William E. Morrow and Betty Murray Halff
Gala to fete alumnus-of-year, distinguished-service awardees
(Aug. 20, 2002)--The University of Texas at San Antonio Alumni Association will present the Alumnus of the Year award to William E. Morrow and the Distinguished Service Award to Betty Murray Halff at the third annual UTSA Alumni Gala at Oak Hills Country Club Sept. 14.
Previous recipients of these awards include Sarah Garrahan, judge, Bexar County Court at Law #4; Ernest Bromley, chairman & CEO, Bromley Communications; J. Earl King Sr., vice president of business integration, USAA; Howard Peak, former mayor, City of San Antonio; Bob Rivard, editor and senior vice president, San Antonio Express-News; Jamie Rochelle, general manager and CEO, City Public Service; and Sundra Kaye Lenox, director, San Antonio Public Library Foundation.
Alumnus of the Year recipient William E. Morrow, founder of Grande Communications and life member of the Alumni Association, is as committed to his entrepreneurial tasks as giving back to the community. His leadership has propelled Grande to financial success by increasing the largest ever cash-for-equity raise in Texas to $233 million in February 2000.
The company has grown from an initial five to over 525 employees. Bill and his wife Traci donated to UTSA 100,000 shares of Grande stock, in addition to other significant cash gifts. In addition to giving financial support to UTSA, Morrow serves on the Development Board, College of Business Advisory Council, Entrepreneurs Roundtable and gives lectures to UTSA students about his business experience and the value of his education.
Distinguished Service Award recipient Betty Murray Halff, life member of the Alumni Association, has had a relationship with UTSA for over 28 years. She attended graduate classes at the Koger Center, and was one of the first to graduate in the Convocation Center with a master’s of arts in environmental management in 1976. In 1983, Betty was appointed director of development by UTSA president James W. Wagener, and reappointed by succeeding president Samuel A. Kirkpatrick. Upon her retirement in 1995, Kirkpatrick announced the establishment of an endowed scholarship in her name and honor. Today, Halff continues to serve as a UTSA Development Board member.
The third annual gala is the UTSA Alumni Association’s major fund-raiser for the fall, and honors outstanding alumni. The inaugural gala in 2000 raised more than $19,000 and last year’s gala raised $24,000. This year’s gala theme is "Building for Our Future" with Martha Trevino as the mistress of ceremonies. The evening will include a cocktail reception, seated dinner, presentation of awards and live and silent auctions as well as a dance featuring the Rick Cavender Band.
For more information or tickets, contact the UTSA Alumni Association at (210)
458-4133.
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© The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2002