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Dan W. Darrow and Theda L. Rudd Honored by 
The School of Hospitality Business Alumni Association 
at Michigan State University
 
EAST LANSING, MI - March 24, 1999 - The School of Hospitality Business Alumni Association at Michigan State University is proud to announce Dan W. Darrow (MBA '61) as the 1999 Alumnus of the Year and Theda L. Rudd as the 1999 Honorary Alumna of the Year.  They will be honored at The School's Alumni Association's Annual Gathering of Leaders at the Hotel Inter*Continental in Chicago during the National Restaurant Association Show on Monday, May 24, 1999. 

Dan Darrow is president of Palm Hospitality, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.  In his current position, he is responsible for hotel asset management and contract administration.  His career with the Disney organization began in 1970, and from then until 1979 he has held numerous positions with the company, including general manager of the Walt Disney World Hotel Division; manager of convention sales; and manager of sales and marketing for the Lake Buena Vista Village and Conference Center.  From 1979 to 1984, Darrow was director of sales responsible for The Walt Disney World Hotel Central Reservations System, Corporate and Convention Sales, Banquets and Special Events.  In 1984, he served as executive director of hotel relations, the liaison for all marketing, promotional, and operational activities with seven hotels in The Walt Disney World Village Hotel Plaza.  He was named president of Palm Hospitality in 1994. 

Darrow earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of New Mexico in 1953 and spent the next four years in the U.S. Air Force, attaining the rank of captain.  He then continued his education at Michigan State University earning a master's of business administration degree in 1961, with an emphasis in hotel administration.  Darrow subsequently became an active MSU alumnus serving on The School's Alumni Association Executive Board of Directors as vice president from 1993 to 1995; president from 1995 to 1997; and chairman of the board from 1997 to present.  During his term as president of The School's Alumni Association, the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management became The School of Hospitality Business.  Darrow is a member of the Presidents Club and the Beaumont Tower Society of MSU.  He has also been a major donor for the past eight years to The School's Alumni Association Annual Auction, contributing to the success of this fund raising event for The School.  In 1998, Darrow received the Outstanding Alumni Award from The Eli Broad College of Business at MSU. 

Darrow exemplifies commitment to his Florida community by serving as president of the Florida Hotel & Motel Association in 1991; serving two terms as vice president-tourism on the board of directors of the Orlando Chamber of Commerce; serving as chairman of the Orange County Civic Center's promotional advisory board; and was a founding member of the board for the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau.  In 1974, then Governor Reubin Askew, presented Darrow with the Tourism Leadership Award, and the Florida Hotel & Motel Association in 1993 named him Hotelier of the Year. 

Theda Rudd is president and sole owner of David Rudd Enterprises, which owns and operates six McDonald's restaurants in East Lansing and Okemos, Michigan.  Rudd is a former teacher, counselor and special education program administrator in the Lansing Public School District.  In 1982, when her husband of ten years, David Rudd, died suddenly of a heart condition, Rudd was left with responsibility for the three McDonald's restaurants in East Lansing and Okemos, Michigan that she and David had purchased in 1980.  Under her watchful eye, Rudd has expanded her business to include six units. 

Rudd has been intensely active in McDonald's business activities, serving as president of the Michigan McDonald's Operators Association from 1988 to 1990; as a board member of the Western Michigan Ronald McDonald House from 1990 to 1994; and is currently chair of the Ronald McDonald House of Mid-Michigan and a member of the National Black McDonald's Operators Association.  In 1997, she was one of only 29 McDonald's owner/operators out of 4,200 licensees worldwide, to receive the McDonald's Golden Arch Award, presented in recognition of outstanding contribution to the McDonald's system. 

Rudd earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in special education in 1971 and a Master of Arts degree in guidance counseling in 1974, both from Michigan State University.  She is an active alumna, serving as a member of the President's Advisory Council and the Wharton Center Advisory Board through 1992; a member of the board of directors and board secretary of the MSU Development Fund until 1995; a charter member of the MSU Beaumont Tower Society in 1990; and a current member of the board of directors of the MSU Foundation.  In addition, Rudd is a mentor to many of the students of The School serving as a guest lecturer for The School's introductory hospitality business course several times and earning the honor as Honorary Faculty Member of The School. 

Rudd continually personifies the pursuit of quality and leadership through her contributions to the Lansing community by serving on many boards.  Her efforts have been recognized when she received the first Minority Business Award presented by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce in 1988; was awarded as 1992 Small Business Person of the Year, presented by the Greater Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce for her outstanding contributions to the Greater Lansing business and civic communities; and when she received the 1994 H.C. Berger Award, presented by Sales and Marketing Executives of Lansing for community service. 

Founded in 1927, The School of Hospitality Business at MSU has more than 8,000 graduates worldwide.  The mission of The School is to be the leader in hospitality business education through teaching, research, and service.  Recognized as the top-ranked business college-based hospitality school in the world, The School offers an exceptionally well-crafted curriculum taught by innovative professors, who are leading textbook authors, sought-after consultants, and respected researchers.  The School of Hospitality Business Alumni Association was founded in 1948 as the Michigan State College Hotel Administration Alumni Association.  The mission of The School's Alumni Association is to provide active leadership in support of participation, image enhancement, financial commitment, and promotion of synergies among students, faculty, alumni, and friends.

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Contact:
The School of Hospitality Business
Michigan State University
232 Eppley Center
East Lansing, MI  48824-1121
CONTACT: Kristin St. Marie
The School of Hospitality Business
Tel: (517) 353-9211  FAX: (517) 432-1170
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