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Alumni

2011 Distinguished Alumni Awards

The outstanding accomplishments of three °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ graduates were recognized Saturday, May 14 at the Spring 2011 Commencement Exercises.

The recipients of the 2011 °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ Distinguished Alumni Award were Bill Bund, senior vice president and managing director for the Central Sales Division of the ABC Television Network, Chicago; Dave Lumley, CEO and president of Spectrum Brands, Madison, WI; and Gordon "Gordy" A. Taylor, Jr., former associate vice president of alumni programs at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼, Macomb.

The Distinguished Alumni Award, given since 1973, recognizes alumni who have reached the pinnacle of their careers and have brought credit to the University and themselves through their professional accomplishments or community service at local, state or national levels and have extended meritorious service for the advancement and continued excellence of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼.

2011 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient's Speeches

The video below features the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients, addressing the Class of 2011 at Western Hall on Saturday, May 14.

Bill Bund Bund, a 1976 broadcasting graduate, was named to his current position of senior vice president and managing director of the ABC Television Network in Chicago in April 2008. He previously served as the senior vice president of Disney/ABC Unlimited, a position he assumed when the division was established in September 2000. In 2007, Unlimited was named the media industries No. 1 Multi-Platform Sales Organization by the Myers report.

In 2002, Advertising Age magazine awarded him its "Media Maven" Award, in part for orchestrating the largest advertising deal in television history, a $1 billion cross-integrated agreement between Disney/ABC Unlimited and media firm OMD on behalf of all of OMD's clients. In addition, Bund was responsible for selling the highest-priced unit ever in network television, a $3 million spot for the 2000 Super Bowl.

Bund began his career as an account executive at PGW Television Sales, and in 1980, he was promoted to sales manager of their Boston office. In 1981, he joined WCCO-TV in Minneapolis as an account executive, and one year later, he joined WLS-TV in Chicago as an account executive. Bund became an account executive for ABC National TV Sales in Chicago in May 1985, and was promoted to senior account executive for the ABC Television Network in April 1986. In July 1997, he was promoted to director of sports sales for the central and western division of ABC Sports.

Bund is a member of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ President's National Advisory Council, received the Broadcasting Department's Alumnus of the Year Award in 2009, was a member of the Centennial Campaign Leadership Committee during the last comprehensive fundraising campaign and has been generous to his alma mater with gifts in support of many areas at the University including athletics, the broadcasting department and the Alumni Association. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Lake Forest High School Booster Club.

He lives in Lake Forest (IL) with his wife, Diane, and children Billy, Bryan and Blair.

Dave Lumley Lumley, a 1976 broadcasting graduate, was named CEO and president of Spectrum Brands in January 2006 with direct oversight of the company's $3.1 billion North American business segment, comprising batteries and portable lighting, shaving and grooming and personal care products, lawn and garden products, household insect control, pet products and kitchen appliances such as Black & Decker and George Foreman Grills. He has also served as COO for Spectrum Brands.

Previously, he was the president of Rubbermaid Home Products North America. His background includes more than 25 years experience in the consumer products industry, having served as president and CEO of EAS, president of Brunswick Bicycles, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Outboard Marine Corporation, and in a variety of leadership positions with Wilson Sporting Goods and other companies.

Lumley is an active volunteer serving his alma mater on the President's National Advisory Council and he has served as a member of the College of Business and Technology Advisory Council. In addition, he serves on the Spectrum Brands Board of Directors, is a business community representative of the Clean Lakes Alliance Community Board of Directors in Wisconsin and is on the Board of Directors of Botanic Oil Innovations, Inc.

He received the Alumni Achievement Award from the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ Alumni Association in 1990 and supports many areas at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼, including athletics, the broadcasting department and the Alumni Association. He also supports Western's comprehensive "Set the Standard" campaign.

Lumley and his wife, Julie, live in Waunakee, WI. They have three daughters, Hanalei, Krista and Kathryn, and one son, Thomas.

Gordon A. Taylor, Jr. Taylor, a 1968 management graduate, served as director of Western's alumni program for 28 years, retiring in January 2006. Taylor came to Western in 1970 as an assistant professor of management and taught until 1978 when he was named director of alumni programs.

Following his retirement, he worked on a part-time basis for two years as director of special projects.

During his 1978 to 2006 tenure, Western's alumni program received numerous awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), including the 1994 grand gold award for overall alumni programs. Taylor and former associate alumni director Cathy Onion co-authored a CASE International resource book, "How to Set up an Alumni Relations Program." Taylor also initiated and directed the WIN (Western Illinois Now) alumni fundraising program.

Taylor has served CASE District V and was a program presenter at the CASE V District Conference every year from 1979-2005. He also served as a member of the board of CASE V and was chair of the CASE V District Conference in 1995-1996. A motivational speaker, Taylor has made presentations at national and regional conferences of educators, student organizations and business executives. He served on the Governor's Small Business Advisory Council from 1986-1992 and is currently serving on the Illinois Board of Savings Institutions.

Taylor was appointed to the National Education Alumni Trust (NEAT) Executive Committee and served as chair from 2001-2004. In 1984, he received the Alumni Achievement Award. In 1998, he was awarded the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce President's Award; in 2005, Taylor received the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ administrative service award for his contributions to the University and his profession; and in 2006, he was named Macomb Citizen of the Year.

He earned his MBA in management from the University of Florida in 1970 and a Ph.D. in management from Florida in 1980. He and his wife Diane are major °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ Foundation scholarship contributors and have three children, Jennifer, Gordon III and Ryan.

View Past Recipients