This video honors WSU alumnus, donor, and volunteer, Scott Carson, for his exemplary, long-held commitment to excellence at Washington State University. This award is the highest honor bestowed by the WSU Foundation in recognition of sustained exemplary service and achievement on behalf of the University.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xa2fWxLk8k&t=470s

Ken and Sue Christianson are the 2012 recipients of the WSU Foundation’s highest volunteer honor, the Weldon B. Gibson Distinguished Volunteer Award.

"Ken and Sue are remarkably dedicated to advancing excellence at WSU,” says WSU President Elson S. Floyd. "Their enthusiasm shows in everything that they do—and more importantly, everything they encourage others to do—for this university. Their efforts have been transformational for programs across WSU—from scholarships and athletics to the Greek community and WSU’s research and extension center in Mount Vernon.”

The Christiansons, both WSU graduates, have been active volunteers and supporters of WSU for more than two decades. Ken served on the WSU Foundation Board of Trustees 1995-2001and the foundation’s President’s Associates Cabinet 1998-2004.

As chair of WSU’s Mount Vernon Revitalization Committee, Sue led a successful $1.5 million fundraising effort in 2005 to help ensure WSU’s Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center in Mount Vernon will continue to impact the region. She has served as a deputy with the WSU Alumni Association in the northwest region for the past 23 years.

Ken and Sue were 2005 recipients of the WSU Foundation’s Outstanding Service Award. They also serve on the College of Agricultural, Human & Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) and WSU Extension National Campaign Council to help guide the college’s $236.5 million goal during the university’s $1 billion Campaign for Washington State University: Because the World Needs Big Ideas.

Sue received the CAHNRS Women’s History Award in 2010 in recognition of her community leadership and public service.

The Christiansons proudly champion their Greek organizations at WSU as well. Sue’s sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta, has benefited from her involvement and advice over many years, and Ken has been an active, hands-on alumni leader of his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon.

"It feels good to do things for others. We could not have done all that we have for WSU without the support and love of our family,” Sue said while accepting the honor and surrounded by friends and family.

Ken earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy in 1974, and Sue earned a bachelor’s degree in food science and technology in 1976. The couple proudly sent their four children to WSU as well.

The Weldon B. Gibson Distinguished Volunteer Award, named for WSU Foundation founding Chairman Weldon B. "Hoot” Gibson, is the premier award granted by the WSU Foundation to recognize individuals whose service on behalf of the foundation can only be measured by the highest levels of achievement.

Larry Culver is the 2013 recipient of the WSU Foundation’s Weldon B. “Hoot” Gibson Distinguished Volunteer Award—the Foundation’s highest volunteer honor.

“Larry Culver embodies the can-do spirit unique to WSU alumni,” said WSU President Elson S. Floyd. “Whether it is hosting a gathering of alumni at his home or lending his time and energy to the many WSU volunteer roles he has taken on over the years, Larry is among the first to step up to lend his support, vision, and leadership to make Washington State University a more vibrant place for our students. I cannot think of a more fitting recipient for this esteemed honor.”

Larry has been an active volunteer and supporter of Washington State University and the WSU Foundation for more than 23 years.

At the WSU Foundation, Larry served as a member of the Board of Governors from 2006-2012, chairing the board from 2006-2008. He has served as a member of the WSU Foundation’s Board of Trustees since 1991, serving as chair from 2004-2006, and he is a member of the WSU Foundation’s National Campaign Cabinet. He has also volunteered on a number of Foundation committees, including Nominating, Finance, Recognition, Special Events, and President’s Associates committees.

Larry has served on WSU’s College of Business Campaign Committee, National Board of Advisors, and the Hospitality Business Management Advisory Board, as well as WSU’s Golf Course Committee. He also played an important role in connecting WSU to the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, which in turn provided a $1.5 million gift to renovate the teaching kitchen and dining room facilities in the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Hospitality Teaching Center in WSU’s College of Business.

Larry received the WSU Foundation’s Outstanding Volunteer Service Award in 1999, and the School for Hospitality and Business Management in WSU’s College of Business honored him as a 75th Anniversary Honoree in 2007 for his contribution to the hospitality industry throughout his career. He and his wife, Vickie, have also been honored as Laureates for their generous support of Washington State University.

Larry earned a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant administration from WSU’s School of Hospitality Business Management in 1964 before embarking on a successful career in the hospitality industry spanning more than 45 years. He managed several hotels and restaurants throughout the United States early in his career before helping to found Innco, Inc., a developer and manager of Hilton, Sheraton, and independent hotels in eight Midwestern states. Larry served nine years as President of Innco, Inc. By 1982, he founded InnVentures, Inc., a hotel property development and management company with Marriott and Hilton properties in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California, becoming Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1987 until his retirement in 2011.

Four of Larry’s Residence Inn properties received Marriott's "Hotel of the Year" award, recognizing the best Residence Inn properties nationwide. He has also earned the "Hotel of the Year" award with his Courtyard by Marriott and TownePlace Suites by Marriott properties. He was a finalist for "Entrepreneur of the Year" in 1991, has been named "Hotelier of the Year," and has earned Marriott International's highest honor, the "Partnership Circle" award, three times.

