SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ESTABLISHES CENTER
TO HONOR PROFESSOR EMERITUS TIDWELL

HOUGHTON--The Michigan Tech School of Business and Economics has honored Professor Emeritus Sam B. Tidwell by creating the Sam B.Tidwell Center for Business Student Excellence.

The Tidwell Center consists of endowment funds to support scholarships and direct student services such as counseling, tutoring and mentoring. In addition, the newly remodeled Student Lounge in the School of Business will henceforth carry the Tidwell name.

Ed Robinson, a 1966 alumnus and chairman of the Tidwell Center Endowment Campaign, announced that the campaign is off to a good start with lead gifts of over $500,000 to date. "We will soon go public with the campaign," said Robinson, "and we expect to easily surpass our goal of one million dollars."

A native of Mississippi, Tidwell came to Michigan Tech in 1956 as associate professor in the School of Business. His wife, Mary, who holds an MA in Journalism, was soon in the classroom as well, teaching English.

"Sam's legacy is one of service at all levels of his profession, be it academia, government or private practice," said Dean of the School of Business and Economics Gene Klippel. "He was widely and often published and many of his works set industry standards. His wide acclaim in the field of accounting increased national recognition of the School and helped it capitalize on its success in those early years."

But it is in the eyes and voices of his former students that Tidwell's true legacy lies, according to Robinson. "Sam made his mark on most all of us, either directly as his students or indirectly from the legacy he left the School of Business," he said. "He was always a mentor. He always pushed us to higher achievement. He supported us long after we earned our degree."

Tidwell's impact on students reached well beyond the School of Business.

"I visit with our alumni all across the nation and from every discipline at the University," said John Sellars, senior vice president of Advancement and University Relations. "When I ask them what influenced them most in their careers it's simply amazing how many of them mention Sam Tidwell. I've worked in higher education for many years and I can tell you that teachers with that kind of impact are rare. It's just remarkable how many lives Sam touched."

Tidwell began the tradition of the Red Tie in 1956. It was one more way to stay in touch with his former students and to share in their success. He asked that whenever a former student passed the CPA exam, he or she would send Sam a red tie--the louder and more garish, the better. Sam wore the red tie in his classes for at least two days, proudly telling the story of that particular student's success. It was a tribute to the student and a display of Sam's loving pride in them. Today these ties adorn the Business School trophy case and more are forwarded to the School every year.

And the tradition of the Red Tie lives on. In order to recognize major supporters of the Tidwell Center, the School of Business has created the Sam B. Tidwell Red Tie Society, denoted by beautifully framed red ties, each emblazoned with the University seal and "School of Business/Sam B. Tidwell Center for Student Excellence". The following have received red ties as the inaugural members of the Sam Tidwell Red Tie Society:

Clarence Fisher, president--Upper Peninsula Power Company; Richard Hermann, president--Traverse Realty and Development Corp; Gary Humphreys, VP/controller--Harrow Industries; Hugh Makens, partner/attorney, law firm of Warner, Norcross and Judd; Dewaine Olson, senior VP/finance--Equifax (Ret.); Edward Robinson, principal--Edward Robinson, Consulting and Transportation; Ross Roeder, chairman and CEO--Smart & Final, Inc.; Joyce TenHaken, CPA/managing partner--TenHaken, Hinz & Carlos CPAs; Richard TenHaken, pilot--Continental Airlines; and Sam B. Tidwell, professor emeritus, MTU School of Business and Economics (Ret.).

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07/02/99