Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

Every year, WMU honors and celebrates the alumni who bring distinction to their alma mater through professional achievements. Established in 1963, the Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes WMU graduates who have achieved a high level of success in their chosen fields. No more than three recipients are honored each year.

Do you know an alum who should be considered for the Distinguished Alumni Award?

Nominate today

The Haworth College of Business is proud of the following Business Broncos and friends of the college who have received the WMU Distinguished Alumni Award:

  • Brian Barents, B.B.A.’66, 1999 Honoree
  • Willard A. Brown Jr., B.S.’53, 1983 Honoree
  • Jeanne Carlson, B.B.A.’68, 2017 Honoree
  • Richard G. Carlson, B.B.A.’71, 1993 Honoree
  • Wendell L. Christoff, B.S.’68, 2014 Honoree
  • Alessandro P. DiNello, B.B.A.’75, 2019 Honoree
  • David Dombrowski, B.B.A.’79, 1998 Honoree
  • John W. Dwyer, MBA’66, 1982 Honoree †
  • James M. Field,II, B.B.A.’85, 2016 Honoree
  • James W. Goss, B.B.A.’66, 1995 Honoree †
  • Gerald Hale, B.S.’52, 1979 Honoree †
  • Richard G. Haworth, B.B.A.’64, 2004 Honoree
  • Carrie Jones-Barber, B.B.A.’82, 2018 Honoree
  • Robert S. Kaiser, B.B.A.'78, 2020 Honoree
  • Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, B.S.’72, 2004 Honoree
  • Birgit Klohs, B.B.A.’83, 2017 Honoree
  • James J. Leisenring, MBA’64, 2002 Honoree
  • John S. Lore, B.S.’65, 1990 Honoree
  • Charles H. Ludlow, B.S.’50, 1984 Honoree †
  • Thomas J. Mallot, MBA’69, 1985 Honoree
  • Dalton E. McFarland, B.S.’43, 1978 Honoree †
  • Jim McKinley, B.S.’66, 2007 Honoree †
  • Kenneth V. Miller, B.B.A.’69, MBA’70, 2009 Honoree
  • Dennis Nally, B.B.A.’74, 2007 Honoree
  • Roy S. Roberts, B.B.A.’70, 1995 Honoree
  • Peter A. Schweitzer, MBA’67, 1997 Honoree
  • Kay Roper Shortway, Certificate of Business Retailing, ’61, 1982 Honoree
  • Daniel R. Smith, B.B.A.’55, 1989 Honoree
  • David C. Smith, B.B.A.’64, 1992 Honoree
  • Janet M. Thompson, B.B.A.’72, 1994 Honoree
  • Charles L. Valluzzo, B.B.A.’62, 2008 Honoree
  • Philip N. Watterson, B.S.’32, 1977 Honoree †
  • Virgil W. Westdale, B.A.’49, B.S.’62, 1986 Honoree

Friends of the Haworth College of Business  Distinguished Alumni Award Winners

  • Robert J. Bobb, B.S.’69, 2006 Honoree
  • William J. Bolton, B.S.’68, 1995 Honoree
  • Leslie Wilk Braksick, M.A.’87, Ph.D.’90, 2010 Honoree
  • Richard F. Chormann, B.S.’59, 1994 Honoree
  • James H. Duncan Sr., ’46, 1983 Honoree
  • Gerrard W. Haworth, B.A.’37, 1986 Honoree †
  • William D. Johnston, B.S.’70, MA ’74, 2010 Honoree

†= Deceased Recipients