life to her family and her community. She has given active service to numerous committees, boards and organizations, including the Dogwood Arts Festival Board, The Association of Federated Women's Clubs, Knoxville Symphony League, Knoxville Bicentennial Coordinator Council and the American Cancer Society. Mrs. Walker served as president of the Alliance of the American Dental Association, the YWCA and the Tennessee Federation of Women's Clubs. She has been named Tennessee Mother of the Year and First Lady of Knoxville. Mrs. Walker currently serves as executive director of the James White Fort historic site.

2002 Leslie I. "Ike" Prillaman, E&H '65, is the Executive Vice President-Marketing of Norfolk Southern Corporation. Over a 32-year career, he has served Norfolk Southern in many leadership positions, including Assistant Vice President, Vice President and Controller, and Vice President-Properties. He recently was selected to serve as the chair of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) Board of Directors. Mr. Prillaman was a member of the Emory & Henry Board of Trustees from 1993 to 2001. As a trustee, he served as treasurer of the board and chair of the Budget/Audit Committee.

2003 Bill Nickle is a 1961 graduate of Emory & Henry and received his master of divinity degree from Duke University in 1964. From 1980-89, he was the director of and manager of Wesley Woods summer camp in Townsend, Tennessee, during which time he expanded the summer programs to include year-round environmental education for children and adults of all ages and backgrounds. In 1990, Mr. Nickle founded Narrow Ridge, a center for sustainable living and earth literacy in Grainger County, Tennessee. In 2000, he spearheaded the establishment of The Earth Lab at Gray Center in Canton, Mississippi, and he currently serves as director. The Earth Lab is a hands-on earth education program in a 700-acre outdoor classroom. Mr. Nickle has been a tireless teacher and has fostered and developed Earth Knows Publishing. He is a charter member of the National Advisory Board of the Environmental Ethics Institute.

2004 Dr. A. Ray Merchant, Class of 1952 (posthumous award), served as Executive Vice President of Mary Washington College until his retirement in 1993. Over the course of his career, he served in a variety of positions, including Registrar, Chairman of the Department of Education, Director of Admissions and Vice President. His committee and board involvement supported numerous community organizations including the American Red Cross, the Mary Washington College Community Symphony Orchestra, and the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve and taught high school in Smyth County for a short time.

2005 Dr. P.W. Keaton, Class of 1957, is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and received a Ph.D. in physics from John Hopkins University. In 1965, he accepted a position with Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and served there as researcher and division leader until his retirement in 1993. Dr. Keaton was recently an adjunct faculty member at the Colorado School of Mines and he continues to serve as chief scientist for John Frassanito & Associates in Houston, Texas. He received a certificate of appreciation for his work with President Reagan's National Commission on Space and the Distinguished Performance Project Team Award for his leadership of a strategic defense initiative project.

2006 Toni Atkins is a 1984 graduate. She is a member of the City Council of San Diego, California, and in August 2005 was elected by that council to serve as the city's interim mayor until December 2005. Ms. Atkins is chair of the City Council's newly formed Committee on Budget and Finance, and is vice chair of both the Land Use and Housing and the Natural Resources and Culture committees.

2007 Helen Williams Barbrow (posthumous award) graduated from Emory & Henry College in 1963. She began her teaching career at Clifton Forge Elementary School, but spent most of her professional life at Saltville Elementary School where she retired in 2002. She was a founding member of the Museum of the Middle Appalachians where she volunteered faithfully until her death in December 2006. In 2001 she was named by the Virginia Education Media Association as clinch Region Library Media Specialist of the Year.

2007 Sally Ranck Weaver is a 1969 graduate of Emory & Henry College. In 1981 she graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Law. She has served as vice president and general counsel of Goody's Family Clothing and as an associate professor of law at the University of Montana School of Law. She also has served as chief professional development officer at the law firm of Powell Goldstein where she also practiced law as an associate partner. She recently retired from the position of CEO of the Atlanta Women's Foundation.

