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The Humboldt State University Alumni Association has been recognizing the achievements of alumni since 1960 when it launched its annual Who’s Who Award. Distinguished alumni are individuals recognized as leaders in their fields, and/or outstanding contributors to their community, nation, or Humboldt State University.  Click here to view a list of past recipients.

 

2008 Distinguished Alumni Awards

This year we are proud to honor Richard Cuneo, Terry Grosz, Lyle Laverty, and Robert Thomas. Recipients will be honored at a banquet in the Kate Buchanan Room on Friday, April 18, 2008.

To reserve your seat, please print an RSVP card and return it with payment. For more information, please contact Alumni Relations at alumni@humboldt.edu or 707/826-3132.

Richard Cuneo ('62)

Giving a century-old company a facelift was more than just a risky move, it was a brilliant one by Richard Cuneo. A man widely recognized for his career in the wine industry, Cuneo is currently Chairman of the Board of Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery, and credited with helping rebuild the Sebastiani image. In 2001, with Cuneo’s diligent hard work and planning behind them, the Sebastiani company sold off its lower-priced, good value brands to focus solely on its premium wines. The upscale move gave Sebastiani just the desired boost in the market, thus establishing the name Sebastiani to be synonymous with Sonoma’s finest wines.

While he may be most known for a successful and vibrant career in the wine industry, Cuneo is also strongly committed to community. Cuneo has served on the Board of Directors for several organizations including the Sonoma School Board, Hanna Boys Center, the Sonoma County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Board and the Governing Board of the California State Fair, for which he received the lifetime achievement award. Also a member of the Ducks Unlimited California Legislative Committee, Cuneo was appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to serve as a member of the U.S. Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee in Washington, D.C., representing the wine industry.

With such a large impact locally, statewide and nationally, Cuneo has also made many positive contributions to Italian culture. In honor of these accomplishments, he has been recognized by the Italian Government as a Cavaliere (Knight) Officiale, The Sovereign Order of the Knights of Malta recognized him with, among other awards, the Croce di Grand ‘Ufficiale Dell’ Ordine (Cross of the Grand Official) one of the Order’s highest honors, and in 2002, Prince Emmanuel of Savoy recognized Cuneo for his many contributions to Italy’s history and culture.

Terry Grosz ('64 & '66)

Whether as a professional in the field of wildlife law enforcement or as a prolific writer, Terry Grosz has distinguished himself with a kind of passion, dedication, integrity and professionalism that often exemplify Humboldt State alumni. The beginning of his 32-year career in wildlife law enforcement came in 1966 with the California Department of Fish and Game in Eureka. After several years and a transfer to Colusa, he was hired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), moving into increasing responsibility for conservation and wildlife law enforcement in successively larger geographic regions, from jurisdiction over the central half of Northern California to finally Assistant Regional Director for Law Enforcement where he supervised FWS’s wildlife law programs covering 750,000 square miles.

When Grosz became the FWS Senior Special Agent, he wrote regulations, policy and procedures, responded to congressional inquiries, provided advice, guidance and expertise. But it wasn’t just a desk job. He also traveled throughout Asia assisting foreign governments in curtailing the smuggling of wildlife and establishing cooperative international law enforcements programs. In all the various positions held by Terry, he supervised agents who protected wildlife from being smuggled or imported illegally into the US, protected eagles from being poisoned or trapped, and more.

In 1998, Grosz retired from the FWS and began a second career as a prolific writer, and has since authored and published seven books, with several more on the way. Clearly, he’s got a lot of material to work with. Many of his stories have hilarious moments and hair-raising adventures, some others are sad and tragic, they are all about the men and women who work as wildlife conservation officers trying to preserve our natural heritage for future generations.

Lyle Laverty ('65)

Lyle Laverty is more than just an outdoorsman and registered professional forester; he is a man of professionalism, public service and leadership. Upon graduation from Humboldt State, Laverty began his 30-year career with the US Forest Service. During this time, Lyle served at the local, regional, national and even international levels, culminating in 2001 when he became the Associate Deputy Chief of the Forest Service at the USDA headquarters. While at the USFS, Laverty was involved in creating management plans to improve habitat and protect species listed under the Endangered Species Act.

From California he moved to the Rocky State to become the Director of Colorado State Parks. Under his leadership, two new state parks were created, and two more are now in the planning stage. Attendance increased substantially at the Colorado State Parks when under Laverty’s guidance, including expanded opportunities for economically disadvantaged youths from urban settings to experience the great outdoors. Laverty also travelled to Lebanon several times on USAID missions at the request of the USFS and the Ambassador to Lebanon to provide technical assistance to the Lebanese on natural resource issues.

