ARA presents Gold Medal, Distinguished Alumni, Meritorious Service awards

Rice Trustee Emeritus Robert L. Clarke will receive the Association of Rice Alumni’s (ARA) highest award – the Gold Medal — for his extraordinary service to the university at this year’s annual ARA Laureates Dinner May 16. The association is also honoring 11 others for distinguished accomplishments and meritorious service.

The descriptions below were taken from the program for the dinner.

Gold Medal: Robert L. Clarke ’63

Robert Clarke

Rice Trustee Emeritus Robert L. Clarke “represents the heart and soul of Rice in every sense of the words,” said one of his nominators for the Gold Medal. Clarke earned a bachelor’s degree in economics at Rice, where he was a member of Hanszen College, a member of the Honor Council, president of the Student Association and the 1963 winner of Rice’s Hugh Scott Cameron Service Award, which recognizes distinguished service to Rice and its student body. Since then, he has contributed his enthusiasm and expertise to the university in many different capacities. He served as a member of the ARA Board of Directors, as the ARA president and on his class reunion committee. Most notably, he served from 2006 to 2010 on the Rice Board of Trustees, where his passion for Rice, as well as his intellect and judgment, were invaluable to his fellow board members and to the university.

Clarke, who is currently a senior partner at Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, is a nationally recognized expert in banking law, regulation and operation. He formerly served as the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency from 1985 to 1992, and he used his knowledge of government and politics to advance Rice initiatives in these areas. He continues to serve as an emeritus member of the Rice Board of Trustees’ Audit and Public Affairs Committees and as a contributor to the Social Sciences Advisory Board.

In addition, Clarke and his late wife, Jean “Puddin” Clarke,  contributed generous financial support to the university, especially through their gifts toward the construction of the D. Kent and Linda C. Anderson and Robert L. and Jean T. Clarke Center, home of the Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. Clarke received Rice’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1992.

Distinguished Alumni Award

Five Rice alumni earned the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award, which is presented to graduates who have advanced the interests and standards of excellence of Rice University through distinctive professional or volunteer careers.

Lance Berkman ’98

Lance Berkman

Lance Berkman’s accomplishments as a baseball player have been extraordinary at every level. He set numerous hitting records and earned top accolades, including National Collegiate Player of the Year and first team All-American, while a star first baseman for the Rice Owls. He also played a critical role in securing Rice’s first appearance in the College World Series. A first-round draft pick of the Houston Astros, Berkman went on to a long and distinguished professional career in Houston that included six All-Star Game appearances. He earned a World Series ring as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. Berkman is considered one of the top switch-hitters in baseball history, joining Mickey Mantle as one of only two switch-hitters to hit 40 or more home runs in a season twice. His strength of character and “winning personality” made him one of the most respected players in the profession, and his nominators praised not only his professional accomplishments, but also his philanthropic generosity, his community involvement and his integrity. One nominator said, “Lance is beloved by his teammates, coaches and fans as a man of intelligence, kindness and remarkable wittiness. He is a true role model for our children.”

Gregory Curtis ’66

Gregory Curtis

Gregory Curtis, who graduated from Rice with a bachelor’s degree in English, is one of the most respected magazine editors in the country. Rising from staff writer to editor-in-chief of Texas Monthly, Curtis led the magazine for 20 years, during which time Texas Monthly won five National Magazine Awards, generally considered the highest award in the magazine industry. While editor-in-chief, he continued to write masterful prose, including the “Behind the Lines” column that introduced the magazine each month. The column captured readers’ imaginations and presented important topics in a fresh and compelling way. One of his nominators remarked that Curtis was Texas Monthly’s first hire and, in his opinion, the most important person ever to join the staff. Another said that he “has made a significant difference in the cultural and political life of Texas” and noted that his achievements trace back to his days at Rice, where he founded a literary and cultural magazine called The Thresher Review. Curtis was named one of the 10 best magazine editors by the Columbia Journalism Review, and he is the author of two nonfiction books, “Cave Painters” and “Disarmed.”

