Skip to content

Home
Accent Stories
Alumni
Giving
Get Involved
Update Us
Leadership

Home
Accent Stories
Alumni
Giving
Get Involved
Update Us
Leadership

Search

Home
Accent Stories
Alumni
Giving
Get Involved
Update Us
Leadership

Home
Accent Stories
Alumni
Giving
Get Involved
Update Us
Leadership

The Outstanding Alumni of the Year Award

Donald E. Jakeway '70

2025 Recipient

Donald E. Jakeway '70

2025 Recipient

Don, better known as Jake, is a 1970 graduate of AU with a BS degree and his MBA from Sarasota University. While on campus, he served in student government and was selected as Student Senate President his senior year.

After graduation and an unsuccessful tryout with the New York Mets, he started his career with Proctor & Gamble and then began his, over 45 years, serving at various levels of local, state and national government. His international expertise in the economic development field led him to his service with President Ronald Reagan and then President George H. W. Bush. Don went on to be the State of Ohio’s 10th Director of Development for then Governor George Voinovich.

Don has been a lifelong supporter of AU and was involved with the creation of the Ashbrook Center, especially helping to get then President Reagan as our first speaker in the Ashbrook Dinner series.

Don has been a Sir Winston S Churchill historian for over 50 years and has participated in many educational programs here and in the UK.

Don met his wife Alice “Conn” Jakeway (Class of 1971) on campus and they have two children, Ashley and Grant.

Lawrence Hiner '57

2022 Recipient

Awarded Posthumously

Lawrence Hiner '57

2022 Recipient

Larry’s career journey began at Ashland in music education, with a major in percussion. In 1958, he was accepted into the United States Army Field Band. After playing and touring the USA with the band for three years, he started graduate school at Ohio State, studying television production and programming. He earned his MBA in December 1963, and was hired in January 1964 by NBC in NYC.

After six years at NBC, Larry was approached by Ashland College to start the television portion of the newly formed Radio/Television Department. This experience-oriented form of learning “hands on” philosophy was reinforced by a rigorous academic curriculum. In 1987, he was the recipient of the Ashland College Mentor Award. The Academy of Arts and Sciences chose Larry, one of 18 faculty from across the United States, as a delegate to their faculty seminar in 1993. He devoted his last three years with the university in the Development Department.

After retirement from AU, Larry became the General Manager of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra for seven years. During the summers, he worked for fifteen years bringing various musical genres to the Ashland Myers Band Shell.

In 1999, he received the President’s Award from the American Federation of Musicians, Local 159. The Ashland High School Distinguished Alumnus Award was presented (posthumously) in September 2021.

He was married for 55 years to Catherine Cassel Hiner, whom he met while playing drums on the Queen of Bermuda ocean liner in 1962. They have two children: Eric ‘90 (Melissa Rowan ‘90) Hiner and Kirsten (Scott) Carpenter, and grandchildren Rowan and Phoebe Hiner.

Paul E. McKnight '70

2018 Recipient

Paul E. McKnight '70

2018 Recipient

Paul McKnight was Senior Vice President of Organization Planning for Emerson Electric at their St. Louis corporate headquarters from 1993 until he retired in 2013. In this role he was responsible for global executive succession planning and leadership development. Previously he was the VP for Human Resources for Liebert Corporation in Columbus, Ohio for over 14 years. Liebert was acquired by Emerson in 1986. Paul is a 1970 graduate of Ashland University with a BS in Business Administration and has an MBA from Xavier. McKnight served in the United States Marine Corps. He is a member of the Ashland University Board of Trustees and is the Chair of the Trusteeship Committee.

Dr. J. Patrick Card '72

2015 Recipient

Dr. J. Patrick Card '72

2015 Recipient

Dr. Card is a professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh. He received a Ph.D. in Anatomy (Neuroanatomy) in 1979 from Wayne State University, an MS in Biological Sciences in 1975 from Wright State University and a BS in Comprehensive Science at AU in 1972.

