[081]MTSU ALUMNI OF DISTINCTION

Release date: Sept. 5, 2008


News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
MTSU Alumni Relations contact: Michelle Stepp, 615-898-2922

MTSU ALUMNI OF DISTINCTION
Hooper, Pettus, Victory are Distinguished Alumni;
Burt is Young Alumni Achievement Honoree

(MURFREESBORO) — The MTSU Alumni Association has announced its three Distinguished Alumni and one Young Alumni Achievement Award recipients for 2008-09.
The Distinguished Alumni recipients include:
• Linda Hooper (’63) of Whitwell, Tenn., who is being honored in the Professional Achievement category;
• Timothy E. “Tim” Pettus (’73) of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., who is being recognized in the Service to the Community category; and
• Kenneth Wayne “Coon” Victory (’67) of Smyrna, Tenn., who is being saluted in the Service to the University category.
The Young Alumni Achievement honoree is:
• Micheal J. Burt (’98, ’02) of Murfreesboro.
The MTSU Alumni Association annually seeks and accepts nominations for the Distinguished Alumni and Young Alumni Achievement Awards. The selection is made from candidates who have distinguished themselves by obtaining a high level of service to their profession, their community and/or MTSU.
For more than 30 years, Hooper has been a public school educator, most recently as principal at Whitwell Middle School. In 2007, she was the recipient of the Joseph Prize for service to humanity for the Paper Clips Project.
Pettus serves as president of First Farmers and Merchants Bank and Corporation in Columbia, Tenn., and head of Pettus-McLain Trucking Co. Inc. He has volunteered for many local organizations and he has been an ardent MTSU supporter.
Victory is the former president and CEO of Crosslin Supply Co. Inc. where he worked for 45 years before retiring, and he has been involved in many local, state and national organizations. He has many ties to MTSU’s athletic and alumni efforts.
Burt recently left a successful career coaching girls’ basketball to found his own company, Maximum Success. He has become an author, a sought-after speaker and consultant, teacher/professor, facilitator and continual learner.
For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.

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