DENTON (UNT), Texas — The 2014 Emerald Eagle Honors: Recognizing a Lifetime of Contributions to the American Landscape will honor outstanding UNT alumni Phyllis George, Peter Weller and Larry McMurtry on Wednesday, March 5, at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in the Dallas Arts District. Presented by the UNT Foundation, the second annual event begins with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by the awards ceremony and entertainment at 7:45 p.m.
This Kennedy Center Honors-type stage production benefits the Emerald Eagle Scholars program, which helps high-achieving but financially challenged students pursue their college dreams by providing financial aid and academic support. Because of the Emerald Eagle Scholars program, nearly 3,500 students have received an education, many of whom are first-generation college students.
The event celebrates three important alumni who have profoundly affected society and continue to make UNT proud. This year’s high-profile honorees are:
- Phyllis George, the first female sportscaster on national TV, actress and 1971 Miss America
- Larry McMurtry (’58), Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and Academy Award-winning screenwriter
- Peter Weller (’70), actor and Academy Award nominee.
Stellar in their own right, the presenters will be:
- actress Ali MacGraw, a longtime friend who worked with Weller in the film Just Tell Me What You Want;
- legendary sportscaster Brent Musburger, who co-anchored with George the groundbreaking Emmy Award winning NFL Today show
- Dallasite Robert Edsel, New York Times best-selling author of The Monuments Men now playing in theaters, who has long admired and been inspired by McMurtry’s stunning body of work.
Also, Academy Award-winning actor Jeff Bridges will salute McMurtry in a special video presentation.
Co-hosting the event will be notable alums George Dunham ('87), host of the "Dunham and Miller" show on KTCK-AM, Sportsradio 1310am/96.7fm The Ticket, and Dave Barnett, former ESPN personality and former play-by-play announcer for the Texas Rangers.
"The UNT Foundation is delighted to be presenting this event for the second time,” said Jerry Holbert, president and CEO of the UNT Foundation. “The opportunity to celebrate the success of former students who have made an enormous impact on our society, as well as current students who could one day also make such an impact, is an exciting way to connect both our history and our future."
Guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres and a cocktail buffet against a backdrop of music performed by members of UNT’s jazz program.
"The UNT Foundation is delighted to be presenting this event for the second time," said Jerry Holbert, president and CEO of the UNT Foundation. "The opportunity to celebrate the success of former students who have made an enormous impact on our society, as well as current students who could one day also make such an impact, is an exciting way to connect both our history and our future."
Guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres and a cocktail buffet against a backdrop of music performed by members of UNT’s jazz program.
The show, which begins at 7:45 p.m., will feature musicians comprised of UNT’s College of Music and the southern rock, country and soul band, Prophets and Outlaws. Several Emerald Eagle scholars will share their stories of success, made possible by the UNT Emerald Eagle Scholars program.
Last year the inaugural Emerald Eagles Honors recognized outstanding alumni ̶̶ “Mean” Joe Greene, Mary Suhm (’74 M.S., ’84 M.B.A.) and Roy Orbison. The UNT Foundation raised more than $500,000 and wowed attendees with featured musicians and even a visit by the UNT Green Brigade.
Event co-chairs are:
- Fran and Bob Kimmel
- Lyn and Bill LaMothe
- Mary Jo and V. Lane Rawlins
- Le’Nore and C. Dan Smith
- Laura and Randy Wright
Honorary chairs:
- Janet and Frank Bracken
- Myra Crownover
- Agnes L. and Charles Edward Greene
- Margaret and Lee Jackson
- Ernie Kuehne
- Ann and Ken Newman
- Alice and Erle Nye
- Sara Sue and Don Potts
- Amanda and Brint Ryan
- Mary Suhm
The event’s presenting sponsor is Newman Foundation and the UNT Foundation board of directors.
The scholarship sponsors are Wells Fargo and the Office of the President, University of North Texas.
Event sponsors are:
- Ruth and Don Buchholz
- Higginbotham/Molly and Rusty Reid
- Janet and Joseph S. Mulroy
- Alice and Erle Nye
- PGL/Lyn and Bill LaMothe
Eagle sponsors are:
- Barnes and Noble
- Ben E. Keith Foods
- Michael Burgess for Congress
- Frank Bracken Family Foundation
- C.C. Young; Charter Business
- Denton – Area Teachers Credit Union
- Denton Record-Chronicle
- Polly and Phil Diebel
- Timothy Dwight
- Agnes L. and Charles Edward Greene
- Valerie and Sam Golden
- Anne and Steven Holmes
- Suzanne and Larry Jobe
- Jostens
- Fran and Bob Kimmel
- Delva and Johnnie King
- Patty and Don Lovelace
- Linda and Jim McNatt
- Movie Tavern
- Neiman Marcus
- NORTHSTAR BANK OF TEXAS
- Park Place Jaguar Dallas and Plano
- Peterbilt Motors Company
- Judy and Jerry Pinkerton
- Mary Jo and V. Lane Rawlins
- Grant Thornton/Donna and Randy Robason
- Bette and Bob Sherman
- Le'Nore and C. Dan Smith
- Linda and Drew Springer, Sr.
- Gayle Strange
- Mary and Michael Terry
- Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton
- Elizabeth L. Todd and William H. Wilcox
- Laura and Randy Wright
Supporting sponsors are:
- Cathy Bryce and Jack Atkins
- and Horace Brock
- Meredith and Jerry Dickenson
- Shan and Jim Fincher
- Macklin’s Caterin Co.
- Alice and Filippo Masciarelli
- Metzler’s Food and Beverage
- Vernil and Charles Mitchell
- M & M, The Special Events Co.
- Charldean Newell
- Robert Trachta
- TXU Energy
- UNT Housing
- Gay and Jack Wall
Tickets can be purchased online, starting at $150. All proceeds benefit the Emerald Eagle Scholars program to help students make their dreams a reality. Learn more online or call 940-565-4555.