Since 2004, Card also has served as co-director for the NIH Center for Neuroanatomy with Neurotropic Viruses at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Card is involved in research in two basic categories. A long-standing focus of the laboratory is the definition of the functional organization of neural circuits involved in the control of behavioral state, autonomic function and adaptive behavior. The primary objective of these studies is to define the synaptic organization and chemical phenotype of the central networks that mediate these essential regulatory functions. The second focus of the laboratory is the development of tools for trans neuronal tracing of neural circuits. This effort, which is fundamental to the goals of the investigation of neural circuitry, incorporates mechanistic approaches.

Gayle (Gorman) Freeman '77

2011 Recipient

Gayle (Gorman) Freeman '77

2011 Recipient

Freeman serves as president of Manairco Inc. in Mansfield, a manufacturer of airport/heliport lighting equipment. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ashland University.

She currently serves on the board for a number of organizations, including the Keybank Central Ohio Advisory Board; North Central State College Foundation Board of Directors; Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, Aviation Committee; Richland County Foundation; Friends of the Guard, 179th Airlift Wing/Ohio Air National Guard; and Co-Chair of Capital Campaign for Ashland University’s College of Nursing. She also serves as a member of IES, Illuminating Engineering Society of North America; Ninety Nines: International Organization of Women Pilots; Mansfield Aviation Club; International Association of Women Helicopter Pilots; and Altrusa Club of Mansfield.

She has received numerous awards, including the J.C. Penney – Spirit of the American Woman award in 1990; the Athena Award in Mansfield in 1991; was named to Top 10 Women Business Owners/Cleveland in 1997 and North Central Ohio Entrepreneurs Hall of Fame in 2007.

L. Jonathon Groza '77

2007 Recipient

Richard Ferrari '76

2003 Recipient

Steve Butler '99, '03 MBA

2000 Recipient

Gilbert Ray '66

1996 Recipient

Shirleen McQuerry '77

1993 Recipient

Howard Barnhill '46

1990 Recipient

Dwight C. Schar '64

1987 Recipient

Thoman Van Meter '65

1984 Recipient

Dr. Thomas VanOsdall '32

1981 Recipient

Dr. Clifford Watson '68

1980 Recipient

Dr. Milton P. Puterbaugh '22

1979 Recipient

Hayden Shelley Garber '27

1979 Recipient

Virgil Cox '28

1978 Recipient

Helen Mandeville Gunnells '27

1977 Recipient

Dana B. Hamel '51

1976 Recipient

Kenneth L. Hulit '36

1974 Recipient

Thomas A. Van Meter '65

1973 Recipient

Michael L. Climaco '69

1973 Recipient

John O. Lindower '50

1971 Recipient

Lester V. King '22

1970 Recipient

Richard D. Topper '50

1969 Recipient

Franklin A. Black '27

1969 Recipient

Samuel Richmond '48

1967 Recipient

Ralph Buzzard '26

1967 Recipient

Jean Colbert Johnson '42

1966 Recipient

Richard E. Long '28

1965 Recipient

E. Paul Curry '24

1965 Recipient

Fern Hendrickson Smith '21

1964 Recipient

L. Harold Martin '32

196 Recipient

Frank Lonero '30

196 3

Edwin Boardman II '58

1962 Recipient

Clara Worst Miller

1961 Recipient

Myron Kem '28

1960 Recipient

Sanford Essig '28

1959 Recipient

Dawn Menear Swit '92,'08 MBA

2024 Recipient

Dawn Menear Swit '92,'08 MBA

2024 Recipient

Dawn resides in Hunting Valley, OH with her husband Dennis. Dawn was recruited to play basketball for the Eagles. She played only a single season but stayed at Ashland and earned both her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Computer Information Systems and an MBA. After a 25-year career in tech, Dawn and her husband acquired an insurance technology business. As a top business and employer to 225 people, it was named Business of the Year by the Solon Chamber. They tripled the size of the business before selling to one of their largest competitors in 2020. Dawn has invested in the student experience at Ashland creating an endowment in support of female students in a STEM program. She also provided key support to secure Shimadzu equipment - state-of-the-art laboratory equipment for the sciences while also sharing her knowledge and experiences by meeting with students while on campus. Dawn has an active career in golf, and competes at the local, state and national level, is a USGA rules official and is also involved in various boards, including the Cleveland Animal Protective League, First Tee of Cleveland and the Northern Ohio Golf Association.

