Distinguished Alumni Recognized posted 10/10/07

ADRIAN, Mich. -Adrian College gave alumni awards to some of its finest graduates at this year's homecoming weekend, Oct.5-7. The recipients and their awards are listed below.

HONORARY ALUMNI AWARD
Donald A. Kleinsmith

Donald A. Kleinsmith has been a beloved member of the Adrian College community since 1970. He began as Dean of Men, served as the advisor to the College World, taught journalism, and since 1980, has taught in the English and Business departments. For nearly 20 years, he advised the Theta Chi fraternity and this fall is in his 12th year as the announcer of Bulldog football.

Don received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Eastern Michigan University. He taught at Western High School in Anaheim, California, and at Eastern Michigan University before coming to Adrian. Don's loyalty has never wavered; he wears the black and gold with pride. Blessed with good health and a passion for Adrian College, Don has missed just one day of work due to illness in his entire 37-year career at Adrian.

Students have demonstrated their love and respect for Don by selecting him as the Baccalaureate or Cane Ceremony speaker 12 times in the past 21 years. He has been named Professor of the Year, Outstanding Faculty Member, and Advisor of the Year. The Theta Chi fraternity has honored Don and his wife Louise, who also taught at Adrian College for many years, by creating a scholarship in their name. Alumni and students continue to receive news clippings from him as well as dinner invitations to the Kleinsmith home.

Don and Louise live in Adrian. They take great joy in their son Brian, daughter-in-law Kitty, and granddaughter Sabrina; and in their daughter Heidi, son-in-law John, and grandchildren Haley and Jacob.

The Honorary Alumni Award honors individuals who have shown extraordinary loyalty and affection for the College over time.

ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD
George R. McGinnis '56

George Russell McGinnis is one of the most loyal members of the Class of 1956, even though he only attended from 1952-54. He left to serve in the U.S. Army, and later earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Western Michigan University. He shared fondly his memories of Adrian College, stating, "Without a doubt...my Adrian experience has allowed me to successfully navigate the roads and highways of life."

George's career included teaching, coaching, and serving as a vice principal and principal in southwest Michigan high schools. From there he went on to become a professor and coach for Ferris State University. Now retired, George remains active in Phi Delta Kappa, the NAACP, the PGA Tour Partners Club, and the U.S. Golf Association.

He is a member of the Adrian College Athletic Hall of Fame, was listed in the ninth edition of Community Leaders and Noteworthy Americans, was named the NAIA District XXIII Track Coach of the Year, and earned All American honors for Masters Track and Field.

George has continued a close relationship with Adrian College. He has been involved in every major fund-raising campaign since the early 1970s, supports a contributed scholarship, served as an alumni representative to the Athletic Board of Control, on the Alumni Board and the Board of Trustees. In a recent gesture, George created the endowed McGinnis-Burris Renaissance Travel Award in honor of his mother and father. The award will assist current students who travel or study abroad.

George and his wife Janice make their home in Thousand Oaks, California.
They have three sons.

The Alumni Service Award honors alumni volunteers who have dedicated much
of their time, talent and service to Adrian College for a project or in various ways over a prolonged period of time.

ALUMNI HUMANITARIAN AWARD
William H. Hewes '37

William H. Hewes was born in Adrian and attended the local schools before he enrolled at Adrian College. A classmate and friend of former AC President John Dawson, Bill played football, sang in the choir, and was a member of the ATO fraternity. After graduating in 1937, he attended New York Medical College until 1941, and also completed a pediatrics internship before serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War II.

Dr. Hewes continued his work in pediatrics and also completed a degree in psychiatry, maintaining a private practice in Adrian from 1946-70. From 1980 to 1987, he was the Medical Director of the Division of Community Services at the Ypsilanti Regional Psychiatric Hospital, and from 1989 to 1997, he served as Psychiatric Consultant to the Greenbrook Alcohol-Drug Recovery Center in Saline.

