JSU News

Outstanding Alumni Awards: Hobbs, Cole, Pruitt, McPherson, Gregg


Patty Hobbs	Jerry Cole	Jeh Jeh Pruitt


David McPherson	Kelly Gregg

JACKSONVILLE -- October 9, 2002 -- Jacksonville State University's Alumni Association will present the annual Outstanding Alumni Awards during halftime at Homecoming on Saturday, November 9 at Paul Snow Stadium.

Awards will be presented as follows:

-- PATRICIA "PATTY" ANNE HOBBS OF ALEXANDRIA, VA, ALUMNA OF THE YEAR. Hobbs is director of internal communications for the U. S. Department of Education. A 20-year federal employee, Hobbs worked on Capitol Hill and at the White House before joining the Department of Education in 1985. She taught fifth grade at Weaver Elementary School before moving to Washington, D. C. in 1980. Her first job there was as staff assistant to then Congressman Dick Cheney. She moved on to work in campaigns during the election cycle of 1982 and then joined the White House staff during the first term of President Ronald Reagan. She then joined Education Secretary William J. Bennett at the U. S. Department of Education in 1985. Hobbs received a B. S. in education in 1976 and the M. S. in Education in 1978, both at JSU. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Hobbs of Weaver.

-- JERRY COLE OF WEAVER, ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR. Cole, born in Heflin and raised in Weaver, was JSU's first full-time athletic director, serving from 1973 until his retirement in 1997. Cole, who played four years of football at JSU under Coach Don Salls, graduated in 1957 with a B. S. in business. After graduation, he was commissioned through the ROTC program and served in the regular army. The Gamecock athletic program accomplished more than any NCAA Division II school in history under Cole's leadership. The Gamecocks became the only Division II program in NCAA history to be crowned national champions in the three major sports, with titles in football, basketball and baseball. JSU also claimed a pair of national championships in gymnastics under his leadership. Cole led Jacksonville State to Division I in 1995 and aligned most of the university's athletics programs with the Trans America Athletic Conference in January, 1995, and helped the Gamecocks become a charter member of the Southland Football League in July, 1995. He retired in 1997 following more than 24 years of service. Cole is married to the former Ellen Goins, JSU classes of '91/'93.

-- JEH JEH PRUITT OF BIRMINGHAM, YOUNG ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR. Pruitt, a FOX6 newsman, began his television career as an intern for FOX6 while a communication major at Jacksonville State University. After receiving his B. A. from JSU in 1995, he moved west, working as a general assignment reporter at KWES-TV in Midland, Texas. He worked in Texas eight months before returning to Birmingham in April, 1996. Pruitt's first assignment was as a news photographer, but within six months he was reporting. He honed his skills at FOX6's Anniston Bureau, and in January of 1997 he was brought back to the Magic City to work on Good Day Alabama. Pruitt also gives back to the community by working with children, helping out with the FOX6 School Clean-up and FOX6 Gifts for Kids. Pruitt is also involved with the Kidney Foundation, inspiring others to help raise money in the fight against kidney disease.

-- COL. DAVID A. McPHERSON OF JACKSONVILLE, MILITARY ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR. McPherson is director of information management, STARC headquarters, Alabama Army National Guard and manager (GS 13) of the Fort McClellan Army National Guard Training Center. McPherson was commissioned through JSU's ROTC program in 1974 and has more than 28 years of commissioned service. He received a B. A. in psychology at JSU in 1974. His duty assignments have included: chief, logistics division, detachment 2 (training center) STARC; deputy post commander, detachment 2, (training site), STARC; and chief, plans, operations, training and security branch, detachment 2 (training site), STARC. His military decorations include Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster, and National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star. McPherson is married to the former Angie Ledbetter, JSU classes of '82/'85.

-- DR. KELLY D. GREGG OF JACKSONVILLE, OUTSTANDING FACULTY MEMBER. Dr. Gregg, associate professor of geography, is a native of Wichita, Kansas. He received the B.S. in geography, the M.S. in soils and the M.A. in geography at Kansas State and the Ph.D. in geography at the University of Kansas. Gregg taught as an instructor at the University of Kansas and served as visiting professor at Northern Michigan University before joining the JSU Department of Geography. During his ten years at JSU he has taught introductory courses in geography and geology and estimates that he has taught more than 5,000 students during his time here. He has written three lab manuals that have generated funds to purchase instructional equipment. Gregg has also received research grants from NASA, the National Science Foundation and the National Park Service. He is involved with international programs at JSU and is co-founder and a board member of the Little River Canyon Field School. Gregg is married to the former Karen Brunnenkant.


© Copyright 2002: Jacksonville State University			Pagemaster