2016 Homecoming Honorees

ENMU Foundation Awards

Business of the Year Rooney Moon Broadcasting

Rooney Moon Broadcasting’s fundamental philosophy is having “community commitment.” Owners Steve Rooney and Duffy Moon recognize that the legacy of local media is in servicing the local communities, and the station group donates thousands of dollars’ worth of airtime to community issues and events.

Rooney and Moon believe it is their obligation to be as supportive as they can to the University—the cornerstone of Portales. Their flagship station, KSEL-FM, broadcasts local sports for ENMU. Their support also extends to the other educational institutions in town, including the Portales Rams and all the smaller local schools for whom they broadcast a large number of post-season athletics and state championship games.

Rooney Moon Broadcasting believes that supporting the community in general is where the future of radio is, and although radio faces challenges with other competitive mediums, the one thing that local radio can do that the others can’t is be supportive of the community.

In addition to their support of local education, Rooney Moon Broadcasting is involved with many local organizations, including United Way, Food Bank and Meals on Wheels, giving both financial contributions and donation of airtime. In 2002, Rooney Moon started their annual Secret Santa program to help families in need by providing gifts, Christmas trees and food during the holiday. To date, the program has helped 133 struggling families, and Mix 107.5 and the company’s listeners have donated more than $272,000. The company has also funded trips to Iraq, Japan and Guam to visit local service members stationed in those countries.

Philanthropist of the Year Sandra Matteucci

Sandra Matteucci (BA 60) is known for her longtime giving spirit and supports Eastern because she wholeheartedly believes in the University’s mission for student success and appreciates the education she received.

Sandra began contributing to the ENMU Foundation’s University Fund in 1989, and since then, she has actively invested in the future of ENMU through Starter Scholarships and more. Realizing the increasing cost and challenges associated with attending college, Sandra is directly impacting generations of

ENMU students, helping them to achieve the quality education that she so greatly values.

In addition to her philanthropic generosity, Sandra tries to promote Eastern in every way that she can. She uses her ENMU license plate in the Arizona where she is one of many ‘Greyhounds in the desert.’ She also shares alumni bond with her son, James (BBA 89) who followed in his mother’s footsteps three decades later. Sandra loves Eastern—and loves people to know she loves Eastern.

Volunteers of the Year Thurman and Alta Elder

Math and computer science professor Dr. Thurman Elder (MA 66, BS 64) spent more than 30 years as an ENMU faculty member. He served as department chair of Mathematical Sciences from 1981-97, ENMU’s Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences from 1997-2006 and briefly as the interim Dean of the College of Business. The Faculty Athletic Representative for 13 years, Dr. Elder acted as liaison between ENMU, the NCAA and the Lone Star Conference. Now retired, Dr. Elder’s love for ENMU has not faded. He currently serves on the Greyhound Club board, ENMU Foundation board and ENMU Athletics Hall of Honors committee.

Alta Elder (MED 83, BSE 81) joined ENMU in 2004. As the College of Education’s Outreach Coordinator, she acts as liaison between ENMU and all public school districts. She has served on the Alumni board since 1994 and is a part of the ENMU Educators’ Hall of Honor committee, ENMU Women, and the Golden Apple Nomination committee. She is also a dedicated basketball mom.

For both Thurman and Alta Elder, their thoughts became words, and their words became deeds. As proud alumni, they are active supporters of ENMU students and programs. Their generous volunteerism demonstrates their belief that it’s better to give than receive.

2016 Outstanding Alumni

Dimas Chavez

Over the course of his career, Dimas Chavez (BA 60) distinguished himself at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

He served as the Employee Relations Manager at LANL from 1975-80 and as Assistant to the Director from 1980-83. The NSF tapped Dimas to work as a program manager and special assistant to the director from 1983-87, and from the late 1980s until 2000 he held numerous posts at the State Department. Dimas led the implementation of the inaugural overseas Radio-Frequency Shielding Program designed to protect the sensitive, electronic information of overseas U.S. posts. He also served as the inaugural branch chief for the Construction Accreditation Program, as well as the Senior Security Inspector for the Moscow Oversight Team—the lead physical and technical inspector during the construction of the New Moscow Embassy Compound from 1997-2000.

In 2000, Dimas transitioned to the CIA and served for 10 years as Senior Technical and Physical Security Officer and Director of Marine Security and Liaison Inspection Division. In these roles, he oversaw the technical, security and infrastructural integrity of various, critical overseas facilities essential to U.S. intelligence efforts. Dimas remains active in retirement and penned his life story in his 2014 autobiography On My Own.

Harold Hahn

Harold Hahn (BBA 73) is the Chairman and CEO of Rocky Mountain Mortgage Company (RMMC). In 1974 Harold began his career in the mortgage banking industry with Mortgage Investment Company (MICO). He became a vice president at the age of 26 and subsequently assumed responsibility for the company’s construction lending and loan production. After 10 years, MICO was sold to a Houston-based savings bank, so with the backing of financial partners, Harold founded RMMC in 1985. As Chairman, director and shareholder, Harold oversees general and administrative duties, loan servicing, banking relations and secondary marketing. His partner of over 30 years, Bill Hagan (BS 75), is also an ENMU graduate.

In 2011, former Texas Governor Rick Perry appointed Harold as Chairman of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and he served for five years. Under Harold’s leadership, THECB concluded its 15-year initiative ‘Closing the Gap,’ a comprehensive program designed to strengthen student participation and success, improve institutional excellence at Texas colleges and universities, and increase the amount of federal research dollars awarded to Texas.

This past June, Harold and his wife, alumnae Beth Hahn (BA 75), celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary. The two met while they were students at ENMU.

Marty Rowley

Marty Rowley (BS 78) achieved shareholder status of Amarillo law firm Underwood, Wilson, Berry, Stein and Johnson, P.C. in 1987 and specialized in insurance defense, commercial, oil & gas and employment law during his eight-year tenure.

Three years later he co-founded Sprouse, Mozola, Smith and Rowley, P.C. (currently Sprouse Shrader Smith, P.C.) and worked there from 1990-2002, serving as a managing shareholder from 1995-2000. Over 12 years, the firm blossomed from five to 50 attorneys, and numerous organizations, including the Texas Bar Foundation and the U.S. District Courts, Northern Division of Texas, recognized Marty for his exemplary legal work.

Marty took his exemplary skillset and transitioned to the ministry from 2003-09 as Executive Pastor and Senior Pastor for the 8,000-member Trinity Fellowship Church. His responsibilities included overseeing a $12 million annual budget, 125 employees, a private school and an outreach center, as well as the completion of a $36 million building project.

In 2013 Marty returned to the law firm he co-founded as COO. He remained there until last year when he started his own law firm, Marty L. Rowley, P.C.