Each year, Lamar University has the pleasure of honoring outstanding alumni leaders in community service and philanthropy, business and civic. This year Dr. Shannon Pier Allen, Constable Christopher Bates, Judge Keith Giblin and Larry Norwood, have been selected to receive the highest award Lamar University bestows upon its graduates. They will be honored May 7 with a reception, dinner and award presentation program held both in person and virtually.
“It is an honor to congratulate and celebrate these alumni by awarding them with the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Awards,” said Shannon Figueroa, director of Alumni Affairs. “Their dedication to their professions, service to their communities and loyalty to their alma mater exemplifies the Lamar University spirit.”
Shannon Pier Allen is the superintendent of the Beaumont Independent School District. Allen earned a Bachelor of Science in biology with a minor in chemistry from Prairie View A&M University in 1996 and began her
Shannon Allen
educational career as a biology teacher at Clifton J. Ozen Magnet High School where she taught for five years. In 2001, Allen obtained a Master of Education degree from Lamar University, and afterward served as an elementary school curriculum coordinator, an assistant principal and a principal of Marshall Middle School. Under her leadership, Marshall Middle School became the first exemplary rated middle school campus in Beaumont ISD and Allen received the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Region V Outstanding Principal award. In 2013, Allen earned a doctorate in education degree and was recognized as one of the university’s outstanding doctoral students. Two years later, Allen was promoted to assistant superintendent for secondary administration in Beaumont ISD and two years after that, she was promoted to associate superintendent. On April 17, 2019, Allen made history when she was named the first female superintendent in the district. Allen mentors aspiring educators attending Lamar University; she served as an August 2020 Virtual Commencement Speaker at LU and was a featured speaker for the Lamar University Virtual Change Makers Town Hall in June 2020 to discuss ways young people can participate in positive actions to support sustainable change.
Christopher Bates, was sworn into his third, four-year term as constable of Precinct 2 in Jefferson County
Christopher Bates
in January 2021. The Port Arthur native and cum laude graduate of Memorial High School attended Lamar University on a music scholarship and was a member of LU’s A Cappella Choir and Psalm 150 Gospel Chorus. Simultaneously, Bates attended LIT Regional Police Academy. In May 2008, he graduated from LIT with a certificate in law enforcement, was licensed as a Texas Peace Officer and received a bachelor’s degree in general studies. He joined the Port Arthur Police Department as a patrol officer, worked as a Deputy Constable for Precinct 8 and as a bailiff for Justice of the Peace Precinct 8 Court. In September 2010, Bates joined the Port Arthur ISD Police Department and realized a need to do more to help youth. He ran for Jefferson County constable of Precinct 2 and won, becoming the second youngest constable in the history of Texas, the youngest elected official ever in Jefferson County and the first African American constable of Precinct 2. Bates established the “Constable Christopher Bates Criminal Justice Scholarship” and has awarded more than $12,000 in scholarships to high school seniors. He also started the “Christmas with the Constable” toy drive and Christmas program benefiting the Salvation Army. Annually Bates sponsors “Constable Bates Junior Deputy Summer Camp” in partnership with Linda’s Lighthouse to enhance the relationship between law enforcement, communities and young people.
Keith Giblin is a United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Texas. He originally took his oath of office on October 1, 2004 and was re-appointed for his third term October 1, 2020. Giblin is a Beaumont
Keith Giblin
native who attended French High School and worked shift work at the Goodyear Chemical Plant while attending Lamar University part-time. He earned his Bachelor of Science in physics in 1986 and is jurisprudence degree from South Texas College of Law in 1989. After graduation from law school, Giblin was appointed as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, investigating and prosecuting hundreds of federal criminal cases involving a wide range of matters. He has extensive trial experience, has argued numerous cases before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, served as attorney-in-charge of the Beaumont Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and taught trial advocacy at the Department of Justice’s National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina. While serving on the bench, Giblin attended the University of Houston Law Center and received his Master of Law degree in intellectual property law in May 2010. Giblin is an adjunct instructor of criminal law at LU, serves on Lamar University’s College of Arts and Science’s Advisory Board and is also an ordained Episcopal priest and volunteers as an unpaid priest serving smaller churches in the area. He has also taught religion at All Saints’ Episcopal School.
Larry Norwood began working for Lubrizol as a cooperative education student while earning his Bachelor of
Larry Norwood
Science in chemical engineering at Lamar University. In 2013, Norwood retired after a 39-year career with the international specialty chemical company. The Liberty, Texas, native started work at Lubrizol’s Texas Operation, the company’s largest manufacturing facility, and moved through successive roles of responsibility for operations and technology. In 1998, Norwood was named general manager for Lubrizol’s Texas Operation. In 2003, he was named vice president of operations for Lubrizol’s Additives Division with global responsibilities for operations, procurement and logistics. In 2008, Norwood was named corporate vice president of operations with global responsibility for operations, procurement and logistics for both Lubrizol Additives Division and Lubrizol Advanced Materials Division. In 2010, the company announced plans for a grassroots Lubrizol Additives plant to be built in Zhuhai, China, and Norwood was the Lubrizol executive responsible for the design and construction.
Lubrizol’s Zhuhai Plant received China’s Luban award, which is China’s highest recognition award for engineering and construction. Norwood is a trustee of the Lamar University Foundation, a member of the College of Engineering Advisory Council, and he and his wife, Cynthia, are members of Lamar University’s Spindletop Society and President’s Circle. The couple established the Larry and Cynthia Norwood Chemical Engineering Scholarship in 2012. To date there have been more than 100 undergraduate and graduate students who have received scholarships. Norwood has also contributed to faculty support through the Norwood Faculty Research Fellowship.
