The Clemson Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor that the Association can bestow upon an alumnus or alumna. This prestigious award is given to those alumni who have not only devoted their life to professionalism and public service, but who have also continued a lifelong dedication to Clemson University. Through a competitive nomination process, members of the Clemson family promote and support those who have given back in many ways and who deserve the honor of being recognized by the Alumni Association and by their Alma Mater.
The Distinguished Service Award is based on three main criteria – dedication and service to Clemson University; personal and professional accomplishments; and devotion to their community and public service.
Nominations for this award for 2021 are open. To review the eligibility requirements and submission instructions, please review the nomination guidelines. Each nomination submitted for consideration must be typed and in the official nomination form. Nominations not submitted through the official online form will not be accepted. Three letters of support are required for each nomination.
Congratulations to the 2020 Honorees:
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- Thomas James “Jimmy” Bell Jr ‘65
- Mary Anne McDonald Bigger ‘88
- Jane Robelot DeCarvalho ‘82
- James H. “Hank” Owen, Jr ‘73
- Steve Watt ‘81
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Click here to view photos of the presentation ceremony. For a full bio of each of the recipients and to see their tribute videos, please click on the posts below.
The Distinguished Service Award is based on three main criteria – dedication and service to Clemson University; personal and professional accomplishments; and devotion to their community and public service. Review the nomination guidelines for further details. Please see below for the biographies of this year’s winners.
To request information, please contact us at info@alumni.clemson.edu or at 864-656-2345.
The Alumni Association thanks our corporate partner and title sponsor:
Dr. Thomas James “Jimmy” Bell, Jr. ’65
Hartsville physician presented with Clemson’s Distinguished Service Award Hartsville, South Carolina physician Thomas James “Jimmy” Bell, Jr. is being honored by the Clemson Alumni Association with the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor that the association bestows on former Clemson Tigers. Bell was a pre-med student at Clemson University, graduating summa cum laude in 1965. He continued his […]
Mary Anne Bigger ’88
Executive director of the Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta presented with Clemson’s Distinguished Service Award The executive director of the Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta, Mary Anne Bigger, is being honored by the Clemson Alumni Association with the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor the association bestows upon former Clemson Tigers. […]
Jane Robelot DeCarvalho ’82
WYFF News 4 anchor presented with Clemson’s Distinguished Service Award WYFF News 4 anchor, Jane Robelot DeCarvalho, is being honored by the Clemson Alumni Association with the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor that the association bestows upon former Clemson Tigers. DeCarvalho was born in Greenville, South Carolina and graduated from Clemson University in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts […]
James Henry “Hank” Owen, Jr ’73
Retired York County attorney presented with Clemson’s Distinguished Service Award Retired Attorney, James Henry “Hank” Owen, Jr, is being honored by the Clemson Alumni Association with the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor that the association bestows upon former Clemson Tigers. Hank graduated from Clemson University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. After graduation, he […]
Steven K. Watt ’81
Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Scientific Research Corporation presented with Clemson’s Distinguished Service Award Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Scientific Research Corporation (SRC), Steven “Steve” Kenneth Watt, is being honored by the Clemson Alumni Association with the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor the association bestows upon former Clemson Tigers. Watt […]
| 1960 | Frank Gunby Sr. ’02 Frank Jervey ’14 Claude Lawson ’15 Wofford B. Camp ’16 S.C. McMeekin ’23 W. Wright Bryan ’26 |
| 1961 | Theodore C. Heyward ’08 Samuel Littlejohn ’17 J. Strom Thurmond ’23 John R. Heller ’25 James A. Milling ’27 |
| 1962 | Silas N. Pearman ’24 J. Wilson Newman ’31 Patrick N. Calhoun ’32 Robert C. Edwards ’33 William G. DesChamps ’38 |
| 1963 | John P. Tarbox ’04 F. Porter Caughman ’08 Robert M. Jones ’30 Walter Snyder ’30 R. Roy Pearce ’41 |
| 1964 | Frank Kolb ’20 James H. Sams ’24 Amos Priester Jr. ’32 Joe Sherman ’34 William Folk Jr. ’37 |
| 1965 | E. Hugh Agnew ’16 George H. Aull Sr. ’19 Goode Bryan ’18 William Grier ’23 Walter Cox ’39 |
| 1966 | T. Wilbur Thornhill ’14 William J. Erwin ’21 Henry C. Coleman ’26 Sherwood E. Liles ’27 J. Banks McFadden ’40 |
| 1967 | B. Rhett Turnipseed ’96 S.R. Rhodes ’07 John M. Fleming ’26 George G. Durst ’30 Harry S. Ashmore ’37 |
| 1968 | Claude Hayden ’12 James G. Gee ’17 Jesse A. White ’24 Howard D. Nottingham ’35 Julian Dusenberry ’42 |
| 1969 | John W. Lewis ’08 Thomas S. Buie ’17 Harper S. Gault ’28 C. Calhoun Lemon ’32 Earl Mazo ’40 |
| 1970 | Milton D. Berry ’13 States R.G. Finley ’18 William J. Clapp ’23 Thomas S. Millford ’29 Charles E. Hammond ’42 |
| 1971 | Gerald R. Tyler ’17 Deems Haltiwanger ’19 William S. Coleman ’39 J. Richard Sosnowski ’42 Rembert R. Stokes Jr. ’53 |
| 1972 | Lucius H. Harvin ’34 Harold B. Risher ’38 T. Ed Garrison ’42 Glenn J. Lawhon ’46 Earle E. Morris ’49 |
| 1973 | O. Harold Folk ’37 Marshall E. Walker ’41 Wilson C. Wearn ’41 Harris W. Hollis ’42 Fletcher C. Derrick ’55 |
| 1974 | George Chaplin ’35 Taze L. Senn ’39 Robert W. Moorman ’40 Edward L. Young ’41 Thomas C. Breazeale ’42 |
| 1975 | O. Romaine Smith ’33 Robert E. Marvin ’42 J. Givens Young ’42 Thomas E. Thornhill ’48 Robert H. Yeargin ’49 |
| 1976 | Thomas M. Hunter ’09 H. Hugh Dukes ’15 Ottis R. Causey ’27 George H. Aull Jr. ’44 George M. Moore ’58 |
| 1977 | Herman J. Nimitz ’17 Kenneth N. Vickery ’38 Paul J. Burns ’40 William H. Orders ’48 Sam E. McGregor ’49 |
| 1978 | R. Brice Waters ’16 Murray M. Stokley ’36 George M. Williams ’39 Paul W. McAlister ’41 Ben Hudnall ’43 |
| 1979 | Hamilton E. Russell ’27 Clifford T. Smith ’27 Jesse H. Yarborough ’30 J. Garner Bagnal ’34 William W. Dukes ’38 |
| 1980 | Herbert P. Cooper ’11 DeWitt T. Hardin ’12 Eugene P. Willimon ’33 Edward L. Proctor ’47 Davis T. Moorhead ’54 |
| 1981 | Matthew L. McHugh ’19 Frank M. Hubbard ’40 Marvin McClam ’43 Louis P. Batson Jr. ’48 Lawrence V. Starkey ’56 |
| 1982 | C. Hoyt Rogers ’26 Cecil O. Browning ’37 Gordon Rogers ’37 Robert L. Stoddard ’41 H.C. McLellan ’54 |
| 1983 | Edwin P. Rogers ’31 S.F. Horton ’32 Philip H. Prince ’49 Billy G. Rogers ’49 William E. Dukes ’57 |
| 1984 | Rembert G. Horton ’30 Lewis Holmes ’44 William H. Hunter ’45 David L. Peebles ’49 Clifton D. Wright ’55 |
| 1985 | Marion R. Lawton ’40 Lee W. Milford Jr. ’43 R. Ramsey Mellette Jr. ’47 Frank S. Hanckel Jr. ’55 John J. Britton ’58 |
| 1986 | Wallace R. Roy ’26 Daniel S. Lesesne Jr. ’38 I.L. “Rusty” Donkle Jr. ’49 George J. Bishop III ’52 Jay D. Hair ’67 |
| 1987 | Robert S. Campbell ’37 Winston A. Lawton ’37 George Bennett ’55 John D. Tice ’55 Robert H. Brooks ’60 |
| 1988 | Jesse Boyce ’44 Leonard Butler ’53 Milton Holcombe ’53 Tom Lynch ’58 Currie Spivey ’58 |
| 1989 | Raymond A. All ’34 Robert C. Bradley ’49 Henry F. Cooper ’58 James P. Creel ’60 Bill Amick ’66 |
