Special to The Messenger

Oct. 19, 2000 10 PM

Troy State University will honor three graduates and a special university friend as part of Homecoming activities on Oct. 28.

The Distinguished Alumni of the Year awards and Honorary Alumnus of the Year award will be presented at halftime of the Homecoming football game against Nicholls State University. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Richard M. Scrushy Field at Memorial Stadium.

Recipients of the Distinguished Alumni of the Year awards are Bobby N. Bright and Larry J. Hughes, both of Montgomery. Wanda M. Motes of Jack and Jimmy C. Lunsford of Troy will be recognized as Honorary Alumnus of the Year.

Award recipients are chosen annually by a vote of the TSU National Alumni Association board, which solicits nominations from TSU alumni and the general public. The honorary alumnus award is given to a non-alumnus supporter of the university.

"These are the highest honors the Alumni Association Board can award," said Faith Ward, director of Alumni Affairs. "The board recognizes alumni who are successful in their careers and civic lives and who are loyal friends of TSU. We always have many outstanding candidates to choose from."

The 2000 Distinguished Alumni of the Year award recipients are:

Bobby N. Bright of Montgomery, has served as the city’s mayor since November 1999. He graduated from Troy State University in 1977 with a master of science degree in criminal justice.

An attorney, Bright previously served as chief counsel for the Alabama Department of Corrections and has worked in private practice in Montgomery. he serves as chairman of the board of the Arts Council of Montgomery, is a member of the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Montgomery and serves on advisory boards for a number of Montgomery-area organizations. He is a deacon of First Baptist Church of Montgomery.

Bright has helped the development of the Rosa Parks Library and Museum at Troy State University Montgomery. He enabled the city’s loan of significant historical documents regarding the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the museum and has facilitated the city’s resurfacing of streets near the museum. He is also a member of the museum’s advisory board.

Larry J. Hughes of Montgomery is the founder and president of Ichthus Consulting, Inc., a medical practice management-consulting firm. He received a bachelor of science degree from Troy State University in 1972.

In addition to leading Ichthus Consulting, Hughes is founder and president of Southeastern Home Care and is a managing partner of Meritage Office Group and Halcyon Park. He is a lifetime member of the Alabama Sheriff’s Boys and Girls Ranches Builders Club, a supporter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a charter member of the Exchange Club of Troy. He is chairman of the parish-staff committee of Frazer united Methodist Church.

Hughes is a member of the Troy State University Alumni Association and the Troy State University Chancellor’s Club.

Wanda M. Motes of Jack is recently retired as a full-time instructor of mathematics at Enterprise State Junior College. She is a 1970 graduate of Troy State University, earning a bachelor’s of science degree in mathematics. She has also received a master’s degree and an education specialist degree from TSU.

A career educator, Motes taught for Troy City Schools and Enterprise City Schools before joining Enterprise State Junior College in 1990. She has served as an adjunct instructor at TSU since 1984. Motes has received several awards during her career, including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching, the Tandy Technology Scholar Outstanding Teacher Award and the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award at Troy State University.

Motes’ two daughters are also TSU graduates.

Jimmy C. Lunsford of Troy is the Honorary Alumnus of the Year award winner.

Lunsford, the mayor of Troy, was first elected to the position in 1982 and has since been re-elected five times. He also works with The Principal Financial Group and is a former employee of the Alabama Development Office.

Lunsford serves on the board of trustees of Edge Regional Medical Center and on the board of directors of the Southeast Alabama Gas District. He serves on several statewide governmental boards and agencies, as well.

A key supporter of Troy State University, Lunsford has worked closely with university officials to build a strong "town and gown" relationship between TSU and the city of Troy. His leadership was instrumental in the city’s commitment of $4.5 million in 1997 to fund construction and renovation projects at TSU.