2006 Alumni Award Recipients

2006 Alumni Award Recipients

Milburn Holmes

Distinguished Alumni Award

Milburn ‘Mel’ Homes graduated with a degree in General Studies in 1961. After playing basketball for Eastern Oregon University, formerly Eastern Oregon College, Holmes found himself in the Navy during the early years of the Vietnam War. After three deployments, Holmes became one of five pilots chosen by the Navy to reinvent the process of teaching combat pilots how to fly and fight at the same time. At the newly formed Navy Fighters Weapon School (Top Gun), he served as head of the air-to-air combat department until 1970. A retiree from commercial airlines, Holmes now operates the Grey Eagle Aviation and a flight school where he teaches pilots to fly single-engine Cessnas.

---

 

Michael Daugherty

University Service Award

Mike Daugherty, ‘74, created a legacy at EOU during his 26-year. During his time as a student Mike helped create the highly popular Outdoor and Intact programs which are still student favorites today. As Director of Residence Life from 1980 until his retirement this year, Mike developed Eastern’s benchmark Residence Life Program, oversaw the construction of three residence halls, and mentored hundreds of student leaders. Mike is known by student throughout campus as ‘Mr. Mike.” He continues to teach classes and guide adventure outings through the Outdoor program and plans to join the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

---

 

La Grande Downtown Development Association

Community Partner Award

The La Grande Downtown Development Association has been an outstanding supporter of EOU and the Alumni Association for many years. As a partner, they have supported EOU and the Alumni Association in various activities and events including Homecoming, through volunteering as well as promoting the event to the La Grande community and downtown. Part of the mission of this organization is ‘to interact as fully as possible with the community by planning and coordinating promotional activities, improvement projects, recruitment efforts, and inter-organizational relations.’ The LGDDA believes that ‘we begin by changing attitudes first and it requires local energy, initiative, and local investment.’