PEORIA, Ill. -- A quartet of former student-athletes will be honored during Bradley University's annual Founder's Day activities on campus today. Ron Maestri ?63 will receive the 2006 Distinguished Alumnus Award and will be inducted into the Centurion Society and Gene Morse ?59 is the 2006 recipient of the Lydia Moss Bradley Award. Maestri will be joined in the Centurion Society by former track and field participant Jerry Hayden ?59 and former basketball player and head coach Joe Stowell ?50.
The annual Founder's Day Convocation, during which the University community pays tribute to founder Lydia Moss Bradley, will begin at 10 a.m. in the Dingeldine Music Center. Faculty awards for teaching, research, and service will be announced during the ceremony. In addition, five alumni will be inducted into the Centurion Society.
Following the Convocation, the annual Founder's Day Luncheon will be held in Robertson Memorial Field House. During the Luncheon the Distinguished Alumnus, Outstanding Young Graduate, and Lydia Moss Bradley awards will be presented.
The 2006 Distinguished Alumnus Award will be presented to Ron Maestri, who is the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of the New Orleans Zephyrs AAA baseball team. A two-year member of the baseball team, Maestri entered coaching following his 1963 graduation from Bradley. He served as assistant coach at Princeville and Pekin high schools and Spalding Institute before returning to Bradley in 1967 as an assistant coach for baseball, football, and basketball. In 1971 he became head baseball coach and assistant basketball coach at the University of New Orleans and served as athletic director for U.N.O until 2000. He was Director of NCAA events for the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation from 2000 to 2005.
Maestri is a member of the New Orleans Hall of Fame, the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, the University of New Orleans Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Italian-American Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Hall of Fame, the Bradley Hall of Fame, and the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame.
Major Natalie Bonetti '94 is the recipient of the 2006 Outstanding Young Graduate Award. Bonetti is Deputy Director of Protocol, Headquarters Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. She completed the prestigious Air Force Dietetic Internship and was one of only fifty from a field of 8,000 selected to serve in the Air Force Intern Program at the Pentagon. She pioneered the development of the new Air Force Fit-to-Fight Program for all active duty military personnel, and was a key contributor to a program that spawned an unprecedented state and nationally recognized Responsible Drinking Campaign, reducing base DUIs by 27% and underage drinking by 74%.
Bonetti has been recognized as the Air Force Space Command Company Grade Dietitian of the Year, and has received two Air Force Commendation Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award for her assignment to the Joint Staff in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and the War on Terrorism. She is active in numerous civic and charitable activities including Meals on Wheels, Red Ribbon Week health fairs, and Safe Kids Day. She graduated in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in dietetics and later earned a master's degree in organizational management from The George Washington University in Washington D.C.
Gene Morse, partner, Gene Morse & Associates, Lincoln National Life Insurance, is the recipient of the Lydia Moss Bradley Award given in recognition of his outstanding commitment and service to Bradley. He is past president and lifetime member of the Bradley B-Club, and played on Bradley's first national NIT championship team in 1956. He has served on the Braves Club (formerly Chiefs Club) board, and is a member of the Bradley Athletic Hall of Fame, the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame, and the IHSA Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Morse has served on the executive committee of the Bradley University Alumni Association, holding several committee positions before serving as president. His accomplishments include restructuring the BUAA board to better reflect the needs and goals of the University, its students, staff and alumni; and refocusing the efforts of the BUAA toward enhancing the student experience through a variety of innovative programs. In addition, he is serving a second term on the Bradley University Council. He and his wife have established the Morse Endowed Scholarship at Bradley.