2008 Paul Harrison, Class of 1982, was an economics and business major at Emory & Henry. He holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Virginia. A Certified Public Accountant, Mr. Harrison began his career in accounting and until recently was vice president of Krispy Kreme Donuts, Inc. Mr. Harrison then became owner of two Ben and Jerry's ice cream franchises in the Triad area of North Carolina where he used his business success to serve the greater community through Habitat for Humanity.

2009 Beth Perkinson McCoy, Class of 1969, received a master of music education degree from Vanderbilt University's Peabody College. In 1991 she was consecrated a diaconal minister in the United Methodist Church, and has served the past 16 years as music director for the East Tennessee Children's Choir. Ms. McCoy has received the Annual Conductor's Award from the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra, the Composer of the Year Award from the Appalachian Music Teacher's Association, and the Tribute to Women Award in the arts category from the Bristol YMCA. She and husband, Dr. Joseph McCoy, retired E&H chemistry professor, reside in Abingdon.

2010 Richard “Dick” Kemper, Class of 1964, retired after 42 years of service at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, Virginia.  Founded in 1911, St. Christopher’s is a college preparatory school for boys Kindergarten through 12th grade.  He served as Assistant Director of Athletics, Head of the Physical Education Department, Head Football Coach, and Head Basketball Coach.  He is currently the Executive Director of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association. He is also CEO of a full service consulting firm, EQ MGR Inc., that offers training and education on all aspects of athletic equipment safety. In 2006, The General of Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia passed a resolution commending him for outstanding service.

2011 Dr. Karen Westerfield Tucker, E&H 1976, is Professor of Worship for the School of Theology at Boston University.  She received Ph.D. and M.A. degrees from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master’s of Divinity from the Divinity School of Duke University.  She is an ordained Elder with Full Connection in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church.  She is currently serving as president of Societas Liturgica, and is Editor-in-Chief of Studia Liturgica, an international ecumenical review for liturgical research and renewal.

2012 Ken Sorenson, E&H 1979, is an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii. He is a 25-year veteran in the office, and recently achieved a conviction in the United States v. Noshir Gowadia case which has been described as one of the nation’s largest and most significant espionage prosecutions of the past 20 years. Following this conviction, Mr. Sorenson received the National Association of Former United States Attorneys (NAFUSA) Most Outstanding AUSA Award, also known as the J. Michael Bradford Award. The Bradford Award is given annually to the NAFUSA’s choice of the most outstanding AUSA in the country.

Fred Selfe Distinctive Service to Emory & Henry Award

2000 Dr. Robert McClellan (posthumous award), E&H Class of 1945, was a revered professional in the field of urology. He was inducted into the E&H Sports Hall of Fame in 1979 in recognition of his accomplishments in basketball. He served as a member of the E&H Board of Trustees and as a volunteer for the Nashville Chapter of the E&H Alumni Association. Throughout his life, Dr. McClellan was a generous supporter of E&H academics and student programming.

Mr. F. Winton Lackey, Class of 1955, is president of Mid-Ohio Packaging in Marion, Ohio. He serves on many volunteer boards in his community, including the Red Cross and MARCA Industries (a workshop for persons with disabilities). He is a member of the Rotary Club of Marion and is active in Epworth United Methodist Church. He is a member of the E&H Board of Trustees and the E&H Sports Hall of Fame.

2001 Barbara Creasy Polly, E&H '56, is well known in her home community of Big Stone Gap, Va., for her work with the outdoor drama, "Trail of the Lonesome Pine;" her leadership of the John Fox, Jr. Museum; her service through Trinity United Methodist Church; and her success as owner of Lonesome Pine Realty. At Emory & Henry she was elected the first female Alumni Association president. Mrs. Polly's leadership of the J. Stewart French Alumni House Committee transformed an old home into a bright, well-utilized guest house and alumni reception hall for the campus.

2002 Ann Grim Sparger, E&H '68, is a member of Emory & Henry Board of Visitors. Ms. Sparger was a member of the Emory & Henry Alumni Board of Directors for ten years, serving as president from 1997 to 1999. She is responsible for the creation of the Alumni Association's "E&H Worldwide Service Day" and has dedicated countless hours to further the mission of the Alumni Association. In her community, Ms. Sparger has been an active leader in Salem United Methodist Church for 29 years and is a member of the Red Hat Society.

