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Saturday, April 8, 2000
Del Mar alumni honor their own
Award-winning athlete, 4 others inducted into college's honor wall
By Cynthia Hodnett
Caller-Times
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| Diaz |
Five Del Mar College alumni who have made their marks with local and national achievements will be inducted into the college's wall of honor today during a dinner at the Corpus Christi Country Club.
"We want to draw attention to the value that Del Mar College brings to this community and to the high caliber of people who have attended the college," said O.K. Smith, president of the Del Mar College Former Students' Association.
Among the honorees will be Kevin Saunders, a Paralympic gold medalist who attended the college from 1986-1989.
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| Hasette |
In 1981, Saunders was severely injured in a local grain elevator explosion.
Twenty-one years after the accident left him paralyzed, Saunders has become an award-winning athlete and a motivational speaker.
Saunders, who now lives in Downs, Kan., was the first person with a disability to be appointed to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He will receive the Outstanding Alumni Award from the American Association of Community Colleges on April 10 in Washington, D.C. Tonight he'll join four others in being honored by Del Mar.
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| Saunders |
Other honorees will be:
Ralph Diaz, a 1960 graduate of Ray High School, attended Del Mar from 1961-1962. Co-owner of Corpus Christi Disposal Service and Envirotech Carriers, he was named Hispanic Businessman of the Year in 1985 and 1993. Diaz serves as president of Del Mar College's Board of Regents.
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| Villagomez |
Nanette Hasette, judge of the 28th District Court, a 1979 graduate of Miller High School, earned her associate's degree from Del Mar in 1982. She continued her education at the University of Texas at El Paso. She mentors Del Mar students through the Puente Del Mar program.
Businessman Jerry Kane graduated from Ray High School in 1965 and attended Del Mar College until 1966. He completed his studies at the University of Texas in 1969. Kane, president of Corpus Christi-based Sam Kane Beef Processors Inc., serves on many boards, including those of Christus Spohn Health System and University of Texas Health Science Center and Del Mar College Foundation.
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| Kane |
Lou Villagomez, Corpus Christi's assistant police chief, graduated from Brownsville High School in 1965 and earned his associate's degree in police science from Del Mar in 1972. Villagomez teaches criminal justice as an adjunct professor at Del Mar and at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
Since 1995, the college's Former Students' Association has inducted 30 former students who work in areas that include the arts, health care, business and religion. Proceeds from the event benefit the students' association, which provides scholarships to Del Mar students.
Staff writer Cynthia Hodnett can be reached at 886-4334 or by e-mail _at hodnett@caller.com
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