Jacquelyne (Jacque) Doane received the Weldon B. Gibson Distinguished Volunteer Award in 2006.

Jacque was a member of Pi Beta Phi and a cheerleader at Washington State University. She earned a degree in Home Economics from WSU in 1972. After earning a Masters in Special Education from the University of Washington in 1973, she taught Special Education in Lake Washington School District until 1979. From 1979 to 1985, she served as Master Teacher and Placement Specialist for the district’s Special Education Management Team.

A long time supporter of Washington State University, Jacque has served on various committees for the WSU Foundation and WSU. Her major volunteer contributions include service to the WSU Foundation Board of Trustees since 1991; member of the Trustee Campaign Steering Committee during the WSU Foundation’s first capital campaign from 1991 to 1998; co-chair of the College of Pharmacy Campaign Committee, from 1993 to 1997; member of the WSU Foundation Executive Committee, from 1996 to 2004; and member of WSU Foundation Board of Governors, from 2004 to 2005.

Jacque led the Washington State University Foundation Board of Trustees as Chairman from 2000 to 2002 and was a catalyst in helping WSU become a “World Class. Face to Face.” institution.

Jacque received the Dorothy and Duff Kennedy Making A Difference Award from the College of Pharmacy in 2001, and the WSU Foundation Outstanding Volunteer Service Award in 2005.

Jacque and her husband Rick are Silver Laureates of WSU.

Barry received a degree in Business Administration in 1955 from Washington State College where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and very active in student government. He joined the family business, Central Business Property Co., in 1958 as vice president and insurance broker. In 1968, the business was merged with Fidelity Associates Insurance and Financial Services with Barry as President. Over the next 40 years, he developed the business into one of the top 5% of the insurance brokerage firms in the United States. In 2006, the firm celebrated its 100th Anniversary with management by four generations of the Jones Family. Barry retired as Chairman Emeritus in 2008.

Barry Jones is the consummate Cougar. Barry was elected President of the Alumni Association in 1969. He was a member of the Visiting Committee which had a role in the formation of the WSU Foundation in 1979. He served on the Trustee Campaign Committee, from 1993 to 1996; Spokane Presidents Associates Council, 1997; College of Business Advisory Committee, from 1979 to 1998; WSU Foundation Board of Trustees, from 1978 to 1984; and various other committees.

Barry received the Alumni Achievement Award in 1974, and was named WSU Co-Dad of the Year in 1978. His wife, Carole, received the WSU Alumni Achievement Award in 1981 and was WSU Mom of the Year in 1979. Barry and his wife, Carole, received the WSU Foundation Outstanding Service Award in 1991. Barry's parents, brother and sister, all three children plus three grandsons have attended WSU. WSU's Grimes Way is named after his grandfather George C. Grimes.

Barry and Carole are Benefactors of WSU.

This video honors WSU alumnus and volunteer Lloyd Osborn for his exemplary, long-held commitment to excellence at Washington State University. This award is the highest honor bestowed by the WSU Foundation in recognition of sustained exemplary service and achievement on behalf of the university.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54isLmXmnTs&feature=youtu.be&list=PL3C546C3F5EA562E3

Lee Sahlin received a bachelors degree in Economics in 1947, and Education in 1948 from Washington State College. Lee taught high school in Rosalia, Washington and was the Executive Director of the Junior Achievement program in Spokane prior to joining Murphey Favre in 1955. In 1960, he became a Vice President and an owner of the company. He was elected President and CEO of Murphey Favre, Composite Research and Management, and its affiliated group of mutual funds in 1972, and in 1982, he was elected as Chairman of Murphey Favre, retiring in 1997.

Lee's volunteer commitment to Washington State University pre-dates the formation of the WSU Foundation, beginning in 1971 with a long stint on the Martin Stadium Builders Executive Board. Lee was one of the founders of the WSU Foundation as a member of the Visiting Committee, and one of the first class of elected Trustees in 1979. Lee served on the Foundation Gift Acceptance Committee from 1993 to 2002; the College of Businessand Economics Advisory Board from 1977 to 1987; and the Spokane Planned Giving Advisory Board since 1994. He also chaired the Golden Grad Class Gift Project which, along with the Class of 1997, built the Memorial Arch on Pullman Campus.

Lee and his wife, Jody, endowed the Sahlin Faculty Excellence Awards in 1994 which honor outstanding faculty for research and creative activity, instruction, outreach and engagement, and leadership. The awards are making a lasting impact for WSU and will remain meaningful into perpetuity.

Lee received the WSU Foundation Outstanding Volunteer Service Award in 1987.

Lee and Jody are Benefactors of the WSU Foundation.

