2023 Distinguished Alumni Honorees
2023 Distinguished Alumni Honorees, Charles “Bo” Outlaw, John Stoll and Heath Wright.
The 2023 Honorees were recommended by the Distinguished Alumni Recommendation Committee and selected by SPC President Dr. Robin Satterwhite.
Charles “Bo” Outlaw attended SPC from 1989 to 1991 where he was a standout player for the Texan Basketball team. He would transfer to the University of Houston to continue playing basketball. Outlaw was drafted in 1993 to the Los Angeles Clippers and traded to the Orlando Magic in 1997. Outlaw would go on to play in the NBA for 15 years. Currently, Outlaw serves as a Community Ambassador for the Orlando Magic.
John Stoll graduated from SPC in 1997 with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Sound Technology. He began his career as a DARS technician for Lockheed Martin five months before joining the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as an audio engineer. Currently, Stoll works as a Broadcast and Multimedia supervisor for NASA, and he has received numerous honors such as the NASA Exceptional Public Achievement Medal and NASA’s Silver Snoopy Award.
Heath Wright attended SPC from 1992 to 1993 and graduated with an Associate of Arts degree. After graduation, Wright headed to Nashville, TX where he played with the band Lariat before starting what would become his longstanding band, Ricochet. Ricochet hit its stride during the 1990s when they earned the New Vocal Group of the Year award from the Academy of Country Music (ACM) as well as several other ACM and CMA nominations. Currently, Wright still plays and tours with Ricochet.
The Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award has been established at South Plains College to recognize and honor the noteworthy achievements of its former students. Recipients of this prestigious award are selected from a pool of nominations submitted to the Distinguished Alumni Awards Committee by the faculty and friends of South Plains College. Nominees for the award must be former students in which the College was a legitimate part of their educational career. They must have worked at least 10 years in their chosen profession or have made significant contributions in their career if less than 10 years. Additionally, they must be recognized for outstanding contributions and achievements by colleagues or employers. All nominations are screened by the Awards Committee which submits its award recommendations to the President of the College. The recommendations are affirmed by the South Plains College Board of Regents through an official resolution bestowing the award.
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Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor
2023 Honorees
- Charles "Bo" Outlaw, (1989-1991, A.S.), retired NBA power forward/center; Community Ambassador, Orlando Magic; Orlando, FL
- John Stoll, (1995-1997. A.S.), Broadcast and Multimedia Supervisor, NASA; Houston, TX
- Heath Wright, (1992-1993, A.A.) Country Music Recording Artist; Vain, OK
2022 Honorees
- Kevin Dane, (1989-1991, A.S.), Vice President of Infrastructure Product Quality at Dell Technologies; Cedar Park, TX
- Stephanie Lynn Smith, (2009-2011, A.S.), SPC Alumni Coordinator; Levelland, TX
2021 Honorees
- Sgt. Joshua Bartlett, (2010-2012, A.A.S.), Sergeant and Assistant SWAT Commander, Lubbock’s Sheriff’s Office; Shallowater, TX
- John Duff, (2007-2009, A.S.), Executive Vice President, National Sorghum Producers, and United Sorghum Checkoff Program; Lubbock, TX
- Derrell Edwards, (2010-2012, A.A.), NASCAR Professional – Jackman, Joe Gibbs Racing; Denver, NC
2020 Honorees
- Terry Hill, (1978-1980, A.A.S.), CEO, Maroon Group; Founder, Apex Distribution Consulting; Redmond, WA
- Dereesa Reid, (1979-1981, A.S.) Administrator, Shriners Hospital for Children; Vancouver, WA
2019 Honorees
- Kathy Hutchinson, (1977-1979, A.A.S.) Director of Special Education, South Plains Educational Coop; Levelland, TX
- Brett Taylor, (1978-1980, A.S.) Owner and Founder of Taylor Companies; Dallas, TX
2018 Honoree
- Rear Admiral Ronny L. Jackson, M.D., (1986-1988, A.S.) Physician to the President of the United States; Silver Spring, Maryland
2017 Honorees
- Kenneth Alan Foster, (1986-1988, A.S.) Technical Assurance Program Manager, Global Projects, LyondellBasell Chemical Corporation; Brenham, Texas