Thomas Minnich '81

2020 Recipient

Thomas Minnich '81

2020 Recipient

Tom Minnich graduated from Ashland in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree, majoring in Accounting and Finance. Then, as non-traditional student, working full-time while attending night classes, he earned a Master of Business degree from Frostburg State University in Maryland in 1984. Tom began his career in banking and in 1978 he joined Eagle Rubber Company in Ashland. In 1993, he joined Kuhlman Electric Corporation in Lexington, KY and was named Kuhlman’s President & CEO in 2005 and led the company through its’ sale to ABB in 2008. Tom was recognized as a Top Global Manager in 2009 before retiring in late 2011. Post-retirement, Tom serves as a consultant and has joined Boards for Radix Wire and American Bath, both successful private-equity companies. Tom and his wife Loretta are members of Ashland University’s President Circle and have established four endowed scholarships. They have been blessed with two sons and four grandchildren during their marriage.

Ron Alford '76

2017 Recipient

Ron Alford '76

2017 Recipient

Ron Alford is president of The John and Mary Alford Foundation, a supporting organization of the Licking County Foundation that seeks to improve and enhance the quality of life primarily in the Licking County community through the support of educational, social, religious and cultural programs. He is also president of OBX Ventures, real estate development and property management located in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Alford earned a bachelor’s degree from Ashland College in Business Administration and attended the Graduate School of Retail Bank Management at the University of Virginia. In addition to serving on the AU Board of Trustees, he is also a trustee for the Methodist Theological School in Ohio and the Ohio State University Newark campus.

Deborah Liebert Karl '72

2014 Recipient

Deborah Liebert Karl '72

2014 Recipient

Deborah Karl graduated from Ashland College in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She taught clerical services and high skill stenography at Pioneer Joint Vocational School in Shelby, Ohio, until 1983 when she resigned to stay at home with her two young daughters.

She served on the Ashland University Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2003 to 2008. While on the Alumni Board, she worked on the College of Education building campaign.

She currently serves on the Ashland University Board of Trustees and the Recreation Unlimited Board of Trustees, a non-profit organization serving individuals with physical and developmental disabilities and health concerns.

Karl has been very involved in hosting Ashland University Alumni social events in both Columbus, Ohio, and Naples, Fla., and remains enthusiastic about Ashland University.