Robert Eury ’77

Robert Eury

Robert “Bob” Eury, who earned his Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Rice, is a nationally renowned city planner and leader in civic redevelopment. His vision and dedication to the city of Houston were integral to the reinvention of downtown. For more than 30 years, he has served as the president of Central Houston Inc., a nonprofit corporation established to redevelop downtown Houston, and as the executive director of the Houston Downtown Management District. Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center, Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center, Discovery Green, the Metro train service, Sesquicentennial Park and more owe their existence to Eury, who was integral to their planning and implementation and whose ideas and leadership have enhanced not only downtown Houston’s attractiveness, but also its safety. Currently, he is convening city leaders to address the problem of homelessness in Houston. A nominator remarked that Eury is “beloved by the city’s political, social and business leadership.” Another stated that “Rice is incredibly fortunate to have such a high-profile ambassador of good will and community success as one of its alumni.”

Raymond Johnson ’69

Raymond Johnson

Raymond Johnson is a highly accomplished mathematician, an inspiration to students and colleagues, an advocate for minorities in higher education and a devoted professor. He made history as the university’s first African-American graduate student, earning his doctorate in 1969. Thereafter he embarked on a 40-year career in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Maryland, where he was the first African-American faculty member. He then returned to Rice, where he held the W.L. Moody Jr. Visiting Professorship of Mathematics from 2009 to 2014. Now an adjunct professor, Johnson teaches differential equations and conducts research on overlapping waves. On Nov. 8, 2014, the Association of Rice University Black Alumni (ARUBA) celebrated the 50th anniversary of Johnson’s landmark admission to Rice. He has received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentorship and proclamations commending his accomplishments from the Texas State Senate and the city of Houston. He also continues to draw praise from colleagues and students, one of whom commented, “Rice Math Department — keep this man. And give him prizes.”

Barbara Murray ’69

Barbara Murray

Barbara Murray is an internationally recognized expert in infectious diseases, microbiology and bacterial pathogens whose discoveries have contributed greatly to knowledge about aggressive and antibiotic-resistant infections. Her laboratory was the first to discover that some enterococci (bacteria that commonly cause hospital-associated infections) “acquired” the staphylococci penicillinase gene and the first to show how enterococci adhere to human tissues. She received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Rice and her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas, where she was first in her class at a time when only one out of every 25 of her classmates was female. She trained at Harvard’s prestigious Massachusetts General Hospital before spending six months at the Armed Forces Institute of Medical Science in Bangkok. As a researcher, she has reached the top of her field, becoming, as one nominator put it, a “most outstanding clinician, researcher, teacher and leader in the field of infectious diseases.” Murray has had National Institutes of Health funding for over 20 years and has published more than 300 medical articles, many of which appear in top-tier medical journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of Infectious Diseases, the Journal of Clinical Investigation and the Annals of Internal Medicine. She is the immediate past president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and currently serves as director of the Division of Infectious Diseases and as the co-director of the Center for the Study of Emerging and Re-Emerging Pathogens at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Meritorious Service Award

The ARA’s Meritorious Service Award recognizes Rice alumni, faculty, staff and friends who have rendered significant, sustained voluntary contributions of energy, time and creativity toward the advancement of the university.

Mary Bixby

Mary Bixby

Mary Bixby, who served as the Friends of Fondren Library executive director from 1996 until her retirement in 2012, is a tireless ambassador for Fondren Library and is credited with turning Friends of Fondren into one of the nation’s most successful library support organizations. She enriched the Rice community through her dedication and support, ensuring the library’s activities were fully integrated with Rice’s mission. She was directly involved with a wide variety of events and programs, including distinguished authors’ visits, tours of British libraries, Fondren staff recitals, homecoming tent receptions and tailgates and the Friends of Fondren Library Research Awards. She is an expert fundraiser, and the money she helped raise through events such as the biennial book sale, gifts/memorials program and the annual Friends of Fondren Gala funded two of the library’s most substantial endowments, which supplement the library’s annual budget. One of her proudest accomplishments is arranging for the relocation of James Stilkey’s art exhibit from the Rice Gallery to Fondren. In addition to her work on behalf of the library, Bixby led the inauguration committee for Rice’s seventh president, David Leebron, and served on the Centennial Commission speaker’s committee. A nominator remarked that “Mary far exceeded what any employer could reasonably expect of an employee. She exemplifies what I have always thought was the hallmark of Rice University: the pursuit of excellence.”

