UW to Honor Four Outstanding Alumni at Homecoming

Four University of Wyoming alumni will be honored during this year’s Homecoming for exhibiting great achievements throughout their professional careers.

Chad C. Deaton, Greg Hill and Dr. Wayne Wingfield have been selected for the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award. Frank Mendicino is this year’s Medallion Service Award recipient.

The UW Alumni Association annually recognizes graduates of the university for acclaimed accomplishments through their life’s work by awarding them the title of Distinguished Alumni. This honor is awarded to those who demonstrate strong moral integrity and value the importance of their time spent at UW.

The Medallion Service Award is a prestigious recognition that is given to those who have demonstrated exceptional service to the university. To be eligible for this award, individuals must have given their unending support to the university and demonstrate strong virtue.

“The Distinguished Alumni and Medallion Service Award program is a great inspiration for alumni and students by allowing them to see all of the great accomplishments past graduates have done,” says UW Alumni Association Executive Director Keener Fry. “Recognizing alumni brings tremendous honor to the University of Wyoming.”

Deaton, who graduated from the university in 1976 with a B.S. degree in geology, has worked for Schlumberger Oilfield Services, and served as the CEO of Hanover Compressor Company and then for Baker Hughes Inc. until his retirement in 2012. Deaton still serves on the Baker Hughes Inc. board, the UW Foundation board and on the Governor’s Energy, Engineering and Stem Integration Task Force.

Hill is a 1983 graduate who earned a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering. He is chief operating officer and president of exploration and production, worldwide, for Hess Corporation. Hill also serves on the board for the UW Foundation, and Gov. Matt Mead appointed him to serve on the Energy, Engineering and Stem Integration Task Force.

Wingfield received his B.S. in physiology and zoology in 1964, along with his M.S. in entomology two years later. Wingfield was a professor of medicine, as well as chief of emergency and critical care medicine at the Colorado State University (CSU) Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Before retiring in 2001, he was selected as an outstanding faculty member at CSU. 

Mendicino graduated in 1962 with a B.S. degree in business, followed by a Juris Doctor in 1970, as well as an honorary doctoral law degree in 2005. Mendicino is an attorney and partner in the firm Access Venture Partners. During his career, he served one term in the state Legislature, and served as attorney general under Gov. Ed Herschler. Mendicino serves on the UW Foundation Board of Directors and is involved in numerous other projects at UW. 

The UW Alumni Association will celebrate the honorees throughout the Homecoming weekend, and each recipient will be recognized during the halftime show at the football game Oct. 17.

Distinguished Alumni and Medallion Service Award recipients may be nominated by anyone, and nomination forms are available on the UW Alumni Association website.

For more information about this year’s recipients or awards given, call the UW Alumni Association at (307) 766-4166 or visit www.uwyo.edu/alumni.