[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 58 (Thursday, May 11, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE LAMAR UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION'S AWARD RECIPIENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NICK LAMPSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2000

  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate the Lamar University 
Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. I am 
particularly proud of these recipients for two reasons, one--I am a 
Lamar University Graduate myself, and two--one of the recipients is my 
sister. This year's proud award winners are Mary Jo Lampson Ford, W.S. 
``Bud'' Leonard and Joe V. Tortorice, Jr. The Alumni Award recipients 
are all people who have gone on to great success and have made 
outstanding commitments to their alma mater and communities.
  Mary Jo Lampson Ford, my sister, became a quadriplegic after 
contracting polio when she was 14. Through therapy she regained some 
use of her arms and decided to go to college. Mary Jo earned a 
bachelor's degree in social sciences and art from Lamar State College 
of Technology in 1956.
  When Mary Jo attended Lamar it was prior to the days of the Americans 
with Disabilities Act, and the buildings were not accessible to 
wheelchairs. Mary Jo found the students and teachers accepting and 
helpful, often times carrying her up and down stairs and across campus 
because of the lack of accessibility. Mary Jo taught for seven years at 
South Park High School and went on to become a well known artist.
  The second recipient, W.S. ``Bud'' Leonard, was an organizing member 
and officer of the LU Cardinal Club, Cardinal Hall of Honor Council and 
Friends of the Arts. Bud earned an associate degree in 1950 and a 
bachelor's degree in health education in 1953 as a member of Lamar's 
first four-year graduating class. He returned to earn a master's degree 
in speech in 1976.
  Bud began 20 years of service to Lamar in 1975 as vice president of 
university relations and assistant chancellor for development, during 
which Lamar received almost $45 million in donations. He also 
volunteered before and after his tenure, offering 25 years of support. 
Bud was awarded the Golden Cardinal for exceptional service to the 
alumni association in 1985.
  Joe V. Tortorice, Jr. is the third recipient and earned a master's 
degree in business administration from Lamar in 1971. Joe developed the 
Jason's Deli chain of restaurants, which now has 80 locations. In 1976 
he opened his first restaurant, with his family serving as its 
employees and managers. The family connection has remained throughout 
the years, extending from his mother and father to his cousins. Joe and 
three of his cousins later became partners in Deli Management Inc., 
which operates in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, 
Kansas, Arizona, Tennessee, and Florida.
  Mr. Speaker, the three recipients of the Lamar University Alumni 
Association's Distinguished Alumni awards are all exceptional people. 
As a graduate of Lamar, I found my time there exhilarating--a time of 
rising expectation and rising confidence in the future and in myself. 
Lamar gave me the opportunity to try new things and meet people from 
diverse backgrounds, expanding my horizons both intellectually and 
socially. I have great admiration for Lamar, and I strongly believe 
that what I learned there has been an important factor in what I've 
been able to do since, and I know it was an important factor in the 
award recipients' accomplishments. I offer my congratulations to Mary 
Jo Lampson Ford, W.S. ``Bud'' Leonard and Joe V. Tortorice, Jr. and 
wish them continued success.

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