As a seasoned high performing public servant, in October 2007, Laverty was confirmed by the US Senate as the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, a position giving him the responsibility for overseeing policy for the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service.

Robert Thomas ('85)

A man known for studying the history of rocks is also making a history of his own as man with a passion for change, public outreach, and of course, geology. Rob Thomas’ childhood summer trips to National Parks first ignited his interest in geology, something that still burns strongly today. As a professor at University of Montana Western, his professional passions are still field geology and geological education. During his tenure at Montana Western, he helped the campus evolve from a traditional state ‘normal school’ into an experiential learning university, that uses an immersion scheduling system where students take one course at a time. Thomas teaches most of his courses where the class’ lab is the natural lab of southwestern Montana.

With another strong passion for public outreach, Thomas has helped run 10 “Geo Venture” field trips for the Geological Society of America, for which he was awarded the Society’s Distinguished Service Award. The Geo Venture trips provide both scientists and the average person with enriching learning experiences of each unique destination, such as the Canadian Rockies and the Yellowstone, Teton and Glacier National Parks. In addition, he has also co-authored 25 geological road signs that have been placed along the Lewis and Clark trail in Montana, and is co-writing a layperson book entitled “Geology Underfoot in Montana.” He has also organized numerous symposia and authored and co-authored numerous publications. With such a long and extensive resume of accomplishments, Thomas still thinks his most important contributions are his two daughters, Abbey and Haley, and his nearly 20-year marriage to Anneliese Ripley.

 

2007 Distinguished Alumni Awards

The Humboldt State University Alumni Association recognized three exceptional alumni during its 2006-2007 Distinguished Alumni Awards banquet dinner, April 19, on the Humboldt State campus.

Some 138 guests were in attendance to celebrate honorees Ken Fisher, Wesley Chesbro, and Michelle Kelly, who have each exemplified great leadership and contribution within their respective professions, as well as the community and environment that has long been part of the Humboldt Spirit.

Kenneth L. Fisher earned an Economics degree at Humboldt State in 1972, and is now one of the world’s leading financial advisors. Fisher Investments, his global money management firm, manages more than $35 billion for Fortune 500 companies, prominent institutions and affluent individuals. He has also written four finance books, including the New York Times Business Bestseller, “The Only Three Questions That Count (Investing By Knowing What Others Don’t)," released in December 2006.

In the company of his son, friends, and past professors, Fisher reflected on his experiences as a shy, though forthright, young student who lived in a tree house, sighting one of the greatest things about Humboldt State to be the opportunity to really know and work with the professors – something he would not have traded to attend a much larger, and perhaps more prestigious, economics school. He said it was those professors’ challenging of conventional wisdom and focus on thinking outside the box – “It’s weird. And that’s cool.” – that he credits, in part, to his success. Read an expanded bio on Ken.

Wesley Chesbro attended HSU from 1969 to 1973 and majored in Natural Resources. It was here that he began his political career – starting with Associated Students, which his son Alan is involved with currently – and eventually led to an eight-year term as a state senator. Chesbro also chaired the Senate Budget Committee, where he was a champion for environmental protection, higher education, K-12 education, local government and rural health care. But Chesbro, who still makes Humboldt County his home, said the campus fosters leadership in environmental causes, and regularly meets and works with fellow alums involved with statewide and large-scale environmental initiatives. Read an extended bio on Wes.

Michelle D. Kelly earned her degree in Nursing in 1985 and through her chosen vocation as a nurse she has helped civilians affected by war. Her volunteer humanitarian efforts have taken her from the first job as an RN in nearby Hoopa reservation to far-off locations such as Afghanistan, Angola, Iraq, Kashmir, Somalia, Sudan, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Kosovo and Uganda. While she’s not off doing humanitarian work, she inspires a new generation of HSU students as a lecturer in the Department of Nursing. But as she was awarded Distinguished Alumni of 2007, she said, “I’m very, very humbled.” Read an expanded bio on Michelle.

 

2006 Distinguished Alumni Awards

The honorees – Richard Corsi, Eric Ramos, and Kevin Daum – were recognized for their great leadership, career accomplishments, and outstanding contribution to the community.

Richard Corsi, representing the College of Natural Resources and Sciences, earned a degree in environmental resources engineering at HSU in 1983. Read an expanded bio on Richard.

Eric Ramos, earned his degree in business administration and accounting from HSU in 1996, representing the College of Professional Studies. Read an expanded bio on Eric.

Kevin Daum, representing the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, earned his degree at HSU in theatre arts in 1986. Read an expanded bio on Kevin.