Throughout his life, Dr. Hewes has been a devoted humanitarian. As a doctor, he has helped both children and patients struggling to regain health and mental wellness. As a citizen, he has unselfishly given his time to serve on the advisory committee of the United Cerebral Palsy Association, the Board of Directors of the National Association for Mental Health, and the Executive Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association of Michigan. As an Adrian College alumnus and booster, Dr. Hewes served on the Board of Trustees, and continues to recruit students. Parents of one such student describe him as "one of the most uplifting
people you could ever wish to meet."

Dr. Hewes is the father of two daughters, Jean Huyser and Jacquelyn Ann Keelean, also an Adrian College graduate. He lives in Quincy, Michigan.

The Alumni Humanitarian Award honors alumni who have demonstrated an altruistic lifestyle that reflects Adrian's founding spirit of service to others.

YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Douglas M. Hudgins '86

Douglas M. Hudgins was born in Wyandotte, Michigan, in 1963. In 1981, he enrolled at Adrian College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and physics in 1986. While at Adrian, he was a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. He went on to earn his M.S. and Ph.D. in physical chemistry with a minor in astronomy from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Doug pursued a career in astrophysics, first as a postdoctoral associate, and later as a visiting research scientist at the NASA Ames Research Center in San Jose, California. In 1994, he returned to Adrian College as an assistant professor of chemistry, a post held until 1997. In that year, he returned to NASA to assume the position of Space Scientist at the Ames Research Center. Doug was promoted, becoming first the Deputy Chief, and
later Chief of the Astrophysics Branch. Beginning in 2005, he became part of the NASA Leadership Development Program Detail at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., working as an Astrophysics Program Scientist. In addition, he is working on an MBA in Technology Management.

While Doug has always considered himself first and foremost a chemist, he has "long been fascinated by the exotic and complex chemistry found in space." In particular, he has spent several decades as an infrared spectroscopist, specializing in the young field of astrochemistry. He studies the end-days of stars, and has provided important experimental
evidence about stellar life-cycles. His work has been featured in publications such as New Scientist, Science News, and the Adrian College Contact. He writes, "As a scientist, I believe one of my highest callings is to share my passion and enthusiasm for science with others."

Doug enjoys spending time with his wife, Michele McConnell Hudgins, also a 1986 AC graduate, and their four children: Brittany, Ian, Nathan, and Ellie. They reside in Dunfries, Virginia.

The Young Alumni Achievement Award was first presented by the Alumni Board in 1986. It honors alumni who have graduated within the last 10 to 25 years and who have demonstrated significant professional and personal achievement that reflects credit and honor upon Adrian College, the faculty and fellow alumni.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
Ronald L. Batory '71

Ronald L. Batory is the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Consolidated Rail Corporation. He graduated from Adrian College in 1971 with a B.A. in Business Administration. He also earned a master's degree in Industrial Management from Eastern Michigan University.

In 1971, Ron began his railroad career with the former Toledo & Ironton Railroad Company, a company that was later acquired by the Grand Trunk Western Railroad Company. He rose through the ranks, ultimately achieving the position of District Manager of Operations and Director of Transportation Planning Systems. He left Grand Trunk Western in 1987, and subsequently worked for the Chicago, Missouri & Western Railroad, the Southern Pacific Transportation Company, and the Belt Railway Company of Chicago. In 1998, Ron joined Consolidated Rail Corporation, serving as both the Vice President for Operations and the Senior Vice President for the Shared Assets Areas. His success in these roles led to his appointment as President and Chief Operating Officer in 2004.

Over the years, Ron has been honored for his achievements, including a listing in Who's Who in America 1990-91. He was named the St. Louis Gateway Railroad Man of the Year in 1997, and was awarded the Benjamin J. Friedland Award in 2006 for meritorious service to the Short Line Railroad Industry. His company chose him to receive on their behalf, a remarkable 10 E.H. Harriman Awards for outstanding safety performance in the rail
industry.

Ron has enjoyed returning to his alma mater to participate in Career Teaching Days in the Business Department. He also provides service and support to the Salvation Army and other organizations that help poverty-stricken children.

Ron and his wife Barbara live in Moorestown, New Jersey. The couple has one daughter Erin Faye.

The Distinguished Alumni Award honors alumni who have graduated at least 25 years previously and who have earned regional and international recognition in their respective careers, are recognized for involvement in their communities, and who have demonstrated continued support to Adrian College.