Five of our finest

by Sandy Woodward

The impact of Clemson University can be judged by the achievements of its alumni — Clemson people who take their education and transform the life they’re given.

We take great pride in introducing the Clemson Alumni Association’s 2005 Distinguished Service Award recipients — five individuals who have achieved personal and professional success while making invaluable contributions to the University and the world around them.

photo by Caroline Joe	Mendal Alex Bouknight ’74 The traits that made Mendal Bouknight a Tiger letterman in cheerleading have made him successful in life: loyalty, commitment, passion and abiding love for Clemson. Bouknight grew up on a farm in the Dutch Fork area where his father, Alex '33, was Lexington County Extension leader. At Clemson, Bouknight majored in parks, recreation and tourism management, combining his people skills with a focus on community. When he wasn't cheering the Tigers, Bouknight was using his energy as a member of Blue Key and Kappa Sigma Fraternity, as president of Tiger Brotherhood and as first president of the Student Alumni Council. After graduation, he managed 4-H Club programs for Clemson Extension in Richland County and then accepted a position with Kappa Sigma, visiting more than 125 colleges and universities. Bouknight later served as associate vice president of Emory University's Woodruff Health Sciences Center and director of institutional advancement for Emory Crawford Long Hospital. The Atlanta community has benefited greatly from his service to the United Way, the All Saints Episcopal Church Men's Shelter Program, the Center for Positive Aging, the High Museum of Art and the Atlanta Chapter for the Association of Fund Raising Professionals. Bouknight has held virtually every volunteer role in the Atlanta Clemson Club, including president. He served on the Clemson Alumni Council and was president in 1996-97. He also co-chaired the advancement committee of the Commission on the Future of Clemson. A longtime IPTAY member, he represented the Alumni Association on the IPTAY board. In 1999, he returned to Clemson as chief development officer and senior director of development. After five successful years at Clemson, he and his wife, Debbie, and son, Wes, returned to Atlanta, where he's now vice president for development for Piedmont Healthcare and executive director of the Piedmont Hospital Foundation.
	Deborah Brockman DuBose ’75 Debbie DuBose was born in Greenwood, attended elementary school in Johnston, middle school in McCormick and high school in Seneca. She is South Carolina to the core. But she’s Clemson to the bone. In 1971, DuBose entered Clemson, where her father, Hiram, had graduated in 1951. Her performance as a secondary English education major earned her induction into the Order of Athena (now Mortar Board) and Phi Kappa Phi honorary societies. She was also chapter president of Delta Delta Delta, a member of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, and a summa cum laude graduate. Her first job after graduation was a summer position at the Duke Power Oconee Nuclear facility. She then moved through the organization to administrative manager of the Oconee Nuclear Station, a position she held until Clemson came calling. In 1987, DuBose became the first woman director of the Clemson Alumni Association. Over the next 15 years, she served as chief development officer and interim vice president for advancement while leading the University’s alumni program, historic properties department, visitors center and annual fund. She was inducted into Tiger Brotherhood and Blue Key. DuBose was the first woman president of the Seneca Chamber of Commerce. She’s held leadership positions with the United Way, Oconee County Prevent Child Abuse and the Pendleton District Historical and Recreation Commission. In 2003, she became director of the Oconee Memorial Hospital Foundation, where she’s responsible for the hospital’s first-ever capital campaign. She continues to serve the University as a board member of the Rutland Ethics Center and chair of planning committees for the University’s 50th anniversary of coeducation and the 30th reunion for the classes of 1974-76. DuBose and her husband, Bob ’75, have two daughters, Anna and Brock.
