Please join us in congratulating the latest Alumni Award receipients. Awards will be presented at the Alumni Awards Gala, Homecoming Weekend, on Friday, October 16.

• Alumnus/a of the Year
• Medal of Merit
• Distinguished Service
• Charles J. and Claire O. Ping Recent Graduate
• Honorary Alumnus/a
• The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame

Alumnus/a of the Year

David C. Wilhelm, AB ’77 Alumnus of the Year

David is the founder and president of Woodland Venture Management, which raises and invests private equity in underserved regions of the country, including Southeast Ohio. He was the campaign manager for President Clinton’s bid for the presidency in 1992 and in 1993, he became the youngest ever chair of the Democratic National Committee. David also served as an advisor in Obama’s 2008 campaign. He and his wife Degee live in Bexley, Ohio with their two sons.

Medal of Merit

McClellan “Guy” A. DuBois, MA ’71 Medal of Merit

Since his graduation, McClellan (Guy) has had a successful career, working for more than 26 years with the CIA and retiring as a member of the CIA’s Senior Intelligence Service. Currently, he is the vice president of operational technologies and solutions for Raytheon. He and his wife, Lynn, have a daughter, Megan, and a son, David.

Matthew E. Rubel, BSJ ’79 Medal of Merit

Currently, Matthew is the CEO and president of Collective Brands Inc., the holding company for Payless, Stride Rite and Collective Licensing International. His impressive resume includes employers such as J. Crew, Tommy Hilfiger and Pepe Jeans, among others. He and his wife, Melissa, have three sons, Jeffrey, Michael and Joshua.

Paula M. Shugart, BSC ’81 Medal of Merit

Paula is the president for the Miss Universe Organization. Since graduating from OHIO, she has worked as a producer for “Star Search,” production supervisor for the Academy Awards and an executive producer for “Pageant Place.” She lives in Florida with her husband, Carl.

Distinguished Service

Marilyn R. Allen, BSED ’58 Distinguished Service

Marilyn taught in Columbus City Schools for 40 years before her retirement. She remains active in the Ohio Education Association, as well as other professional organizations. She has one daughter, Margaret, and a granddaughter, Isabel.

William J. Burke, DO ’88 Distinguished Service

William (Bill) is the program director of family practice residency at Doctors Hospital in Columbus and an associate professor of family medicine at Ohio University. Since 2007, he has traveled to China several times to evaluate the state of primary care medicine and to provide medical assistance in the aftermath of the 2008 earthquake. He and his wife, Debbie, BSCHE ’85, have a daughter, Lydia, and a son, Ross.

James E. Daley, BBA ’63 Distinguished Service

James (Jim) worked more than 35 years at Price Waterhouse, where he rose to chief operating officer at Electronic Data Systems. A former member of the Ohio University Foundation Board, he endowed the James E. Daley-Cutler Scholarship awarded to Ohio University students from his hometown of Asbury Park, N.J. He and his wife, Jennie Marie, have two sons, Bryan and Christopher.

James M. McVicker, BBA ’68 Distinguished Service

From 1968-1971, James (Jim) was a captain in the U.S. Army. He then went on to work for Makino Inc. as vice president and chief financial officer. He is a board member for Ohio University SAF Army ROTC. He and his wife, Kathy, BBA ’68, have three daughters, Michelle, Monica and Kristen BSHCS ’06.

Charles J. and Claire O. Ping Recent Graduate Award

Christopher C. Hayward, BSED ’94 Charles J. and Claire O. Ping Recent Graduate

Since graduation, Christopher (Chris) has worked at several elementary schools and has been the principal at Fernway Elementary School since 2005. He is also an active supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and organizes the Targeted Intervention program for at-risk students in the Shaker Heights community. He and his wife Kristina live in the Cleveland area.

Honorary Alumnus/a of the Year

Howard P. Stevens Honorary Alumnus of the Year

Howard is the recipient of the Honorary Alumni Award for his service as the chairman of the Sales Advisory Board for Ohio University. He is chairman and CEO of The HR Chally Group, a talent management, leadership development and sales improvement corporation with customers in 49 countries. He and his wife, Sally, have two sons, Art and Brian AB ’92.

The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame

Ronald J. Fenik, BSED ’59 The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame

Ronald (Ron) was the head football coach at both Barberton and Jackson high schools. He has been the assistant football coach at Xavier University and Muskingum College. He and his wife, Sharon, BSED ’65 and MHSA ’86, have one son, Mark, and two daughters, Stephanie and Yvonne.

Gwynn G. Rodemsky, BSED ’90 The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame

Gwynn taught for 14 years before deciding to stay home with her children. While at OHIO, she established herself as a successful member of the swim team. She and her husband, Larry, have two children, Will and Grayson.

Catherine A. Silvia Cash, BEE ’91 The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame

Catherine currently serves as a police officer for the Suffolk County Police Department. While at OHIO, she was on the swim team for four years and was named captain her junior and senior years. She and her husband, James, have four children, Joan, James, Joseph and Brian.

James “Bill” W. Toadvine, BSED ’71, posthumous The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame

From 1989 to 2005, James ("Bill") was the associate head coach in charge of pitchers for Ohio University. Previously, Toadvine was a high school baseball coach and teacher at Miamisburg High School. He and his wife, Wendy, MED ’98, have two sons, Brock, BSSE ’95, and Kelly, and one daughter, Kasie.

Congratulations again to our 2009 Alumni Award recepients.

To read more about the awards and see past Alumni Award recpients, click here.