This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.

Skip Navigation skip menu and banner
University of Wyoming

Division News

2009 Distinguished Alumni, Former Faculty announced

 Printable Article Email this Article

Meyer

Rita Meyer
True

Hank True
Cossairt

Ace Cossairt
Lantz

Everett Lantz

   The University of Wyoming College of education recognizes two graduates and two former faculty members at a banquet in their honor on Saturday, April 18.
   Recipients of the college's 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award are The Honorable Rita C. Meyer of Cheyenne and H.A. "Hank" True III of Casper.
   Recipients of the 2009 Distinguished Former Faculty Award are Ace A. Cossairt of Laramie and the late Everett D. Lantz.
   Rita C. Meyer, a two-time UW alumna (BA ‘77, middle school education; BS '87, finance), is Wyoming's 19th state auditor. Prior to her 2006 election to that office, Meyer served for 23 years in the Wyoming Air National Guard, where she reached the rank of colonel in 2004. The combat veteran served as commander of the 153rd Mission Support Group.
   Meyer served as chief of staff to Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer from 1998-2001. She has served on the Associated Parents of UW (APUW) board, was appointed to serve on the UW Trustees from 1995-1998, and currently serves as a member of the UW College of Business Advisory Board.
   H.A. "Hank" True III holds two degrees from UW, a BA (1966) in secondary math education and a BS (1967) in animal husbandry. Following graduation, Hank joined the True companies, engaged in oil and gas exploration, production, and transportation. Currently, he is a member of Eighty-Eight Oil LLC and True Oil LLC. He also serves as president of Belle Fourche Pipeline and Butte Pipe Line Company.
   True served for 12 years on the UW Trustees, beginning in 1995, including a term as president from 1999-2000.  He also has chaired the College National Finals Rodeo Committee since 2005 and acted as a director of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum since 2002.
   Ace A. Cossairt served on the education faulty for nearly 30 years, teaching special education courses and serving as department chairperson for five years until his 2005 retirement. Cossairt began his career teaching junior high school science, but experiences attempting to assist two students before special education services were commonly available led to graduate school, where he developed expertise on behavior management.
   Peers bestowed on Cossairt several local, regional and national honors, including: 1978 UW AMOCO Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching of Undergraduates, 1989 Council for Exceptional Children Outstanding Teacher Educator of the Year Award, 1995 Northern Rocky Mountain Educational Research Association Service Award, and 1997 UW College of Education Outstanding Advisor Award.
   Everett D. Lantz joined the College of Education faculty in 1936 and continued service to UW as a faculty member, wrestling coach and assistant to the president until his 1982 retirement. Lantz established UW's educational foundations curriculum and managed the UW Science camp for seven years. He also established the UW wrestling program in 1937, which grew to national prominence under his guidance.
   Lantz was one of the first western educators invited to the People's Republic of China in 1974. In August 1980, he returned to China as director of a 21-day educational seminar for Wyoming people. Lantz was executive director of the Wyoming Council for Children and Youth. Lantz received two of UW's highest honors, the George Duke Humphrey Distinguished Faculty Award (1970) and the UW Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award (1980).

 

Posted on Friday, April 10, 2009