This video honors Virginia Schafer, the 2014 recipient of the WSU Foundation's Weldon B. "Hoot" Gibson Distinguished Volunteer Award. This is the premier award granted by the WSU Foundation and recognizes superior service on behalf of the University and the Foundation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCtXQtbuc94&list=PL3C546C3F5EA562E3&index=2

In a pleasantly ironic twist, an originator of the Weldon B. “Hoot” Gibson Distinguished Volunteer Service Award was himself recognized with the honor at the WSU Foundation’s thirty-second annual Recognition Gala in Seattle on October 21. Bob Smawley, often popularly known as “Mr. WSU,” joined the ranks of well-known award recipients such as Glenn Terrell, Philip Lighty, and “Hoot” Gibson himself.

Born and raised in the Palouse, Bob (‘52 Lib. Arts) began his lifelong career at WSU in the early 1950s, starting as ticket manager for intercollegiate athletics. He had met his wife, Carol (’52 Ed.), while they were students in Pullman. Over the next several decades he coordinated the Cougar Club, and worked at Business Affairs, General Services, the performing arts coliseum, alumni relations, and university relations. For a time he was superintendent of university police. He served under five presidents.

“He did just about anything that had to do with Washington State University,” says Glenn Terrell, WSU president from 1967 to 1985.

Bob has also served as WSU’s resident historian, bringing the University’s history to life. Before the age of PowerPoint or Facebook, he would show hundreds of slide shows to acquaint supporters and new employees with the WSU story.

An early proponent for building the current alumni center out of a large cattle barn, he still visits the Lewis Alumni Centre to this day, caring for landscaping and doing what he can to help keep it a beautiful part of the campus.

On and off campus, Bob is noted for his courtesy, dedication, and devotion as a family man. He and Carol have three daughters (all loyal Cougs), ten grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren.

“Bob’s tenure has to be over sixty years,” says Chris Marker (’64 Hotel & Rest. Mgmt., ’66 MBA), former chair of the WSU Foundation. “If you take the number of days of his career, that might be twenty, twenty-two, twenty-three thousand days. And I’ll bet not a single day went by that he didn’t raise a friend for the University or the Foundation.”

https://www.youtube.com/embed/mz7GE81j7Ns

This video honors WSU President Emeritus and volunteer, Dr. Sam Smith, for his exemplary, long-held commitment to excellence at Washington State University. This award is the highest honor bestowed by the WSU Foundation in recognition of sustained exemplary service and achievement on behalf of the University.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft6eFafIVmM&feature=youtu.be&list=PLecpSK9Vky3Yf5luhfbal2mc7b5-dcBzb

Ron and Heidi Stanley received the Weldon B. Gibson Distinguished Volunteer Award in 2010.

Ron is a 1978 graduate in Mechanical Engineering at WSU, where he was also a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and the Honors College. Upon graduating from WSU, Ron joined the General Products Division of IBM in San Jose, CA and Tucson, AZ. In 1985, he returned to Spokane to succeed his father in the family business, Empire Bolt & Screw, an international distributor of standard and special, made-to-print parts for original equipment manufacturers (OEM's). He is President & CEO.

Heidi received a degree in Business Administration in 1979 at WSU, where she was also a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. In 1980, she joined IBM in Tucson, AZ where she worked in the Accounting Dept. and Human Resource Dept. as a college recruiter. She had a lengthy career in banking starting in 1985, culminating in the position of CEO & Chairman of Sterling Savings Bank. Heidi was named one of the "25 Most Powerful Women in Banking" by U.S. Banker Magazine in 2006 and 2007. She is co-owner of Empire Bolt & Screw, where she currently serves as Chairman.

Ron and Heidi's generous support for, and service to, WSU has been transformational over the past 28 years. They were honored as recipients of the WSU Foundation Outstanding Service Award in 2002. They served on the WSU Foundation Board of Governors from 2004-2008, and have actively served as members of advisory boards for WSU Spokane, WSU College of Business, and Cougar Athletics.

Ron's major WSU volunteer contributions include service to the WSU Foundation Board of Trustees from 1994-2004; member of the President's Associates Cabinet from 2004-2006 and Spokane's President's Associates Council from 1997-2006; member of the WSU Foundation Finance Committee from 1997-2004; member of the WSU Foundation Audit Committee from 1998-2010, chairing the Audit Committee from 2004-2008. Ron is also a member of the Spokane Campaign Committee since 2009, and the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene leadership council since 2004.

Heidi's major WSU volunteer contributions include service to the WSU Foundation Board of Trustees since 1996; member of the Business Advisory Committee from 1988-2002 and Business Development Committee from 1990-1991; member of the Athletics Campaign Committee, from 1993-1996 and Athletic Fund Advisory Council from 2000-2003; member of the WSU Foundation Executive Committee from 2002-2004; and member of the Applied Science Lab Endowment Committee since 2005. Beginning in 2002, Heidi chaired the WSU Foundation Strategic Planning Committee, leading a reorganization of the WSU Foundation into its current structure.

Ron and Heidi are benefactors of Washington State University.

This video honors WSU alumnus, Mikal Thomsen, with the Weldon B. "Hoot" Gibson Distinguished Volunteer Award. This award is the highest honor bestowed by the WSU Foundation in recognition of sustained exemplary service and achievement on behalf of the University.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ5wfwS4jDY