UW College of Arts and Sciences Names 2002 Outstanding Alumni

May 20, 2002 -- Thomas E. Spicer, William T. Baxter, and Melvin (Mel) Monroe Cox are the University of Wyoming College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Alumni for 2002.

The College of Arts and Sciences will honor the three at a banquet Friday, May 31, in the Wyoming Union Yellowstone Room. For more information, call (307) 766 2655 or e mail asdean@uwyo.ed.

Spicer, a physician from Rock Springs, has been a member of the UW Board of Trustees since 1997 and served as board president for the past two years. He also is a member of the UW Foundation Board of Directors, the UW Health Sciences Strategic Planning Council, and the College of Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors.

After earning a B.S. degree in zoology and physiology (1970) from the university, Spicer received his M.D. at the University of Washington. He currently operates a private practice of cosmetic, reconstructive, and hand surgery in Rock Springs. Spicer helped establish UW's WWAMI medical education program and served on the program's admissions committee between 1996-2000.

Spicer also is active in numerous professional organizations.

Baxter earned a B.S. (1987) and M.S. (1988) degrees in computer science from UW. He co founded Bsquare in 1994 to provide hardware and software solutions for companies developing smart device systems. Baxter currently is chairman, CEO, and president of the company, located in Bellevue, Wash.

Bsquare has received numerous awards, including the Washington State Governor's Award for Outstanding Contribution to Technology.

Cox earned a B.A. (1969) degree in political science from UW and a J.D. (1972) from Harvard University. Cox currently is corporate vice president, general counsel, and secretary of Sun Chemical the world's largest manufacturer of high quality printing inks and coatings and high performance organic pigments.

While a Harvard law student, Cox redrafted the Wyoming Statutory Water Law, bringing it up to date and instituting a fair allocation scheme for Wyoming's water resources among native peoples, agriculturists, and industry and domestic users, while emphasizing environmental conservation. Subsequently, his work was enacted into law by the legislature and is the basis of Wyoming water law today.

A major benefactor of the UW Department of Theatre and Dance, Cox's continued support of the Snowy Range Dance Festival gives young dancers in the Rocky Mountain Region an opportunity to study with the finest choreographers in the field. In addition, the Mel Cox Excellence Fund in the Department of Theatre and Dance allows students to participate in regional and national competitions. Cox provided financial support to bring The Laramie Project to Laramie after the play closed off Broadway.

He serves as a member of the UW Foundation Board and the College of Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors.

Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002