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Alumni to cheer about Alumnus
of the year Richard H. Brown. He's chairman of the board and CEO of EDS, the world's second-largest
computer services provider. He sits on the President's Advisory Committee
on Trade and Policy Negotiations and the President's National Security
Telecommunications Advisory Council. He serves on the boards of Vivendi
Universal and The Home Depot, and he's a trustee of Southern Methodist
University and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
But Brown never forgets that the first leadership hat he ever donned
was as an OU student. He was a member of Student Senate and Interfraternity
Council and president of his class. "Ohio University created an environment
for learning that has fueled me my whole life," he says.
Before joining Plano, Texas-based EDS, Brown headed Cable and Wireless,
a British telecommunications company, and was the first nonfamily member
to run H&R Block. He's also held leadership positions at Ameritech and
United Telecommunications.
Still, he's always made time for his alma mater. A generous contributor
to fund-raising campaigns, he has been a trustee of The Ohio University
Foundation since 1989 and makes visits with students a priority when
he returns to campus.
Despite his many accomplishments, Brown was stunned to be named Alumnus
of the Year.
"When I think of how many thousands of students have gone through Ohio
University who are contributing to the world every day, I'm incredibly
honored," he says.
Brown and his wife, Christine Demler Brown, BFA '68, have two children,
Ryan Brown and Allison Brown-Flynn.
Yvette McGee Brown "He showed me and debated with me how government can but doesn't help
people," McGee Brown recalls.
Those debates had an impact. The 1982 journalism graduate went on to
earn a law degree from Ohio State. She's served in various public service
roles, including as Ohio assistant attorney general. Brown now is judge
of Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations and Juvenile
Division, a position she was elected to in 1992. Then 32, she was the
youngest elected judge in Ohio and the first African-American and second
woman elected to the post.
She is committed to improving the lives of children, both on and off
the bench. Brown leads United Way's Early Childhood Education Initiative
and is involved in organizations that focus on children and families.
She and her husband, Anthony L. Brown, a teacher, live in Columbus
with their three children. D. William Schlott
Being appointed to an endowed academic chair is a high point of any
professor's life. A chair at a top university is even better. But being
the first appointee to an endowed chair that's named for your mentor
is extraordinary.
Since 1994, D. William Schlott, BS '58, has served as the Philip A.
Tumulty Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University's School of
Medicine.
"Ohio University provided me the opportunity to start on a path that
eventually led to an enormously satisfying career," Schlott says.
Most of that career has been spent at Johns Hopkins. He earned his
medical degree there in 1962, then worked with the National Cancer Institute
and at the University of Connecticut. He returned to Johns Hopkins as
an assistant professor in 1967. To recognize Schlott's contributions,
Hopkins recently established the D. William Schlott, M.D., Professorship
in Clinical Medicine.
A fellow of the American College of Physicians, Schlott has been a
visiting professor in Iran, Japan and the United Arab Emirates and headed
a medical delegation to Cuba.
He and his wife, Pamela, live in Baltimore. The couple have four daughters.
Charles F. Wiedenmann
Charles Wiedenmann came to Ohio University to earn a degree in government
and history education - and just kept coming back.
He taught for three years after graduating in 1970, then returned to
pursue a master's and later a doctorate, both in education administration.
"Ohio University prepared me for what turned out to be a successful
career in education," says Wiedenmann, whose father, Fred Wiedenmann,
graduated from Ohio University in 1938, and his sister, Mary Ann Rohleder,
earned a master's here in 1981.
Wiedenmann is a former superintendent of Eaton (Ohio) City Schools
and Fairfield (Ohio) City Schools, and in 1998 was named Ohio Superintendent
of the Year. He now is a consultant to Steed-Hammond-Paul Architects,
which designs school buildings.
He is a member of the College of Education's Society of Alumni and
Friends and in 1991 received the college's Outstanding Alumnus Award.
He also serves on the college's Development Board.
He lives near Cincinnati with his wife, Rose. They have six children,
Heather Findley and Erin, Fred, Charlie, Tim and Christopher Wiedenmann.
Kenneth J. Kies
If you want to ask Kenneth Kies for tax advice, get in line. Kies,
AB '74, is co-managing partner of the Pricewaterhouse-Coopers Washington
National Tax Services Office, which advises Fortune 200 companies on
tax policy matters before Congress, the U.S. Treasury and the Internal
Revenue Service.
