The University of Findlay will honor Distinguished Alumni Ron Cable ’64, Findlay; A.R. Charnes ’66, a native of French Lick, Ind.; Deborah (Edinger) Roberts ’71, Mathews, N.C.; and Michael Mallett ’88, Findlay, during Homecoming weekend Sept. 19-21.

Other honorees include the late Desmond Buford ’90, M’99, formerly of Findlay, and UF faculty member Micheal F. Anders, Ph.D., Findlay.
   
Buford is the recipient of the Gold Medallion Award, which is presented in memory of an alumnus or alumna and in recognition of outstanding service and accomplishments during his or her lifetime. Anders will receive the Arch Award, established to recognize outstanding service by a staff member of the University.

Ron Cable ’64

Ron Cable, Findlay, served from 1964 to 1995 as band and choir teacher at Arlington Local School, where he also coached the junior varsity girls’ basketball team for 10 years. He founded the Arlington All Brass Marching Band, and he received the Hancock County Teacher of the Year Award. Since 1997, he has been assistant director of The University of Findlay’s “Marching Oiler Brass.” Professionally, he has served as president of the Arlington Teachers Association and the Hancock County Music Teachers Association. He is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, the Ohio Music Education Association and the Ohio Education Association. Cable has served since 2001 as a member of the Blanchard Valley Center Human Rights Board, and served from 1992 to 2000 as a member of the center’s Board of Education. He is the current chairman and a two-term member of the board of directors of Hancock Federal Credit Union. In addition to his professional work at UF, he has maintained his close connection with his alma mater through his service as a member of the Alumni Board of Governors and by volunteering at alumni events.

A.R. Charnes ’66

A.R. Charnes, a native of French Lick, Ind., and a new resident of McCormick, S.C., began his career with Marathon Oil Co. in Findlay, which he joined immediately after graduation. For 22 years, Charnes worked with Marathon as a manager in a variety of assignments. In 1988, he joined the management team of Getty Petroleum Corp. as New England regional manager and later was promoted to northern division manager. In January 1988, he was named general manager of marketing for Getty’s corporate office in Jericho, N.Y. He was elected vice president of marketing in September of that year, a position he held through the January 2001 takeover of Getty Petroleum by Lukoil Inc., and until his retirement in February 2008. Charnes participated in various oil industry organizations, including the Independent Oil Marketers Association of New England and the National Association of Convenience Stores. He is a member of The University of Findlay Alumni Association and Varsity “F” Alumni and was active in youth groups in various communities where he and his family were located.

Deborah (Edinger) Roberts ’71

Deborah (Edinger) Roberts, Mathews, N.C., taught in public schools in Ohio, California, Connecticut and North Carolina. This fall, she began her 10th year as a physical education teacher in the Charlotte Mecklenburg (N.C.) School System, where she has served as chair of the Special Area Team, the Social Committee, PBIS (discipline area) and the Faculty Advisory Committee; member of the Intervention Team and the Curriculum Committee, and as representative to the CMS Teacher Advisory Committee. She was named Outstanding Teacher Assistant in the Accelerated Readers Program in 2008 for her work with English as a Second Language (ESL) students in the program. Throughout her career, Roberts has been active in the community, including service as president and treasurer of the Connecticut Gymnastic School Booster Club, PTA president and past president at Butler High School, PTA treasurer for Chantilly Elementary School, vice president of Charlotte-Mecklenburg PTA Council and leader of Charlotte Bible Study Fellowship. In Mathews, N.C., she has been active in the Matthews United Methodist Church. She also has worked as a volunteer at Presbyterian Hospital, and as a board member and chair of the Family Selection Committee for Habitat for Humanity in Matthews.

Michael H. Mallett, ’88

Michael H. Mallett, Findlay, is founder and president of Corporate Research International (CRI), a market research company that has experienced phenomenal growth. The company has been named three times to the Inc. 500, the magazine’s list of the nation’s 500 fastest-growing private companies, employing 183 in-house employees and generating revenue of over $10 million. Mallett is currently serving as a founding board member of the Downtown Development Organization, whose mission is to continue the growth of Findlay by bringing additional companies to the area and to add jobs to the community. He also serves on the advisory board of The University of Findlay’s College of Business. In July of this year, Mallett’s family established the Dr. Jerry J. Mallett Institute Endowment Fund at the Mazza Museum in honor of M. Mallett’s father, who was the museum’s founding director and now serves as its curator.

Desmond V. Buford ’90, M’99

The late Desmond V. Buford, formerly of Findlay, is the recipient of the Gold Medallion Award, established in 1993 and presented in memory of an alumnus and in recognition of outstanding service and accomplishments during his lifetime. Buford, who had worked in athletics and admissions and served as the University’s director of Intercultural Student Services, passed away unexpectedly April 5, 2007, at Blanchard Valley Hospital at the age of 40. Buford became an assistant men’s basketball coach upon graduation and joined the admissions office as a counselor. He was named assistant director of admissions in 1993 and associate director of admissions in 1999. He served as interim director of admissions in 2004-05 in addition to his other responsibilities. In September of 2002, he was named executive director of minority student services. He was an assistant men’s basketball coach under coach Ron Niekamp from 1991-1998. Buford is remembered for his kind, gentle and caring ways, and for his positive influence on many aspects of life on campus and in the community, including serving as an active member of the Alumni Board of Governors.

Dr. Micheal F. Anders

Dr. Micheal F. Anders, Findlay, is the 2008 recipient of the Arch Award, established in 2004 to recognize outstanding service by a staff member of the University. A native of Texas, Anders began his career in his home state. Anders came to then-Findlay College in 1981 and earned his doctoral degree in historical musicology at The Ohio State University while working at UF, taking a sabbatical in 1997 to finish his dissertation. At UF, he received the Elizabeth S. Gupta Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Fine Arts in 2008 and the Founders’ Award for Academic Excellence in 1996, while earning numerous honors from outside organizations. In addition to teaching, he directs the UF Concert-Chorale and the University Singers show choir, and serves as producer, music director and conductor of an annual musical production. Anders holds numerous academic and institutional committee positions. Anders has also worked to build financial support for the music program at The University of Findlay, assisting with fund raising for music scholarships, building renovations and new equipment as well as the general University endowment, securing more than $350,000 in funding over the past 10 years. He also volunteers with the Arts Partnership of Hancock County.