Alan Roth '79

2010 Recipient

Robert Jones '79

2006 Recipient

Brian Keaton '76

2002 Recipient

Majore Lovering '33

1999 Recipient

Jerry Ruyan '68

1998 Recipient

John Dickson '54

1995 Recipient

Charles Dilgard '51

1992 Recipient

Sherrill Hudson '65

1989 Recipient

Dr. Joseph Shultz '50, '52 MDC

1986 Recipient

Dr. Leslie Riblet '63

1983 Recipient

Schuyler Wharton '25

1981 Recipient

Robert O. Strine '50

1980 Recipient

Dr. Donald Nikolaus '51

1979 Recipient

Wanda Garberich Kerr '50

1978 Recipient

Lulu L. Wood '19

1977 Recipient

Cathleen Vanosdall Donges '41

1977 Recipient

Eleanor Walters Treece '52

1974 Recipient

Glen J. Hartman '41

1974 Recipient

Ella W. Shannon '63

1973 Recipient

Robert Brownson '48

1973 Recipient

Donald Drebus '51

1971 Recipient

Raymond Hatch '39

1970 Recipient

Harold R. Potter '30

1969 Recipient

Louis Pete '36

1968 Recipient

Russell H. Eshelman '37

1967 Recipient

Elton Whitted '36

1966 Recipient

Samuel K. Cunningham

1966 Recipient

George P. Gongwer '27

1965 Recipient

W. Clayton Berkshire '38, '41

1965 Recipient

Marie Lichty Shaver '18

1964 Recipient

William Hess '34

1963 Recipient

Paul Kellogg '26

1962 Recipient

Charles Anspach '20

1962 Recipient

Walter Leckrone '22

1961 Recipient

John B. Jacobs '38

1960 Recipient

Doug Kurkul '82

2023 Recipient

Doug Kurkul '82

2023 Recipient

Doug Kurkul graduated from Ashland in 1982 after serving as Student Senate President, receiving the Outstanding Graduate Award from both the Business Management and Political Science Departments, and membership in the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He earned a Master’s Degree from The American University in 1984 and began his career the same year as a Presidential Management Fellow at the Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C., followed by service in the Reagan Administration at the Department of Energy. Since 1986, he has devoted his career to advancing the worthy cause of manufacturing and business vitality in America, in roles including CEO of the American Foundry Society, which represents the $46 billion metalcasting industry; VP of the National Association of Manufacturers; and CEO of three regional business groups based in Dallas, Texas; Round Rock, Texas; and Reno, Nevada. He has provided strategic, operational and advocacy leadership to these groups and represented American industry in China, Germany, Taiwan, Poland, Italy, Mexico, and throughout the U.S. Doug edited the award-winning 1995 book Manufacturing in America: A Legacy of Excellence and presented the first copy to Ashland University President William Benz for the University Library. The same year, he received the University’s Special Achievement Award. He served on the John Ashbrook Center Board of Advisors from 2006 to 2016. Doug and his wife, Dr. Wen Kurkul, have included Ashland University as a primary beneficiary in their estate plan. They reside in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Frederick B. Broad '76

2019 Recipient

Frederick B. Broad '76

2019 Recipient

Fred Broad, along with his business partner, founded Packaging Specialists, a manufacturing sheet plant in Pittsburgh. In 2012, they chose to sell their company to Packaging Corporation of America (PCA). He continues to serve in a sales advisory role at PCA. In 2018, PCA honored Fred with the Team Captain award, recognizing excellence in collaboration.

Fred has served on the Ashland University Board of Trustees since 2007. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board, Chair of the Institutional Advancement Committee, and Chair of the President’s Executive Advisory Board. In 2010, the AU Alumni Association presented Fred with the Special Achievement Award, which is given to an alumnus who has a record of excellence in their profession and has shown faithful service to AU.

As a freshman and an only child from the small town of Canfield, Ohio, Fred recalls how incredibly homesick he was during his first weeks on campus. He and his wife, Anne Mainwaring Broad `76, were so inspired by their early experience of “Accent on the Individual” that they established the Freshman Orientation Program in 2016. The program offers incoming freshman the opportunity to get plugged into life at AU and settled before the first day of classes. The program was designed to facilitate a smooth transition for incoming freshmen and peace of mind for parents with the promise that their children will experience “Accent on the Individual” from the first moment they arrive. Hundreds of students have joined campus organizations and formed close friendships, which has had a direct impact upon increased student retention.

Fred earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Ashland College in 1976. He and Anne have two grown children, a granddaughter and reside in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Peter Lothes '88

2016 Recipient

Peter Lothes '88

2016 Recipient

As president of Satisloh North America, Peter Lothes is responsible for leading all sales and operations for Satisloh, one of the leading machine manufacturers for ophthalmic and precision optics manufacturing in the U.S. and Canada. A company news release announcing his promotion to president noted that “Lothes has established himself as an extremely strong operational leader; a go to person for the company for a plethora of strategic initiatives; and has earned the trust and respect of customers, employees and leadership, both at a local and global level.”