- Jennifer Galey, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, (2004, Vocational Nursing Certificate) Family Nurse Practitioner, Lamb Healthcare Family Medicine; Lubbock, TX
2016 Honorees
- Deborah A. Alsup, (1983-1985, A.A.S.) Senior Director of Sales, Team Leader, Paris Presents, Inc.; Bentonville, Arkansas
- Elijah D. Williams, (1996-1999, A.S.) North America Sales Manager, Tweel Technologies; Simpsonville, South Carolina
2013 Honorees
- Brian Butcher,(2003-2004), Spacecraft Software Engineer, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
- Robin Satterwhite, MBA, ED.D., FACHE, (1988-1990, A.S.), Dean and Professor, Texas Tech University Health
Sciencess Center, Lubbock, Texas
- Jamie K. Roney,BSN, BSHCM, RN, CCRN, (1990-1991; 1992-1994, Certificate of Proficiency, Vocational Nursing; A.S.), Nurse Specialist, Sepsis Coordinator, Covenant Health System, Lubbock, Texas
- Dennis Patton, (1960-1962 A.S.), Posthumous Award, SPC Professor, Co-owner of Chem Tech Services, served on the SPC Board of Regents, Levelland, Texas
2008 Honorees
- Ronald K. Baccus, (1988-1990, A.S.), Structures Subsystems Manager, Orion Crew Module Project, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
- Leann Kuenstler Ellis, Ed.D., (1977-1979, A.A.), Vice President for Academic Affairs, Butler Community College, El Dorado, Kansas
- Dan M. Harris, Jr. (1987-1989, A.A.), Assistant Chief Patrol Agent, United States Border Patrol, Marfa (Texas) Section, Marfa, Texas
- Steven M. Presley, Ph.D. (1978-1980, A.S.), Associate Professor and Research Coordinator, Institute for Environmental and Human Health, Adm. E.R. Zumwalt, Jr. National Program for Countermeasures to Biological and Chemical Threats, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
- The Honorable David A. Swinford, (1959-1961, A.S.), Member, Texas House of Representatives, District 87, and principal owner of Ag-Plus Consulting, Dumas, Texas
1998 Honorees
- C. Donald Combs, Ph.D., (1970-71, A.A.), Vice President for Planning and Program Development, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Va.
- H. David Cook, M.D., (1967-69, A.A.), partner and physician in the Dallas Obstetrical Gynecological Association, Dallas, Texas
- Gary W. Owen (1974-76), A.S., Vice President of Engineering Services, Cliffs Drilling Company, Houston, Texas
- Robby Timberlake, R.Ph. (1966-68, A.A.), registered pharmacist and partner in Baggett Pharmacy, Levelland, Texas.
1995 Honorees
- Bill M. Balch, M.D., (1973-75, A.S.), Doctor of Internal Medicine, private practice, Levelland, Texas.
- *Ruanna Myers Gossett, D.V.M. (1976-78, A.S.), Postdoctoral Research Associate, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, Texas
- S. Kent Harrison, Ph.D., (1975-77, A.S.) Associate Professor of Agronomy, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
- Sally Rowell Snow, B.S.N., R.N., (1969-71, A.S.), Trauma Services Coordinator, Cook-Fort Worth Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas
- Thomas R. Watkins, D.D.S., (1972-73, A.S.), Clinical Associate Professor, University of Texas Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry, San Antonio, Texas.
1990 Honorees
- Michael Balch, M.D. (1968-70), Doctor of Internal Medicine, private practice, Levelland, Texas.
- *Don Boedeker, (1969-71, A.S.), Quality Assurance Engineer, U.S. Navy Weapons Base, Ridgecrest, Calif.
- *Larry McVay, (1958-67, A.S.), Vice President and General Manager of Amoco Pipeline Co., Chicago, Ill.
- David R. Stanley, (1958-60, A.A., deceased), former Professor of Government, South Plains College, Levelland, Texas.
- *Royce W. Waltrip II, Ph.D., (1972-74, A.S.), Research Psychiatrist, University of Maryland School of Medicine.
- *William R. Wheeler, (1965-67, A.S.), Engineering Consultant and Partner, Analysis and Design Applications, Co., Ltd., Bayshore, N.Y.
1987 Honorees
- *Dennis Deel, (1965-67, A.A., deceased), Manager, Analytical Mechanics Division, Martin-Marietta Corp., New Orleans
- *Leslie Lawrence, (1959-61), Professor of Art, Grossmont College, El Cajon, Calif., noted ceramic artist
- Thomas Spencer, Jr., Ph.D., (1958-59), President of Garland County Community College, Hot Springs, Ark.
- Terry Tubb, M.D., (1960-62, A.A.), Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Midland, Texas
- Kenneth Turner, Ph.D., (1965-67,A.A., deceased), Curator of No Man's Land Museum, Goodwell, Okla., noted forensic anthropologist.
*Position or occupation listed here is as of time of award.