2003 Lynda Jones Hawkins graduated from Emory & Henry in 1966. In 1988, she retired after 30 years in Virginia education serving as a classroom teacher and counselor for Smyth, Dinwiddie, and Hanover counties. Mrs. Hawkins is a member of the Hanover Rotary Club, Hanover Woman's Club, Hanover Chapter of the American Cancer Society, Virginia Retired Teachers Association, and Lebanon United Methodist Church in Dinwiddie. She is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, serves on the planning committee for her local Relay For Life event, and is project coordinator for Hanover Student Career Resource, Inc. Mrs. Hawkins has served on the E&H Parents Council, has been a class agent for the E&H Development Office, and has been an even t planner for Richmond-area alumni. She served as president of the E&H Alumni Board of Directors from 1999 to 2001.

2004 Shirley H. Wagner, Class of 1952, has been on the security staff at Emory & Henry College for 23 years. In 1998, her hard work and exemplary duty were recognized by assigning her a badge number that would be retired from use. As a student, she was a member of Alpha Beta Chi social sorority and the women's basketball team.

2005 Henry C. Dawson, Jr., Class of 1962, serves as secretary for the board of directors of the United Way of Washington County, having formerly served as president and campaign chair. He is past president of the Depot Artists Association board of directors and still serves as an active member. Mr. Dawson is a former member of the Bristol Concert Choir. During his 31 years of service to Emory & Henry, he served as Director of Alumni Affairs, and Executive Assistant to the President.

2006 Mr. G. Thomas Rudisill is a 1967 E&H graduate. He is a teacher and assistant director at Lord Botetourt High School in Daleville, Virginia. Mr. Rudisill is a member of the Virginia and national associations of Teachers of English, the Virginia High School Coaches Association, and the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association. He currently serves as chair of the E&H I-HEY Leadership Board.

2007 Ms. Betsy Harkleroad is a 1969 graduate of Emory & Henry College. She has been an active member of the Virginia Federation of Women's Clubs at the local, district and state levels. She served as the Lynchburg Area President of the Virginia Counselors Association and in 1996 chaired their state convention. She is a member of Chi Sigma Iota and was Campbell County (Va.) Schools Teacher of the Year in 1996. She has served E&H in many capacities including chapter coordinator, alumni college coordinator, and president of the E&H Alumni Association Board of Directors. She serves as the coordinator of volunteers for Timberlake United Methodist Church.

2008 Craig Baker, Class of 1968, is the manager and owner of GCB Executive Search, a firm that specializes in finding highly-skilled employees for many of the largest banks and investment firms in the world. At Emory & Henry, Mr. Baker double majored in political science and German, was a member of Sigma Iota, and played varsity baseball.

2009 Paul Hubble, Class of 1968, is retired from Roadway Express, Inc., where he served as facility manager for the Harrisonburg/Charlottesville division. Mr. Hubble served as president of the Emory & Henry Alumni Board of Directors during 2005 and 2006 and was the first alumnus to serve on the College's Strategic Planning Committee.

2010 Donna Proffit Vaughn, Class of 1968, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Latin from Emory & Henry.  She received a Master’s degree in Liberal Studies from Hollins University in 1991.  She taught in the Roanoke County Schools, Botetourt County Schools, and Alleghany Count Schools.  Upon her retirement she was serving as director of guidance for Alleghany County.  She is a current member of the Emory & Henry Board of Trustees, a former member of the E&H Board of Visitors, and a former member of the E&H Alumni Association Board of Directors. 

2011 Todd Woodall, E&H 1994, is an Executive Customer Representative for Merck Pharmaceuticals.  He is a member of Merck’s Hall of Fame, Diamond Club, and President’s Club.  He has been Merck’s Sales Representative of the Year seven times. He is a member of the E&H Prelude to Performance Campaign Committee and was named 12th Man for the E&H Football Team.  He is a Little League coach and supports Diabetic Education in Southwest Virginia through Merck’s “Journey for Control” program. 

