Hotel Online Special Report The School of Hospitality Business at MSU Designates 5 Alumni as “Class of Innovators” East Lansing, MI – June 30, 1999 – Five distinguished alumni will be inducted into The School of Hospitality Business Alumni Association’s Wall of Fame on Sunday, November 7, 1999 at the Celebration of Leadership, scheduled during The International Hotel/Motel and Restaurant Show in New York City. Although their careers have been widely varied, one trait is common to each. All these hospitality business leaders have distinguished themselves by their foresight and innovation. They have been designated as the “Class of Innovators.”
The 1999 Wall of Fame Class includes
- Dan W. Darrow (MBA ’61), president of Palm Hospitality Company, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company;
- Michael H. Getto (BA ’56), director-franchising, Suburban Lodge/Guesthouse International;
- Jerry A. McVety (BA ’67), president of McVety & Associates, a division of HDS Services;
- William H. Morgan (BA ’52), senior executive vice president of Elias Brothers Restaurants, Inc.; and
- John R. Weeman, Jr. (MBA ’79), vice president of Hilton Hotels Corporation.
Their inclusion will bring the total membership in the Wall of Fame to 35. The original inductees, the 1995 Charter Class, numbered 14; the 1996 Class of Founders totaled six; four members comprised the 1997 Class of Internationals; and the 1998 Class of Builders included six members.
The 1999 Celebration of Leadership will also include the recognition of Michael A. Leven, president and CEO of US Franchise Systems, Inc., as The School’s 1999 Industry Leader of the Year. Frank Arthur Banks (BA ‘61, MBA ‘62), the RIHGA Royal Hotel’s general manager and a Wall of Fame Class of Founders member will host the ceremonies at the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City. The Celebration of Leadership will include a reception and a luncheon followed by the formal inductions.
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 The School’s participation, image enhancement, financial commitment, and promotion of synergies among students, faculty, alumni, and friends.
Contact: Bridget Swan The School of Hospitality Busines PH: (517) 353-9211 FAX: (517) 432-1170 232 Eppley Center East Lansing, MI 48824-1121 http://www.bus.msu.edu/shb Also See: Robert H. Burns, Founder of Regent International Hotels, Serves as Visiting Industry Professor at the School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University / April 1999