FOR RELEASE: April 28, 1999
CONTACT: Mari Serebrov, University Relations -- (501) 575-5555
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS TO CHALLENGE CLASS OF 1999
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- A veteran of U.S. politics and an international business leader will share the honor and responsibility of sending the Class of 1999 into the world at this year's University-wide commencement.
Sen. Dale Bumpers and Frederick W. Smith, who will both receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at commencement, will speak at the ceremony at 9 a.m. May 8.
A UA alumnus, Bumpers served two terms as governor of Arkansas and then went on to the U.S. Senate for more than 24 years. His Senate career ended with his retirement last year.
This semester, Bumpers brought his expertise to the U of A as a distinguished professor of policy.
Bumpers also will be the main speaker at the commencement for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at noon May 8 in the Broyles Complex.
A native of Marks, Miss., Smith founded Federal Express in 1971. He currently serves as president and chief executive officer of FDX Corp. -- a $16-billion global transportation and logistics holding company formed last year when Federal Express acquired Caliber System Inc.
Smith is a leader in regulatory reform and an active proponent of global commerce and "open skies agreements" for aviation around the world.
Myra McLarey, founder of Corporate Writing Works and a creative writing professor at Harvard, will speak at the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences commencement at 12:30 p.m. May 8 in Bud Walton Arena.
A native Arkansan, McLarey has written several books. Her first novel, Water From the Well, received critical acclaim and has been translated into German, Norwegian and French. She and Sidney Moncrief co-authored Moncrief, My Journey to the NBA.
While at the U of A in the late 1980s, McLarey taught western civilization and conducted a research project in African-American oral history in Arkansas.
The Sam M. Walton College of Business Administration has invited W. Barger Tygart to speak at its ceremony at 12:30 p.m. May 8 in Barnhill Arena.
Tygart joined J. C. Penney Co. in 1960 and worked his way to president and chief operating officer. He retired last year as vice chairman of the board.
A native Arkansan, Tygart serves on the Dean's Executive Advisory Board for the business college.
Dennis Jones, an associate professor of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, will speak at the School of Architecture commencement at 2 p.m. May 8 in Giffels Auditorium, Old Main.
Besides his teaching duties, Jones consults on computer graphics and information systems and is a design resource expert for the National Mayor's Institute on Design.
In 1995 he was recognized by the U of A as a distinguished professor and minority fellow.
Arkansas' newest senator, Blanche Lincoln, will be the commencement speaker for the College of Education and Health Professions at 3 p.m. May 8 in Barnhill Arena.
First elected to Congress in 1992, Lincoln was the first woman to represent Arkansas' First Congressional District. Elected to the Senate last year, she serves on the Agriculture Committee, Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Special Committee on Aging and the Social Security Task Force.
The College of Engineering has asked Kirk P. Pond, an alumnus, to speak at its commencement at 3:30 p.m. May 8 in Bud Walton Arena.
Pond is the chief executive officer of Fairchild Semiconductor Corp based in Portland, Maine. Pond began his career in the semiconductor industry in 1968 with Texas Instruments, moving up to corporate vice president. He also has served as senior vice president of Timex Corp. and executive vice president and chief operating officer for National Semiconductor.
Pond is a member of the UA Engineering Advisory Council.
William R. Wilson Jr., the U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas, will speak at the Law School commencement at 1:30 p.m. May 15 at the Walton Arts Center.
Wilson, who attended the U of A, was named to the federal court in 1993. Besides practicing law, he served as attorney general of Arkansas under Gov. David Pryor and lectured at the UA School of Law in Little Rock.
He was appointed by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist as the only Arkansan to serve on the U.S. Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Judicial Conference.
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