2012 J.D. and Patsy Fitts Reed, E&H 1968 and E&H 1970, are staunch volunteers for Emory & Henry College. The pair has served on the E&H Parents Council, they have been active admissions volunteers, and they attend every home and away football game to show their pride in E&H sports. Additionally, Patsy served on the alumni board of directors from 2006-2011. J.D. is retired from the Tennessee Social Security and Disability Determination office, and Patsy is retired from various roles in office management.

A.L. Mitchell Outstanding Young Alumnus

2000 Rev. Stephen A. Rhodes, Class of 1983, currently serves as pastor of River Road United Methodist Church in Richmond, Va. In addition to his bachelor of arts degree from Emory & Henry, Mr. Rhodes holds a master of divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University where he studied as a Woodruff Scholar. He is the author of Where the Nations Meet: The Church in a Multicultural World.

2001 Doug Dalton, E&H '94, has turned talent and good choices into an impressive career in a short amount of time. He worked for the George Mason International Institute and Global One before starting his own company, Inext, which was quickly purchased by Troy Systems. Mr. Dalton worked for Netscape Communications before becoming chief engineer and eventually vice president for Knowledge Universe. He left to join Gloss.com, which was recently purchased by Estee Lauder Companies. Mr. Dalton is now the chief technical officer for Estee Lauder Online, a Fortune 500 company.

2002 Matt Hankins, E&H '94, is a decorated former editor of the Clinch Valley News and the Richlands News Press. He served on the Richlands Downtown Revitalization Project Management Team and designed the group's logo and coined their motto, "Back to Front," a reference to the town's main thoroughfare, Front Street. Currently, Mr. Hankins serves as the Public Information Officer for the City of Martinsville, Virginia. He is a certified Firefighter One volunteer and continues to serve as vice president and grant-writer for the Baptist Valley Volunteer Fire Department. Mr. Hankins is a graduate of the Republican Party of Virginia's intensive campaign management academy, Campaign ACES.

2003 Dr. Michael W. Lane graduated from Emory & Henry in 1995. He received his M.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University in 1997 and his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering in 1999. While in graduate school, he served as lab director for the Atomic Force Microscope and as a graduate research assistant studying interface fracture involving subcritical debond growth (failure), reliability and life prediction of multi-layer interconnect structures for applications in current and developing technologies in the microelectronics industry. Currently, Dr. Lane operates his own lab as a research staff member for IBM TJ Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York.

2004 Bonnie Widener Wood is a 1990 Emory & Henry graduate with a bachelor of arts degree in Mass Communications. Her impressive resume which includes work for the Richmond Times Dispatch, WTVR-6 in Richmond, and WJLA-7 in Washington, D.C. She is currently Promotions Producer for WJLA, and in 2003, she won two Emmy Awards for her creative work.

2005 Paula Webber, Class of 1990, serves as program director for the Commonweal Foundation's Pathways to Success Boarding and Day School Program. She formerly has served as project manager for the 21st Century Community Learning Center Program (funded by the U.S. Department of Education); Science, Engineering and Mathematics Student Support Manager for the Model Institutions For Excellence Program (funded by NASA); and Student Programs Coordinator for the Goddard Visiting Scientist Program. As a volunteer, Ms. Webber is involved with the National independent Living Association, Montgomery County Maryland Homeless Coalition, the House of Ruth Women's Shelter, and the Orphan Foundation of America.

2006 Mr. Israel O'Quinn is a 2002 E&H graduate. He is the political director for the Republican Party of Virginia and coordinates senatorial and congressional campaigns in the Commonwealth. Mr. O'Quinn is also the point of contact for nomination issues, conventions and the Republican political plan. He served in Attorney General Jerry Kilgore's office as community outreach coordinator and worked as field director for Senator John Warner's campaign for re-election.

2007 Dr. Phillip Hustad received a B.S. degree from Emory & Henry College in 1997 with a major in chemistry and a minor in mathematics. He later earned a master's degree in chemistry and a Ph.D. in chemistry and chemical biology from Cornell University. His research experience includes work at Cornell, Brown, and Columbia universities, as well as Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the IBM Research Center in San Jose, California. He is currently Senior Research Scientist at The Dow Chemical Company in Houston, Texas.