Lothes, who received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Ashland in 1988, began his career in the family business, Select Optical, in Columbus, Ohio, serving as president from 1991 to 2009. In 2009, he relocated to Dallas and has served as vice president of national labs and vice president of operations for both Essilor Laboratories of America and Essilor partner labs. He was responsible for Essilor’s five largest production labs in the U.S. and Mexico. As a student at Ashland, Lothes was very involved on campus as a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, the varsity football team and the lacrosse team. He has stayed active with Ashland – serving on the alumni association board of directors for six years and also serving as board vice president and president.

Jack Miller '74

2013 Recipient

Jack Miller '74

2013 Recipient

Jack Miller, a 1974 graduate, majored in Marketing and Finance, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree. Following graduation, he joined Miller Supply, which had 12 employees and sold only used pipe in Wooster, Ohio. Today Miller Supply is a mega chain of 11 oilfield supply stores. He is owner/operator of Kenoil, one of Ohio’s leading oil and gas producing companies, as well as owner/operator of Kastle, a deep well gas and oil producer in northwest Pennsylvania.

Jack had been very involved in charitable projects in his community, his church, and various schools, including his local high school, The Ohio State University and Ashland University. Currently, Jack serves on 23 Boards of corporations and charitable organizations. He has been a member of the Ashland University Board of Trustees since 2005 and sets the standard for what a strong Board member should be. Jack chairs the Finance and Facilities Committee and also chaired the Campaign for the Athletic Complex which raised nearly $23 million. Jack has personally supported every project on campus since joining the Board and was a leading benefactor to the Jack and Deb Miller Memorial Chapel and Jack Miller Stadium in the Dwight Schar Athletic Complex.

Bob Troop '71

2008 Recipient

Daniel Bogden '78

2005 Recipient

Terrie '70 & Jerry '68 Dunlap

2001 Recipients

Brooks Hull '70

1997 Recipient

Dr. Jerry Flora '54, '58

1994 Recipient

Ann Tallman '62

1991 Recipient

Duane M. Benton '55

1988 Recipient

Dr. Peter Linneman '73

1985 Recipient

Leslie Woodburn '40

1982 Recipient

Dr. Richard Zachman '58

1980 Recipient

Harry Weidenhamer '29

1979 Recipient

Charles K. Hill '51

1979 Recipient

Helen Shively '39

1978 Recipient

Emmert R. Wilson '15

1977 Recipient

Elizabeth Black Goerner '30

1976 Recipient

J. Ray Klingensmith '31, '34

1974 Recipient

Herbert K. Ganyard '28

1974 Recipient

Leslie E. Lindower '26, '28

1973 Recipient

Matthew C. Resick '41

1971 Recipient

Charles P. Lindecamp '34

1970 Recipient

George Donges '29

1970 Recipient

Fred P. Hare, Jr. '30

1969 Recipient

J. Frank McClure '26

1968 Recipient

David Campbell '51

1967 Recipient

Alvin Kastan '41

1966 Recipient

Howard Barnhill '46

1966 Recipient

J. Garber Drushal

1965 Recipient

Clark Stair '52

1964 Recipient

Jackson & Betty June '49 Myers

1964 Recipient

Forest Stump '48

1963 Recipient

Harry Gehman '29

1962 Recipient

Leo Strang '50

1961 Recipient

James Hoffman '41

1961 Recipient

Maurice Stahl '29

1959 Recipient

Click HERE to nominate someone for the Outstanding Alumnus/Alumna of the Year Award.

401 College Ave,
Ashland, OH 44805

Phone: 419-289-5620
Email: au-advancement@ashland.edu

Accent Stories
Get Involved
Alumni
Leadership
Giving

Ashland University Main Site

Facebook-f X-twitter Instagram Linkedin-in Youtube

Ashland University © Copyright 2026. An Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Institution.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settings ACCEPT

Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

Necessary

Necessary

Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non Necessary

non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

Save & Accept