Texas Exes Celebrates Six Distinguished Alumni

By Rose Cahalan in Special, TXEX on October 14, 2011 at 3:45 pm | No Comments

It’s the highest honor The University of Texas can bestow on an ex-student: the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

And today, after months of preparation, six accomplished alumni will join those historic ranks in a red-carpet ceremony at the LBJ Library, followed by a reception at the Alumni Center.

More than 400 alumni and friends will attend. The Longhorn Band will even make a spirited appearance.

The honorees who will receive traditional orange blazers tonight include:

• John W. Barnhill, Jr., BJ ’59, retired executive vice president of Blue Bell Creameries and a former UT regent;
• I. Jon Brumley, BBA ’61, chairman & CEO of Bounty Investments;
• Jane Chesnutt, BJ ’73, civic leader and former editor-in-chief of Woman’s Day Magazine;
• James R. Huffines, BBA ’73,  president and COO of PlainsCapital Corporation and former chairman of the UT Board of Regents;
• Jodie L. Jiles, MPA ’79, Houston, managing director of RBC Capital Markets;
• The Honorable Pamela P. Willeford, BA ’72, Austin, former U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein.

The 2011 Distinguished Alumni at a Friday afternoon rehearsal. From left: John Barnhill, Jon Brumley, Jane Chesnutt, James Huffines, Jodie Jiles, and Pamela Willeford.

Tags: award, ceremony, daa, distinguished alumni, James Huffines, Jane Chesnutt, Jodie Jiles, john barnhill, Pam Willeford, texas exes