2008 Luke Grooms, Class of 2001, was a music major at Emory & Henry with a minor in theatre. He also played football as an undergraduate and sang in the E&H Concert Choir. Mr. Grooms received a master's degree in music from the University of Cincinnati. He resides in New York, New York.

2009 Chris Kolakowski, Class of 1999, received a bachelor of arts degree with a double major in history and mass communications. He finished his master's in public history at the State University of New York at Albany in 2004. Mr. Kolakowski's career has included work at the Civil War Preservation Trust in Washington, D.C., and the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association, Perryville, Kentucky, where he served as executive director from 2005 to 2008. He is currently the chief curator for the National Museum of the Army Reserve in Fort McPherson, Georgia.

2010 Dr. Jeff Bary, Class of 1995, is currently an assistant professor of Physics and Astronomy at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York.  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and Mathematics from Emory & Henry, and received his Ph.D. in Physics from Vanderbilt University in 2003.  He received the National Science Foundation Graduate Teaching Fellowship for in 2002 and 2003, and the National Science Foundation Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral fellowship from 2005-2008. He was the American Association of Physics Teachers teaching assistant for the year in 2002. 

2011 Robert Thomas, E&H 2001, is a manager in the U.S. Secretary of State’s 24/7 Operations Center.  He has served with the U.S. Department of State since 2001, serving in locations that include Nouakchott, Mauritania, and Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.  Robert is a member of the American Foreign Service Association of Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies, and he has been published in the American Foreign Service Journal, a publication of the American Foreign Service Association. 

2012 Tarah Taylor, E&H 2003, is the morning and noon anchor for WCYB TV-5 in Bristol, Virginia. She is a volunteer for the March of Dimes, Girls, Inc., United Way, the American Cancer Society, and the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion. Tarah has also volunteered for Emory & Henry, through the 175th Anniversary Public Relations Committee, the alumni/student Speed Networking event, the Benefactor’s Luncheon, and the Mass Communications Department. 

James A. Davis Faculty Award

2000 Dr. Terry Griffin holds degrees from West Virginia University and the University of Tennessee. He joined the Emory & Henry faculty in 1964 and is currently a professor of modern languages. In his community he has served as a leader for the district commission of Boy Scouts of America and as an active member of Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity.

2001 Alan Pickrell, associate professor of speech and theatre, has taught at Emory & Henry since 1964. During his career at the College, Mr. Pickrell has directed more than 175 plays. He has been a member and participant in the Southeastern Theatre Conference, the Library of Congress Symposium and the Popular Culture Conference. Known for his expertise on serial books, pulp fiction, and The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Pickrell has been published in various journals of juvenile literature. He has worked extensively with Bristol Children's Theatre, Theatre Bristol and the Bristol children's Theatre Academy.

2002 J. Allen Neal, E&H '54, taught history at Emory & Henry from 1958 to 1977. After receiving a B.A. from Emory & Henry, he earned an M.A. at Ohio State University. Professor Neal was a United States Air Force historian and served in the 402nd Field Artillery Battalion as well as the 42nd Rainbow Infantry Division. He is the author of the Bicentennial History of Washington County. Mr. Neal has written several publications for the Air Force concerning the development of the pressure suit, the history of the Navaho Missile, and the history of methods of escape from high speed aircraft.

2003 Dr. Frederic R. Kellogg graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in science education from Louisiana Tech University in 1962. He received his Th.M. with honors from Southern Methodist University and his Ph.D. in religious studies from Yale University. Dr. Kellogg is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Middle East Studies Association, the Society of Biblical Literature, the Holston Conference Board of Ordained Ministries, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Phi Kappa Phi. He has received the Earnest E. and Elizabeth C. Maiden Merit Award from the College, the Emory & Henry College Excellence in Teaching Award, and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church Award for Exemplary Teaching. Dr. Kellogg has served at Emory & Henry College since 1969 and currently serves as the Shelton Professor of Religion.

2004 Dr. John D. Lang graduated summa cum laude from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, in 1969. He received his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1975. He has served in the Emory & Henry English Department since 1983 and currently serves as a full professor, director of the College's Great Book Program, and editor of Emory & Henry's Iron Mountain Review. In 1999 he received the Outstanding Faculty Award from the Virginia Council of Higher Education.

