Four Lamar University alumni have been named Distinguished Alumni for 2020.

Each year, Lamar University has the pleasure of honoring outstanding alumni leaders in community service and philanthropy, business and civic. This year Larry Lawson, Clarence “C.L.” Ross, Jr., Elaine Shellenberger and James P. Singletary have been tapped to receive the highest award Lamar University bestows upon its graduates. They will be honored Feb. 28 with a reception, dinner and award presentation program at the University Event Center.

“These individuals not only represent excellence in their life’s work, but also a genuine love for their alma mater,” said Shannon Figueroa, Director of Alumni Affairs. “It is a true honor to name these four individuals as our Distinguished Alumni for 2020.”

Larry Lawson attended Lamar University from 1963 to 1967 on a music scholarship. The Houston resident received his honorary doctorate of humane letters from Lamar University in 2012. Lawson had a successful

music career. His band, The Clique, sold more than five million records and was in the top twenty Billboard Hits of 1969. Lawson transitioned from his music career to entrepreneurship. After spending a decade in the pharmaceutical industry, Lawson formed the first of several companies. Most recently, he formed HeartcoR Solutions in 2015, an ECG Core Lab that provides research and clinical trial management services to pharma, medical device and biotech companies worldwide. In 2018, he founded Proxima Clinical Research. Lawson is a 2018 recipient of the prestigious Horatio Alger Award, was named the 2009 Ernest & Young’s Health Science Entrepreneur of the Year and is a 2017 recipient of the Houston Technology Center’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Life Sciences. Lawson is a member of GOOSE, the Grand Order of Successful Entrepreneurs, active member of TMCx, and is a team member of the Texas Medical Center Innovation Institute.

Clarence “C.L.” Ross, who graduated in 1983 with his mechanical engineering degree, is a NASA aerospace engineer, most recently appointed to the NASA Johnson Space Center’s Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate Management Staff as a SMA Technical Assistant for NASA Artemis Moon Program, Marshal Space Flight Center Moon Lander Development and the ORION Program. As the previous Quality and Flight Equipment Division Chief appointed in 2013, he ensured that safety, reliability and quality engineering met all Space Flight requirements for JSC’s government furnished equipment,

extravehicular activity, JSC payloads, International Space Station, Orion, Commercial Crew Vehicle development and advance exploration systems. The Port Arthur native and graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School started with NASA in 1984 and is an honored employee. Ross has earned the Center’s Director Commendation Award, innovation awards for electronic data system process implementation and manned flight awareness, Outstanding Service Team Award, Group Achievement Award, Sustain Superior Performance Awards and a NASA HQ Commendation. Ross currently resides in Pearland.

Elaine Norman Shellenberger earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1974. In 1984, she joined the staff of Nutrition and Services for Seniors, a non-profit organization founded in 1983. For the next 35 years, Shellenberger served in a variety of roles with NSS, eventually becoming the President and CEO, until retiring in October 2019. During her first year at NSS, 80,000 home delivered and congregate meals were delivered to Jefferson

County Seniors. By 2018, the meal count had increased to more than 450,000 home delivered and congregate meals in Jefferson and Hardin counties.  Under Shellenberger’s leadership, transportation services were begun. Today, more than 58,000 rides per year are provided. Shellenberger also implemented, CareNet, to ensure seniors get help if they fall or need immediate assistance, by pushing a button on a pendant they wear. She initiated “AniMeals” that provides homebound seniors with pet food at no cost. Shellenberger has been honored by the Pioneering Women organization, by the Southeast Texas Non-Profit Development Center and First Lady of Texas, Cecilia Abbott.

Chief James P. Singletary earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and a certification from LIT’s Regional Police Academy in 1972. He began a career in law enforcement in 1970 as a patrol officer with the Beaumont Police Department and advanced to become lieutenant over seven different divisions while also serving as defensive tactics instructor at the LIT Regional Police Academy. Singletary retired from BPD in 2000 but was recruited back into service as the Law Enforcement Coordinator in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of

Texas. In 2002, he joined the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department as a major of the Narcotics Task Force and Commander of the SWAT Team. In 2011, Singletary was sworn into office as Chief of Police for BPD where he continues to lead today.  During his tenure, Singletary has built a Cops & Kids program, a Police Explorers Post, a Police and Clergy program and several mentoring projects targeting at-risk youth.  Most recently Singletary approved the assignment of a full-time Mental Health Liaison Officer to assist regional mental health providers in dealing with citizens in crisis.

Lamar University has recognized distinguished alumni since 1970. To see all previous Distinguished Alumni, go to www.lamar.edu/advancement/alumni-affairs/distinguished-alumni-award-recipients.html.  For more information on the event and to register, visit lamar.edu/daa.