	Fletcher Earle Gaulden ’51 Earle Gaulden’s life has been filled with accomplishments. As a Clemson cadet, the Laurens native served in leadership roles with the Minarets architectural honor society, Blue Key and Tiger Brotherhood. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a lieutenant and served in the Korean War. He began his career as an architect in 1956 and the next year co-founded the Greenville-based firm of Craig Gaulden Davis. He’s led numerous organizations, including the Greenville Art Association, the Pleasantburg Rotary Club, United Way, the city construction board of adjustments and appeals, and the Greenville chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Gaulden has left an indelible mark on the practice of architecture, and his firm’s work has won numerous state and regional design awards including more than 50 award-winning library projects. Clemson has benefited from his expertise, most notably in his leadership of the Military Heritage Plaza design and development committee. Gaulden has been a tireless leader of both the Greenville and the South Carolina AIA chapters, receiving the state organization’s highest award, the Medal of Distinction. His service on the S.C. Architectural Registration Board includes two terms as president, and he chaired the National Registration Examination. In 1985, Gaulden was named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects. The University has remained a central focus of Gaulden’s passion and leadership. As a founding member and 48-year donor to the Clemson Architectural Foundation (now the Clemson Advancement Foundation for Design + Building), Gaulden has played a significant role in shaping Clemson’s architecture program. He’s been a visiting lecturer and design critic in the School of Architecture for 15 years. Through his service to Clemson, Gaulden’s influence on the education and professionalism of future architects remains a permanent accomplishment.
	Alan McCrary Johnstone ’32 “A lifetime of commitment” takes on special significance when it’s 94 years and counting. And while he may have slowed a bit, Alan Johnstone has never stopped serving his alma mater. Just ask the members of the University’s 2003 golf team, who named him honorary captain and won the NCAA National Championship. They learned that having Alan Johnstone on your team just about guarantees success. That has been true, too, for Orangeburg, where Johnstone has made his home. As manager of the city’s department of public utilities, he increased its assets ninefold and spearheaded efforts to bring new industry to the area while working to stimulate the agricultural economy. He’s also served in innumerable civic activities. In his work to establish Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, he was carrying on an honored family tradition as the grandson of Alan Johnstone, one of Clemson’s original elected trustees. Like his grandfather, Johnstone has represented Clemson with distinction. As a student, he was a member of Tiger Brotherhood, president of Tau Beta Pi honorary engineering society and a founding member of the Clemson golf team in 1931. Johnstone served during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star. After his return home, he distinguished himself as a licensed professional engineer. Chosen Engineer of the Year by the S.C. Society of Professional Engineers, he received numerous other awards for his work in providing safe water for Orangeburg. The sole surviving charter member of IPTAY, he’s a charter member of the Presidents Club and has been recognized as a Clemson Ambassador and Clemson Fellow through the Alan McCrary Johnstone Scholarship established by his children to benefit electrical engineering students.
	Margaret Kirkland Worsham ’71 Look up the phrase “Southern woman” in the dictionary, and you may find a picture of Margaret Worsham. She’s the kind of woman we want our daughters to be: strong, kind, gracious and passionately committed to the values she cherishes — family, faith, community, education and Clemson. Growing up in Bamberg, Worsham was schooled in the social graces, including dance, music and baton lessons. Her skills as a twirler earned her a coveted post with Tiger Band. After graduation, Worsham took to the skies as a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines. During her 30 years with Delta, she held advancing posts from flight attendant to vice president of in-flight service. After retiring from Delta, Worsham taught English as a second language to adults in Greenville County. She’s now a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Caine. Worsham has a lifelong record of community service, including work with the Egleston Children’s Hospital Auxiliary in Atlanta. She’s served in leadership roles for her church and started a clothes closet for the homeless. She continues to serve Delta through Clipped Wings, retired Delta flight attendants devoted to raising funds for children in need. A 35-year supporter of the Clemson Fund, Worsham is a Clemson University Foundation board member and a former Alumni National Council member and Women’s Alumni Council chair. She was the first woman to chair the Board of Visitors and is a member of the committee that planned the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Clemson coeducation. A 40-year IPTAY member, she’s also an IPTAY representative. When Worsham’s son, Russ, graduated from Clemson in 2001, she established a scholarship in his honor. She is equally devoted to her husband, John ’71, and to his sons, Wes and Holland, enthusiastic Tiger fans.