2017 Awardees

Alumnus of the Year

Raymon B. Fogg, Sr., BSCE ’53, HON '14

Accomplished entrepreneur and benevolent humanitarian

• Founder and Chairman of the Board for Ray Fogg Building Methods, Inc., a premier design-build contracting company in Northeast Ohio
• Completed more than 3,500 building projects and developed five major industrial parks
• Holds an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from OHIO for his humanitarian efforts
• Serves on a multitude of OHIO boards, such as the Foundation Board, the Board of Visitors for Russ College of Engineering & Technology, and more
• Volunteered to personally help rebuild 35,000 homes after natural disaster struck Guatemala City in the 1970s

Medal of Merit

Lynn Johnson, MA, ’04

Freelance photojournalist and unrelenting voice for the voiceless

• Prominent freelance photojournalist for acclaimed publications, including National Geographic, Life, Sports Illustrated, and Smithsonian
• Visiting professional at Syracuse University and a National Geographic Photography Fellow
• Previously served as the first woman staff photographer at the Pittsburgh Press
• Documents fascinating events and challenges throughout the world, including climbing scaffoldings with steelworkers, living with guerrilla warfare in Vietnam and the difficulties facing populations in Africa and Asia
• Awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for Coverage of the Disadvantages and the World Press Award for Daily Life, among others, and created the OHIO Libraries’ Lynn Johnson Collection

Medal of Merit

Cherron Payne, Esq., BSC ’95

Elite attorney, magistrate and state commissioner

• Effectively owns and manages ACP Law Firm, LLC, works as a contract specialist and acts as a magistrate for several Connecticut judicial districts
• Selected for Best Attorneys of America, which is comprised of the top 1 percent of attorneys in the United States and awarded a superb lawyer rating of 9.8/10 by Avvo
• Appointed by Governor Dannel Malloy to serve as a state commissioner and as the chair of the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities
• Elected the president of the Connecticut Magistrates Association for two terms
• Drafted articles that were published in top publications, including the Connecticut Law Tribune, Spectator, and Clinical Leader
• Created and taught a law course at Northwestern Connecticut Community College

Medal of Merit

Jacqueline Reau, BSJ ’92, MSA ’12

Accomplished sports and entertainment communicator

• Co-founder and CEO of Game Day Communications, a sports and entertainment communications firm
• Experienced in the areas of strategic communications, media relations management, social media strategy, and crisis communications management
• Awarded by organizations, including Public Relations Society of America and Cincinnati Business Courier, for her professional work
• Teaches sports management and public relations classes at Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati
• Lectured on topics, including social media and advocacy plans, for groups such as the Ohio Newspaper Association and more

Distinguished Service Award

William Hilyard, BSED ’67

Steadfast OHIO volunteer and School of Music devotee

• Held various high-ranking positions at Playhouse Square Foundation
• Managed a multimillion-dollar joint capital campaign to create the Idea Center as the Director of Capital and Planned Giving
• Active member of the OHIO community, through serving as a Board Member for the School of Music Society of Alumni and Friends and the Foundation Board of Trustees
• Previously served on the OHIO Alumni Association Board and as the Board Chair for two years
• Generous donor to OHIO and the College of Fine Arts
• Serves on the board for various art-related organizations, including President of Ohio Citizens for the Arts

Distinguished Service Award

Chuck Williams, BSED ’67

Faithful OHIO supporter and Bobcat sports aficionado

• Exceedingly connected to OHIO through his membership in the Central Ohio Alumni Network and commitment to attend OHIO events
• Only missed a handful of the University’s Homecomings since his graduation in 1967
• Member of various organizations that aim to fundraise for OHIO athletics, such as the Green and White Club, Victory with Honor, and the Ohio Bobcat Club
• Served on the search committee that hired the current OHIO Football Head Coach, Frank Solich
• Member of the first class of the 1804 Society
• Donated significantly to OHIO athletics, the Promise Lives campaign, the Urban Scholars Program, and the Patton College of Education

Charles J. and Claire O. Ping Recent Graduate Award

Matthew Denhart, BA ’10

Cultivated Executive Director of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation

• Cultivated executive at the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation
• Founding Executive Director of the Coolidge Scholars Program, which provides full-ride, four-year merit scholarships to America's most promising undergraduates
• Named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 in the area of law and policy in January 2017
• Authored teh George W. Bush Institute's immigration handbook, approximately 1,500 of which are in print and organized multiple immigration conferences and events keynoted by President Bush
• Published many book chapters, research reports, and press articles on topics such as immigration, higher education, labor, and economic policy
• Assists with application reviews for OHIO's Cutler Scholars Program and serves on the New York City Urban Debate League's Board of Directors

Honorary Alumnus

David Palmer

Exceptional OHIO sponsor and Athens radio mogul

• Longtime active member in the Athens and OHIO communities
• Owner and President of Athens radio stations WATH and WXTQ
• General Manager and founding member of the Southern Ohio Copperheads collegiate baseball team
• Works to improve town and gown relations through involvement
• Generous donor to Ohio University

The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame

Benjamin Crabtree, BSC ’06

Baseball 2002-2005

• Four-year letter winning catcher for the Bobcats
• Named a Freshman All-American in 2002 and All-American Third Team in 2005
• Earned All-MAC honors as a sophomore and senior
• Selected for All-District IV and All-Mideast Region Third Team in 2005 and Academic All-District IV Second Team in 2004
• Played in the Texas Rangers minor league system during the 2005 season

The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame

Lauren Mazziotto, BSC ’02

Field Hockey 1998-2001

• Four-year letter winner for OHIO
• Selected for NFHCA All-American Third Team and All-American Regional First Team in 2001 and All-American Regional Second Team in 2000
• Named All-MAC First Team in 2000-01 and All-MAC Second Team in 1998-1999
• Played in the North-South All-Star game in 2001
• Member of the U.S. junior national teams from 2001-2003, and the women's U.S. national team in 2003
• Ranks in the top 10 in career assists and season assists at OHIO

The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame

Kalvin McRae, BSRS ’11

Football 2004-2007

• OHIO Football running back who played from 2004-2007 and three-time First Time All-MAC Selection
• Led the MAC in scoring in 2007 and set single-season and career MAC records in points scored and touchdowns
• Holds the MAC sing-game record for most rushing attempts and ranks No. 1 in most yards, most carries and most yards per game in a game, season and career at OHIO
• Scored more touchdowns than any player in OHIO history
• Played professionally for the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2008 season

The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement Award

Charles “Skip” Vosler, HON ’13

OHIO Head Athletic Trainer 1971-1997

• Served as OHIO’s Head Athletic Trainer from 1971-1997 and the Director of the Athletic Training Education program at OHIO for 25 years
• Recognized as Head Athletic Trainer Emeritus in 1999
• Developed athletic training educational programs at OHIO in 1972 and the post graduate degree in 1977. The two programs were the first recognized athletic training programs in the state of Ohio
• Helped design numerous products and protective devices that are utilized in the sports industry
• In August 2017, the College of Health Sciences and Professions created the "Charles 'Skip' Vosler Athletic Training Educational Center" in Grover Center

Athletic Director’s Award of Excellence

Perry Sook, BSC ’80

Bobcat benefactor and broadcasting trailblazer

• Founder, Chairman, President, and CEO of Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc.
• Chairperson of the Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees
• Donated a lead gift commitment in support of the new, state-of-the-art Perry and Sandy Sook Academic Center
• Helping to provide student-athletes with necessary academic space and supplies