Southeastern to honor three Distinguished Alumni at Homecoming on Oct. 14

Press Release Date: 9-15-2011

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern Oklahoma State University will honor three individuals with the Distinguished Alumni Award during Homecoming festivities in October.

An awards banquet will formally honor Greg Armstrong ('80), former State Representative John Carey ('92), and Major General James E. Chambers ('75), at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, in the Visual and Performing Arts Center.

As Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Greg Armstrong built Plains All American Company from a small firm with its initial operations in Cushing, Oklahoma, into one of the largest pipeline and storage companies in America, ranked No. 99 in the Fortune 500. During 2010, Plains All American had total revenues of more than $25 billion, with pipeline and storage assets located in more than 40 states and five provinces in Canada. In 2010, the "Houston Chronicle" named Plains All American one of the top 10 "Best Places to Work."

Armstrong is a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Branch, and National Oilwell Varco, Inc. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of Cox School's Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University, the National Petroleum Council, and the Board of Trustees of The Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston.

Armstrong received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Southeastern.

John Carey was elected State Representative of District 21 in 2002. As a freshman legislator, he was named Chair of the House Committee on Banking and Finance. Other committee assignments included Appropriation and Budget, Economic Development, and Veterans and Military Affairs, which he served as Vice Chair.

In 2009, Carey was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

He has been active in civic affairs and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Texoma Health Foundation. Carey earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance degree at Southeastern and served as the University's fall commencement speaker in 2009.

James E. Chambers enlisted in the United States Army after a brief stint teaching school in Marietta, Oklahoma. Rising from the rank of Private to the rank of Major General, he commanded at all levels from Company Command to General Officer commands in Balad, Iraq, Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Eustis, and Fort Lee, Virginia. He served combat tours in Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom. After 33 years of service, he retired on September 1, 2011.

His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters, Defense Meritorious Service, Meritorious Service with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation, Army Commendation, and Army Achievement medals.

A graduate of the United States Army War College, Chambers holds a Master's Degree in Logistics from the Florida Institute of Technology.

He was recently hired by Drayton McLane as an Executive Vice President for McLane Group of Temple, Texas. McLane is the owner of the Houston Astros and McLane Advance Technologies, A DOD and Government Information Technology company.

Chambers earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education at Southeastern. His wife, Elaine, is a 1975 graduate of Southeastern with a degree in social studies and a Masters Degree from Troy University in Early Childhood Education.

To purchase tickets for this event or for more information about Homecoming, come by the Southeastern Welcome Center (425 W. University Blvd.), visit alumni.SE.edu, or call the alumni office at 580-745-2875.