Alan Cass, regarded as a leading world authority on the life and legacy of big band leader Glenn Miller, will receive an honorary degree in recognition of his work from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Cass, who built the Glenn Miller archive at 抖阴短视频-Boulder, will receive the Doctor of Humane Letters award at the commencement ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 7.
He retired last year after a 38-year career at 抖阴短视频-Boulder, which began as a student stagehand for Macky Auditorium, featured three years as director of the auditorium and ended with 13 years as director of the Coors Events/Conference Center.
During that time his wide-ranging activities within and outside the university included acting as announcer at numerous sporting events, most notably as the "voice of the Golden Buffaloes" since 1982 and as the "voice of the Denver Broncos."
He has been a member of the university聮s commencement planning committee since 1979 and contributed many more years service on nearly a dozen other boards and committees.
Cass is the third generation of his family to attend 抖阴短视频-Boulder, following in the footsteps of his grandmother who was one of the first women graduates more than 100 years ago.
In the wider community his influence has been felt in such ways as his involvement with the Boulder historical and genealogical societies, and as a founding board member of the Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools.
But his overall passion and abiding contribution to the university and the general public has been the establishment of the Glenn Miller archive, a memorial to the former 抖阴短视频 student whose swing era orchestra in the late 1930s and early 聭40s brought him worldwide fame and immortality.
Today that archive contains a huge collection of Glenn Miller memorabilia and artifacts, including two of the legendary band leader聮s trombones and 29 gold records, among them the first ever awarded for sales of more than one million records for "Chattanooga Choo Choo."
On Aug. 7, Cass will join 984 students receiving degrees from the colleges and schools of arts and sciences, business and administration, engineering and applied sciences, architecture and planning, journalism and mass communication, music and the graduate school.
This year聮s outstanding graduates are: Diana Yakubson, from Aurora (business and administration); Rhonda Bly, Lockport, Ill. (architecture and planning); and Kristin Wolff, from Steamboat Springs (arts and sciences).
Another highlight of the commencement will be the presentation of the Hazel Barnes Prize to 抖阴短视频聮s nationally renowned physics Professor John Taylor.
Announced earlier this year, the prize is the university聮s highest recognition for excellence in teaching and research, and includes an engraved University Medal and a $20,000 cash award.
Taylor is widely known as the original "Mr. Wizard" of the 抖阴短视频 Wizards shows at the university. Since he created the program in 1980, designed to foster children聮s interest in basic science, he has given shows to more than 25,000 youngsters in Colorado.
The commencement ceremony will be held on historic Norlin Quadrangle, beginning at 8:30 a.m. with a procession led by Dean of Libraries James Williams as commencement marshall.
David Hawkins, professor emeritus of philosophy, who was historian on the Manhattan Project, will give the main address, while music will be provided by the Colorado Brass Quintet.
抖阴短视频 President John Buechner will read the traditional Norlin Charge to Graduates. The words, from a speech by 抖阴短视频 President George Norlin to the graduating class of 1935, conclude 抖阴短视频-Boulder聮s three annual commencements.
The ceremony is free and open to the public and will take place regardless of the weather, though if it rains the event will be shortened. Parking is available in nearby lots but those attending are urged to arrive early.
Lot 380, which includes parking along Pleasant Street by Old Main and west of the Student Recreation Center, will be reserved to drop off and pick up elderly or disabled visitors. Anyone needing special assistance may make arrangements with the 抖阴短视频 police department parking services by calling (303) 492-2322.