2005 Dr. John T. Morgan joined the faculty of Emory & Henry College in 1986. He is professor of geography and chair of the social sciences division. Dr. Morgan received a B.A. in Spanish from East Carolina University in 1972, and an M.A. in geography from East Carolina, Greenville, North Carolina, in 1976. In 1986, he received a Ph.D. in geography from the University of Tennessee with a dissertation on "The Decline of Log House Construction in Blount County, Tennessee." Dr. Morgan is the author of The Log House in East Tennessee.

2006 Dr. George E. Treadwell, Jr. has served as a professor of biology at Emory & Henry since 1970. He received his M.S. degree in biochemistry from Iowa State University, and his Ph.D. in plant physiology and biochemistry from Iowa State. Dr. Treadwell has received the Exemplary Teaching Award from the United Methodist Church, the Burroughs Wellcome Fellowship, the McConnell Faculty Grant from Emory & Henry, the Excellence in Teaching Award, and the Maiden Award for Leadership from Emory & Henry.

2007 Mr. Robert J. Johnson received a B.A. degree in history in 1968 from Dickinson College and a M.Ed. from Springfield College in 1976. He is a combat veteran of Vietnam, serving as a Ranger platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division. He has served E&H as head basketball coach since 1980, taking his teams to the NCAA Division III Tournament five times and twice to the Sweet Sixteen. He is a three-time winner of ODAC Coach of the Year honors and has been named NCAA South Region Coach of the Year three times. The National Association of Basketball Coaches has named him the 2007 recipient of the Division III Outstanding Service Award, to be presented at the NCAA Division I Final Four in Atlanta.

2008 Kathleen Chamberlain has been a member of the Emory & Henry English Department since 1989. From 1998 to 2002, she served as associate dean of academic affairs and has been the chair of the Humanities Division since 2002. Dr. Chamberlain received her master's degree and doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1993, the E&H senior class chose her for the Excellence in Teaching Award, and she has received the William Carrington Finch Award for Faculty Excellence and the Virginia Professor of the Year Award from CASE/Carnegie Foundation.

2009 Dr. Teresa D. Keller joined the Emory & Henry faculty in 1985 after serving as a producer and noon anchor for WCYB-TV in Bristol, Virginia. Dr. Keller received her master's degree in communications from the University of Chapel Hill, Greensboro, and her Ph.D. in communications from the University of Tennessee. In 2003 she won the Virginia Professor of the Year Award from the Carnegie Foundation, and in 1989 she received the Excellence in Teaching Award from Emory & Henry College. She is the co-author of Television News: A Handbook for Writing, Reporting, Shooting and Editing (now in its third printing), and is currently overseeing an expansion of the WEHC radio station from 500 watts to 10,000 watts.

2010 Dr. James A. Warden joined the Emory & Henry faculty in 1991, serving as an associate professor of Physics and Physics Department Chair.  He served as Chair of the Natural Sciences Division from 1994-2006.  Prior to E&H, Dr. Warden taught at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, and Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana.  He received a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Rhodes College in Memphis, a Master’s degree in Physics from the University of South Carolina, and his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of South Carolina.

2011 Dr. Edward Hamilton Davis joined the Emory & Henry faculty in 1991. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois, his M.A. degree in at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and his Bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina.  He is currently the associate professor of environmental studies and geography at Emory & Henry.  He has earned the United Methodist Church Excellence in Teaching Award, and was a recipient of the Hope Award presented by the Appalachian Center for Community Service.  He is an active member of the Upper Tennessee River Roundtable, helps organize the annual C.R.O.P. Hunger Walk, and does educational programs for area school children on conservation issues.

2012 Dr. Denise Stanley joined the Emory & Henry faculty in 1992. She earned her Ph.D. from Regent University, her Master’s in Accounting from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), and her undergraduate degree from Clinch Valley College (UVA-Wise). She is currently an associate professor of business at Emory & Henry. She is a prior recipient of the Ernest E. and Elizabeth C. Maiden Merit Award, the Exemplary Teaching at a United Methodist-related Institution of Higher Education Award, and the Emory & Henry Excellence in Teaching Award.