By Curt Langford | Special to the Avalanche-Journal
Since 1967, the Texas Tech Alumni Association has administered the university's Distinguished Alumni awards. Last weekend, we celebrated our 2022 recipients, representing the last 4 DAs successful Texas Tech's archetypal century.
This year, we recognized Richard Gaynor, M.D. ’71, president and main of probe and improvement for BioNTech U.S.; Alan Henry ’64 and ’65, president of Alan Henry Insurance Agency Inc. and erstwhile Lubbock mayor; Mac Thornberry ’80, retired U.S. Representative for the 13th District of Texas and Leslie Ward ’87, president of AT&T Texas, arsenic the 2022 Distinguished Alumni honorees.
Gaynor graduated from Texas Tech successful 1971 with a biology degree. He attended University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, graduating successful 1975 and past holding an internship and residency astatine Parkland Memorial Hospital successful Dallas. He followed that internship with a hematology-oncology fellowship astatine UCLA School of Medicine. He has spent his full vocation arsenic a teacher and researcher, focusing connected virology and oncology.
Henry was a subordinate of the Lubbock City Council from 1974 to 1986, serving arsenic politician from 1982 to 1986. He besides has dedicated important amounts of clip and resources to Texas Tech and the Texas Tech Alumni Association, including serving arsenic the TTAA National Board of Directors seat successful 2006.
Thornberry is simply a fifth-generation Texan and during his tenure successful Washington, D.C., helium consistently advocated for Texans, his territory and the Texas Tech System, specifically, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center field successful Amarillo. During his clip successful Congress, Thornberry was often lauded for his captious attack to galore issues, and successful 2020, the Almanac of American Politics called him “one of Congress’ brainiest and astir thoughtful members connected nationalist and home information issues.”
In her relation arsenic president of AT&T Texas, Ward leads legislative, regulatory, governmental and outer affairs activities successful the state. Ward’s occurrence arsenic a lobbyist has been good documented and she has been recognized arsenic 1 of the apical firm lobbyists successful the authorities rankings by Capitol Inside.
Attending the meal were erstwhile DA recipients Gen. CQ Brown '84; Bill Dean, Ed.D '61; Terry Fuller '77; Hon. Kent R. Hance '67; Carey Hobbs, '58; Maj. Gen. Walter B. Huffman '67; Hon. Phil Johnson; Robert Salem ’50; John '68 and Diane Scovell '68; Dale Swinburn '65 and Bobby Waddle '55.
Also attending were First Lady of Texas Cecelia Abbott and 99-year-old Horn Professor Henry Shine, Ph.D., with his woman Sellie. Shine was calved successful 1923, the twelvemonth of the constitution of Texas Technological College.
It was a memorable evening celebrating these high-achieving Techsans. The Texas Tech Alumni Association exists to connect, animate and emotion our Red Raider Family. We envision our members surviving their legacies of pride, loyalty and tradition. The relation supports our university, builds relationships and fosters growth.
Congratulations to our 2022 Distinguished Alumni.
Curt Langford is President and CEO of the Texas Tech Alumni Association. Contact him astatine curt.langford@ttu.edu
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