Kevin Gass ’88

Kevin Gass

Kevin Gass spent six years leading startups for Colgate-Palmolive in Central Europe before returning home to New York to launch startups of his own — first GumRunners, and later, Candy Treasure. Upon his return to the U.S., he co-chaired his class reunion committee, breaking Rice’s then 91-year record for class participation. He has been president of the Rice Alumni New York regional group since 2008 and has served on the ARA Board of Directors, his region’s Centennial Campaign Committee and numerous other committees. Gass’ creative, proactive and inclusive style of leadership, along with his contagious love of Rice, has transformed the New York area’s alumni group. His dedication has significantly increased the group’s range of activities and appeal to alumni of all ages, inspiring greater involvement and support for Rice. Gass welcomes newcomers and can be counted on to personally encourage alumni and parents to participate. One nominator remarked, “He is the lifeblood of our organization.” Another said, “Kevin has been relentless in advocating for Rice in our local community, and I am certain that we are a better-connected, better-organized and more generous alumni group because of him.”

J. Bruce ’55 and Mary Lou ’58 Laubach

Bruce and Mary Lou Laubach

Bruce and Mary Lou Laubach met while they attended Rice and have loyally supported the university with their time and resources ever since. Bruce earned his bachelor’s from Rice and received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in 1959. Mary Lou attended Rice with the Class of 1958 and ultimately earned her bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State College. The couple’s involvement with Rice has been extensive. Bruce has served as chairman of the 1955 Golden Anniversary Scholarship Committee, was his reunion class chair and served on the ARA Board of Directors. Mary Lou was a member of the 1958 Golden Anniversary Scholarship Committee and served as class chair, and she was a member of the Rice University Fund Council and also served on the ARA Board of Directors. When they resided in College Station, Texas, the couple co-chaired the Brazos Valley Rice Alumni Group. They are committed to remaining connected to campus and have regularly traveled to Houston from their home in Colorado to attend events such as Classroom Connect, associates dinners, Baker Society events, laureates dinners, Homecoming & Reunion and more. A nominator said of the couple, “When something needed doing, you only had to ask the Laubachs, and it (would be done) cheerfully, promptly and well. They have gone the extra mile for Rice and the Association of Rice Alumni.”

Rose Sundin

Rose Sundin

Throughout her 27-year career with Rice’s alumni office — and even after her retirement — Rose Sundin showed a devotion to Rice that transcended her job description. Sundin served as the interim director of alumni affairs in 1996 and again in 2002, during which times she continued with her prior duties directing the alumni travel program and guiding the nominations and laureates awards committees. Under her leadership, Rice’s travel program re-engaged alumni and reconnected them to Rice through international travel and lifelong learning. In recognition of her dedication, Sundin was named an honorary member of the ARA in 2009. Only nine others have received this honor. One nominator said of her, “I believe what separates Rose from other highly committed employees is her breadth and depth of impact, dedication as seen by others and extraordinary length of service. And what makes her exceptional is her kindness, loyalty, warmth and, above all else, humility.”

Walter Widrig

Walter Widrig

Professor Emeritus of Art History Walter Widrig is a world-renowned archaeologist and art and architectural historian who has been knighted by the Republic of Italy and inducted into England’s Society of Antiquaries for his exceptional contributions to his field. For 31 years he taught in Rice’s Department of Art and Art History, which he chaired from 1982 to 1985. Widrig has worked on archaeological excavations in England, Libya and Italy. While at Rice, he and his colleague Philip Oliver-Smith focused on the Via Gabina archaeological dig, an excavation of several villas and farm buildings near Rome that ranged in date from 300 B.C. through 900 A.D. Between the summers of 1976 and 1991, Widrig invited over 100 students to work at Via Gabina, giving each an experience that enriched their lives to such a degree that many of them established an endowed traveling fellowship at Rice, the Amici di Via Gabina Fellowship. One of Widrig’s nominators remarked, “Of all the many international opportunities that Rice has offered students over the years … no other has offered such a valuable experience to our students … and fostered such respect and affection, not only for Walter, but also for Rice University itself.”