Inspiring alumni, former chancellor recognized

Four to receive KU's highest honor for service

Three KU alumni and a chancellor emeritus will be honored with Distinguished Service Citations during this year’s commencement events.

The citations, which are bestowed on those who have become leaders in their professions and communities, are the highest honor given by the university and the Kansas Alumni Association. Since 1941 the awards have been presented to those whose lives and careers have benefited humanity and inspired others.

The citation winners will be honored at the All-University Supper at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 20, in the Kansas Union ballroom. Guests include distinguished alumni, administrators, this year’s Chancellor’s Student Award recipients and past service citation winners.

Paul James Adam
Engineering, 1956

As an innovator throughout his career, Jim Adam improved not only the mechanics of fossil-fueled power plants but also the computer tools to design them and the worldwide firm responsible for plant design and construction. In 1956, he joined Black & Veatch as a mechanical engineer. Fifty years later, he remains chairman emeritus of the firm he guided through much of the 1990s as chairman and CEO. He led the firm from a partnership to a corporation with employee ownership, and he led his industry as chair of the U.S. Energy Association and the World Energy Council. In his community, Jim is known as a generous benefactor and an abiding source of wisdom, especially for the Civic Council and the United Way in Kansas City and the School of Engineering, the Alumni Association and the KU Edwards Campus.

Forrest E. Hoglund
Engineering, 1956

Forrest Hoglund embodies “drive” in every sense of the word. In the oil and gas industry, he became known for spurring small companies to big growth and top performance. He now chairs Arctic Resources Co. Ltd., a group proposing a $10 billion natural gas pipeline from northern Alaska through Canada, and SeaOne Maritime Corp., which transports natural gas. Civic leaders in Texas and Forrest’s fellow Jayhawks have trusted him to provide the “drive” behind fund-raising campaigns, most notably the historic KU First venture, which raised $653 million for the university. The Hoglund Brain Imaging Center at KU Medical Center signifies Hoglund’s quest to provide the most advanced tools to benefit medical care, teaching and research. His enthusiasm as a spokesman and investor also brought fund-raising success to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Foundation and the Museum of Natural Science in Houston. He now leads a drive for the Dallas Museum of Nature & Science.

Delbert M. Shankel
Professor and chancellor emeritus

Delbert M. “Del” Shankel has earned acclaim as a scientist, a teacher and an energetic leader who welcomes a challenge. But beyond acclaim, Shankel has earned affection from countless scholars, students and university staff members. Though his academic life began at Walla Walla College in Washington and the University of Texas, Shankel is a confirmed Jayhawk whose length and breadth of service defy concise explanation. He has served KU as department chair, dean, the first executive vice chancellor and chancellor. During critical transitions, he has served as interim athletics director, acting chancellor and interim president of the Alumni Association. Through the years he has continued to encourage young scholars in microbiology and related fields through his teaching, advising and publications. He inspires through his high ideals and his boundless loyalty.

Kala Mays Stroup
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 1959; master’s, 1964; Ph.D., 1974

She majored in speech and drama, but Kala Stroup found her home on a stage larger than any theatre. As a national leader in higher education, she became a mentor for countless young women, starting on Mount Oread, where she spent 18 years as a teacher and adviser. She served as KU dean of women before becoming the chief academic officer at Emporia State University. She then spent 12 years as a university president at Murray State University in Kentucky and Southeast Missouri State University. Both thrived under her dynamic, creative leadership. In 1995, she expanded her role in Missouri as commissioner of higher education. She is now president of American Humanics, which prepares leaders of universities and nonprofit groups. As Stroup gained national prominence, she remained faithful to KU, serving on the boards of the Emily Taylor Women’s Resource Center and the Alumni Association.