Founded in 1982, the Centurion Society honors alumni who have become national or international leaders in their field and recognizes them for achievements in business, public life, and their professions. The 2006 inductees are:
Anne M. Fox '63; Chief Executive Officer of the Central Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross; serves on the boards of the Forest Park Foundation, Employer's Association of Illinois; Comprehensive Bleeding Disorders Center, previously served on the Children's Home Association of Illinois Board, Peoria Public Library Board, Junior League Board, United Way of Illinois, and the Bradley University National Alumni Association; was instrumental in establishing the Community Foundation of Central Illinois; received the Junior League Volunteer of the Year Award; the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Tom Connor Award for Volunteerism; the American Red Cross Tiffany Award for Employee Excellence, the Francis M. Krosse Professions Award, the Athena Award for Professional Women, and the 25 Women in Leadership Award.
Jerry L. Hayden '59; MBA '70, Northwestern University; Chairman/CEO/Owner, Peacock Engineering Co., food packaging company with plants in Itasca, Geneva, and Carol Stream, Illinois; founder and past president Itasca Business Council; member, United Republican Fund of Illinois, World Presidents Organization; former board member Illinois Manufacturing Association, Contact Packaging Association, Young Presidents' Organization; member Bradley Athletic Hall of Fame, Bradley Track Team Captain '59; held Bradley's discus throw record for 17 years.
Francis H. “Ken” Hinton '69, M.A. '71; Superintendent, Peoria Public School District 150; General Administrative Endorsement, Illinois State University; Superintendent's Endorsement, Western Illinois University; formerly teacher, Irving School, Administrative Assistant, Harrison School and Trewyn Middle School; Principal, Harrison School; Principal, Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Education Center; Assistant Superintendent for Community Programs, Peoria Public Schools District 150; Vice President of Operations and Regional Vice President, Edison Schools, Inc.; Deputy Superintendent, District 150; actively involved in the United Way, Peoria Civic Federation, Hult Health Education Center, Vision 2020 Leadership Council, Mayor's Task Force on Education; American Red Cross, Lakeview Museum, Children's Hospital of Illinois Advisory Board; recipient, PHA Achievement Award for Community Service, African-American Hall of Fame, Dr. Martin L. King Leadership Award, Jaycees Young Educator Award, Outstanding Educational Leader Award, South Side Businessmen Eagle Award, and the Center for the Prevention of Abuse Partners in Peace Award.
Ronald J. Maestri '63, M.A. '67; Chief Operating Officer/Executive Director, New Orle?ns Zephyrs AAA Baseball Organization; Bradley Distinguished Alumnus Award 2006; held coaching positions in all sports at Princeville High School, Spalding Institute, Pekin High School and Bradley University; served as head baseball coach and assistant basketball coach, athletic director, University of New Orleans; Director of NCAA Events, New Orleans Sports Foundation; Executive Director, New Orleans Bowl 2000-2004; Executive Director, 2002 Women's NCAA Volleyball Final Four; 2003 NCAA Men's Final Four; 2004 NCAA Women's Final Four; member, NCAA Directors of Athletics Hall of Fame; Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame; New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame; Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame; American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame; University of New Orleans Hall of Fame; Louisiana Italian-American Hall of Fame; Bradley University Athletic Hall of Fame; member, American Baseball Coaches Association, United States Baseball Federation, National Association of Athletic Directors, Jefferson Parish Baseball Commission Board, New Orleans Fairgrounds Board, Boy Scouts of America Southeast Louisiana Council; established summer baseball program for more than 250 disadvantaged youth from housing projects in New Orleans area and expanded program to include camps in St. Thomas and St. Croix, Virgin Islands.
Joseph R. Stowell '50, M.A. '56; former men's and women's head basketball coach and professor of health and movement science, emeritus; began Bradley coaching career as assistant in 1956, head coach in 1965, head women's coach in 1981; conducted basketball clinics for more than 35 years world-wide including Asia, South America, Europe, Africa; IBCA Hall of Fame; Bradley Hall of Fame; 1992 IBCA Buzzy O'Connor Award for Contributions to Illinois Basketball; 1973 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year; 1973 NABC District 5 Coach of the Year; 1978 NABC Award of Merit; 1983 NABC Award of Honor; 2000 A.J. Robertson Award, 2004 Orville Nothdurft Lifetime Achievement Award; WMBD radio analyst for Bradley basketball.
