“We’re very fortunate she chose to come back to Beaumont . . . I recall reading in the newspaper several years ago about a shortage of medical people and neurosurgeons in this area, and there was a quote by a lady whose husband had been in a wreck. She was saying that Dr. Chavis had saved her husband’s life with the surgery performed on him. I took great pride in the fact that I knew Tamerla and taught her early on.”

“I met Dr. Richard Price, who is over minority recruitment for the engineering department, and he introduced me to Dr. Jack Hopper. At that time, I lived at home and thought, ‘Wow, I’m graduating from high school. Maybe I should get out.’ So I thought, ‘Let’s go to Rice University and live in the dorm and experience that life.’ I talked to Dr. Price, and he said, ‘Tamerla, if you come to Lamar, we’ll take care of you.’ I thought, ‘Well, let’s see. I can live in the dorm, or I can stay at home and have them take care of me.’ I’m a pretty practical girl, so I decided I’d stay at home and have them take care of me. I did, and I can honestly say that everything they presented to me came through, at least tenfold.”

“Keith Carter is a challenging and supportive colleague who prods us all to consider the deeper aspects of our own and our students’ art. Keith Carter is also a wonderful teacher who not only imparts knowledge to his students but also strives to instill in them his own passion for his medium. Keith Carter is an internationally recognized photographer, educator and artist who has elected to create in his hometown, inspire talent at his local university and generously provide insightful leadership in his immediate art community and essentially bring the world to us.”

“ The great Southern writer Flannery O’Connor said once after receiving an award: ‘It seems to me the pleasure one gets from the award is in direct proportion to how close from home it comes.’ I’d have to agree with her. A large part of my life revolves around this university . . . From the moment I came out here 16 years ago, I have thought teaching is a privilege. It’s just a great way to spend time and talk about things you love – ideas, popular culture, culture period – with young people who are interested.”

“She is noted as the architect of the capital campaign proposal that resulted in the endowment for the C.T. Bauer College of Business (at the University of Houston) . . . Her teaching included the first electronics commerce course . . . Community service has always been a major focus in her life. She chaired the $2 million renovation of Episcopal Christ Church Cathedral and chaired the $4 million capital expansion of the Women’s Home. Bette Stead’s contributions to education, community, church and friends have touched many people and enriched our lives.”

“I often tell people that when I was born, my family didn’t say ‘hello,’ they said ‘college.’ . . . Little did my family nor I realize I would become a college professor. . . . Dr. Richard Setzer, my dean, had installed such a strong business administration curriculum that when I applied for the MBA program at the University of Texas, I was admitted with no additional course requirements . . . One of the many things I enjoyed at Lamar was working on the yearbook for Dr. David Bost ... I became yearbook editor, and he doubled the number of pages; frankly, this 19-year-old was bug-eyed. . . . I’m proud to be your alumnus . . . No one ever had a better undergraduate experience.”

“What can you say about Billy Tubbs? He’s a landmark. He’s a national treasure. He’s a sports phenomenon. The sultan of swish. His highness of the hoops . . .. Billy Tubbs has a tremendous history as a coach and as a leader, but the most important thing to us is that Billy Tubbs is one of ours. He’s a former student athlete and coach who loves his alma mater enough to go into overtime as athletic director and, now, coach. Who believes in his alma mater enough to forgo a well-deserved retirement. Who has faith in the fine tradition of Lamar University athletics and wants to take them to the next level.”

“I am thankful to Lamar University for many reasons. Lamar has done a lot more for me than I have done for Lamar because it accorded me a scholarship to have an education. . . . It was a great time here, my college days ... I loved college, and I thought I’d like to be in college forever. Basically, I have been, in one form or another . . . I figure I’ll do this for three or four more years, and then I’ll retire. Then when Jimmy retires, I’ll probably get called back, and there’s never been an athletic director-president. That’s kind of one of my goals right now.”