| 1990 | James E. Bostic Jr. ’69 Walter K. Lewis ’37 Wellington M. Manning Jr. ’58 William J. Neely Jr. ’58 William B. Sturgis ’57 |
| 1991 | Frank S. Barnes Jr. ’42 Jack T. Day ’56 Harvey B. Gantt ’65 John T. Mundy Jr. ’28 Ted P. Pappas ’58 |
| 1992 | Charles M. Campbell ’42 Jerry E. Dempsey ’54 Lawrence M. Gressette Jr. ’54 Frank E. Lucas ’59 Warren H. Owen ’47 |
| 1993 | Leslie G. McCraw ’56 Emory G. Orahood Jr. ’43 Cyril Ovierre Shuler ’34 Byron K. Webb ’55 James Ryan White Jr. ’42 |
| 1994 | John Q. Adams III ’67 Henry Carroll Chambers ’49 Willie Cecil Godley ’43 William Philip Kennedy ’61 William Harry King ’44 |
| 1995 | Frank Erwin Abell Jr. ’60 Donald Edward Golightly ’65 Leon J. “Bill” Hendrix Jr. ’63 Joseph Davis Swann ’63 Kermit Madison Watson ’34 |
| 1996 | Carolyn Willis Creel ’61 William Charles Kennerty ’48 L.G. “Skip” Lewis Jr. ’66 James Edward Robinson ’40 Allen Price Wood ’63 |
| 1997 | William C. Laffoday ’51 W. Joseph Lanham ’43 Thomas E. Skelton ’53 J.R. Swetenburg Jr. ’56 Joseph J. Turner Jr. ’71 |
| 1998 | Frank M. Bishop ’65 J. Richard Cottingham ’66 R. Thornwell Dunlap Jr. ’53 Laurie Coke Lawson ’53 Virginia C. Skelton ’58 |
| 1999 | Paul E. Blackwell Sr. ’63 Dennis H. Kekas ’59 William John Park ’48 Thompson E. Penney ’72 Marshall “Sonny” White ’65 |
| 2000 | James O. Sweeny ’39 Darra W. Cothran ’69 Renee J. Keese ’82 W. Richard Mattox ’51 F. William Vandiver ’64 |
| 2001 | Joel W. Collins Jr. ’65 Harry M. Lightsey Jr. ’52 Louis B. Lynn ’70, M ’72 John H. Pitts ’51 David S. Rozendale ’57 |
| 2002 | Rowland P. Alston Jr. ’70, M ’72 Carol K. Brown ’65 Beverly N. Skardon ’38 Arthur M. Spiro ’45 John E. Walker ’58 |
| 2003 | Alvin N. Berry ’65 Charles W. Bussey Jr. ’57 Benjamin T. Rook ’68, M ’74 David H. Wilkins ’68 Hughey A. Woodle Jr. ’51 |
| 2004 | M. Padgett Black Jr. ’71, M ’73 Albert N. Cameron Sr. ’41 Rebecca A. Epting ’62 James L. Sutherland ’67 Thomas P. Turner Jr. ’51 |
| 2005 | Alan Johnstone ‘32 Debbie DuBose ‘75 Earle Gaulden ‘51 Margaret Worsham ‘71 Mendal Bouknight ‘74 |
| 2006 | Robert Donald Fairey, ’75 Frank Kellers, III, ’57 H. Lloyd Lancaster, Jr., ’48 Dr. Thomas Charles Mann, ’51 Robert J. Rutland, ’64 |
| 2007 | Roger J. Troutman ’74 Fredrick W.Faircloth, III ’72 John H. Holcombe, Jr. ’58 M.Nick Lomax ’63 John W. Rheney, Jr. ’47 |
| 2008 | R. Glenn Hilliard ’65 Kathy H. Hunter ’80, ’83 Roy B. Jeffcoat ’55 Danny L. Rhodes ’68 Randy R. Smith ’66, HD ’97 |
| 2009 | Mr. Harry H. Frampton III ’67 Dr. Eddie M. Robinson ’75 Mr. Neil C. Robinson Jr. ’66 Mr. Kenneth L. Smith ’81 Mrs. Jane S. Sosebee ’78 |
| 2010 | Thomas F. Chapman ’65 Jerry D. Handegan ’65 Bartow S. “Bo” Shaw, Jr. ’63 T. Larry Sloan ’74 Joseph M. Todd ’79, M ’83 |
| 2011 | Chalmers R. “Hap” Carr ’60 Harold D. “Doug” Kingsmore ’55 Wilbur O. “Billy” Powers ’57 Charles K. Watt ’59 Kimberlee A. Wilkerson ’80 |
| 2012 | Gosnold G. “Goz” Segars, Jr. ’66 William Kelly Durham ’80 Palmer E. “Satch” Krantz ’72 E. Smyth McKissick III ’79 Charles L Sullivan, Jr. ’66 Dr. Theodore G. “Ted” Westmoreland ’56 |
| 2013 | William L. “Roy” Abercrombie, Jr. ’69 James Warren “Jimmy” Addison ’68 R ussell Carlton Ashmore, Jr. ’50, ’55 Edgar James “Ed” Duckworth ’61 Ernest Mitchell “Mitch” Norville ’80 |
| 2014 | Senator Thomas C. Alexander ’78 Charles E. Dalton ’64 Steve C. Griffith Jr. ’54 Daniel C. Stanzione Sr. ’67,’68,’72 |
| 2015 | Robert J. “Bobby” Conrad Jr. ’80 Gerald M. Glenn ’64 Charles C. Mickel ’79 Gregg F. Morton ’78 Norman F. Pulliam, Sr. ’64 |
| 2016 | Bryant Graves Barnes ’76 Janine Anthony Bowen ’89, M’91 E. Grantland Burns ’88 Leslie Dunlap Callison ’81 Douglas Duke Richardson ’64 |
| 2017 | Richard M. Davies ’86 John W. Kelly Jr ’77 Ronald D. Lee ’76 Perry Sprawls Jr ’56, M’61, PhD’68 James H. Stovall ’51 |
| 2018 | Neill Cameron Ann Hunter ’80, M’82 Tony Mathis ’86 Bill Smith Jr ’82 Mike Watt ’84 |
| 2019 | Lori Anne Carr ’90 M’92 Titus Duren ’71 James T. McCabe John N. McCarter Jr ’80 Gregory C. Smith ’84 |