Previously, Kies was chief of staff of the Congressional Joint Committee
on Taxation, which advises Congress on taxes and develops revenue analyses.
As chief Republican tax counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee
from 1981 to 1987, he helped develop the Economic Recovery Tax Act of
1981 and the Tax Reform Acts of 1984 and 1986.
At Ohio University, Kies was president of Delta Tau Delta fraternity,
which provided some of his fondest memories. He holds a law degree from
Ohio State University and a master of laws degree in taxation from Georgetown
University.
"Ohio University provided me with a valuable educational experience
that has made it possible for me to succeed in my profession," he says.
"It probably represents the single most valuable four-year period for
me."
Kies lives in McLean, Va., with his wife, Kathleen, and their children,
Katherine and Kylie.
Honorary
Alumna
Judith M. Johnson After 16 years of working in various roles for the Ohio University Alumni Association, Judith Johnson, assistant director for societies and campus relations, is becoming one of her own constituents. "It will be great to be 'officially' a Bobcat," Johnson says. "I have felt like a Bobcat for all the time I have worked at Ohio University." A native of England, Johnson came to Athens in 1976 with her husband, Peter, an Ohio University professor of biochemistry. She has become a mainstay of the Alumni Association, and she says the job has enriched her life. "My job has afforded me the privilege of serving many alumni," she says. "Many have become true friends. " She's also involved in the Ohio University Women's Club, is an adviser to Phi Mu and has served on numerous volunteer boards and committees. In 1999, she was elected to Administrative Senate. The Johnsons live in Athens and have a son, Paul, and a daughter, Leanne, BSHC '97.
Distinguished Service Awards Sydney E. Buck As an accountant, Sydney Buck, BSCO '57, knows about the power of money. So it's no surprise that he has been a powerful fund-raiser as an Ohio University Foundation trustee and former University campaign chair. He also is a member of the University Libraries' Advancement Committee for the Bicentennial Campaign and was a founding member of its National Advisory Council. "Ohio is an institution providing quality education in a caring and friendly environment," Buck says. As an undergraduate, Buck was a member of Delta Tau Delta as well as Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting society, and Phi Eta Sigma, the freshman honorary society. Most importantly, though, Ohio University is where he met his wife, Sonya Donlan, AB '58.They have a son, Bryan, a daughter, Lynda, and four grandchildren. Buck's brother, Walter, earned a master's degree from Ohio University in 1956. Buck is vice president of The Koll Co., a real estate and management business in Newport Beach, Calif. He also is a certified public accountant and has managed the development of office buildings in Orange County, Calif. Lou Vlasho There are few better examples of the American dream than Lou Vlasho, BSCO '59. The son of Macedonian immigrants, he was the first in his family to graduate from college. He went on to become senior vice president of Gold Bond Ice Cream Co. (home of Good Humor ice cream) and vice president and controller of Hobart Corp. in Troy, Ohio. But success in business hasn't been enough for Vlasho, who believes that education doesn't stop at graduation. "I have always felt that a college degree opens doors for you, but what you do with it is what is important," says Vlasho, now vice president of Rimaco Corp. and Vergina, an Italian restaurant, both in Naples, Fla. Vlasho helps his troubled homeland through The Vlasho Group, which is a consultant to Macedonian businesses. He was instrumental in establishing Ohio University's first international Cutler scholarships, which allow two Macedonian students to study on campus each year, and last year helped initiate a program involving the College of Business and the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, Macedonia. He and his wife, Pat, live in Naples, Fla. He has two sons, Vincent and Steven. Charles and Claire Ping Recent Graduate Award Deanna L. Etling Deanna L. Etling can't sit still for long. When not on the job as a personal banker at Second National Bank in Aurora, Ohio, she's active in her church, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, working with the children's music program and chairing various committees. She is active in the Ohio University Women's Club of Greater Cleveland as membership secretary, is the acting Sibs Weekend coordinator and has served as treasurer.
Etling's passion for volunteering began during college when she was involved with community projects through Circle K, a university-based program of the Kiwanis Club and her sorority, Phi Mu.
"Ohio University provided me with a variety of knowledge and experiences,"says Etling, whose mother, Jan Pink Etling, graduated from Ohio University in 1964 with a BS in Home Economics Education.
Among the fondest memories Deanna has of her college days are the two and a half years she spent as a resident assistant and administrative resident assistant at the University. "The people I got to work with and the friends I made helped me to continue to develop my leadership and people skills," Etling says
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