°®Éñ´«Ã½

°®Éñ´«Ã½ will recognize five exceptional graduates at the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards on Friday, Apr. 4 at the Setzer Student Center’s Live Oak Ballroom. The evening will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The event will also be livestreamed, beginning at 7:45 p.m.

The Distinguished Alumni Awards celebrate graduates who have made significant contributions in their respective fields while demonstrating a steadfast commitment to °®Éñ´«Ã½ and their communities.

“°®Éñ´«Ã½ has over 115,000 alumni, and the Distinguished Alumni Awards give the university the perfect opportunity to recognize our extraordinary alumni united by their exceptional passion, dedication, and drive to make the world a better place,” Shannon Figueroa, director of alumni affairs, said. “The honorees excel at the highest levels while generously supporting °®Éñ´«Ã½, its students, and their communities, creating a lasting impact. We are proud to honor their incredible accomplishments.”

2025 Distinguished Alumni Honorees:

David Montagne

J. David Montagne is the executive vice president and general manager of the Sabine River Authority of Texas, a role he's held for over 38 years. Previously, he served as assistant general manager, controller, and office manager. Montagne also represents Texas as project administrator for the Toledo Bend Project Joint Operation. A 1974 LU graduate in business administration, Montagne’s family has deep ties to °®Éñ´«Ã½, with his father, A.H. “Bob” Montagne, serving over 20 years on the °®Éñ´«Ã½ System Board of Regents. He resides in Beaumont with his wife, Janet, and they have four children and six grandchildren.

Herman Wilson

Herman Wilson is the president of Pioneer Equipment Co., a Kubota distributor in California. A 1963 LU graduate in accounting, Wilson has been actively involved with °®Éñ´«Ã½, serving on the College of Business’s Board of Advisors and as a member of the °®Éñ´«Ã½ President’s Circle. He and his wife, Bobbie, established the Bobbie and Herman Wilson Student Retention and Success Fund and the Herman T. Wilson Jr. Innovation Fund. The Wilsons have been married for over 61 years, live in Houston, and have a son, Dale, who manages the California business.

Stephen Lee

Stephen Lee, a 1989 °®Éñ´«Ã½ graduate in finance, has had a distinguished career in banking and leadership roles. After beginning in banking at North Park National Bank in Dallas, Lee returned to Southeast Texas, where he worked with regional banks before becoming CEO and president of Orange Savings Bank. In 2024, Lee became president and CEO of First National Bank of Bastrop. He lives in Bastrop with his wife, Jami, and their two sons. Both of their sons are TSUS graduates.

Roland Rodriguez

Roland Rodriguez co-founded MFR, a Houston-based accounting firm, in 1988. Under his leadership, the firm expanded significantly, becoming one of the largest Hispanic-owned CPA firms in the U.S.A. A graduate of °®Éñ´«Ã½ in 1974, Rodriguez is a strong supporter of education and LU, funding scholarships and creating an endowment in his name. Since retiring to Costa Rica, Rodriguez has traveled to over 70 countries and remains involved in philanthropy, notably supporting a preschool for migrant coffee harvesters in Costa Rica. He and his wife, Linda, are members of the °®Éñ´«Ã½ President’s
Circle.

Carolyn "Carole" Keating

Carolyn "Carole" Keating, a 1967 °®Éñ´«Ã½ graduate in english, has had a multifaceted career in philanthropy and business. She founded Keatingrove Farms, a certified vegetable farm in Tomball, Texas, and became a world champion ballroom dancer. Keating has also supported major humanitarian initiatives, including creating an Arabic-language version of “Sesame Street” in partnership with the International Rescue Committee. She also created Keating Cove, a natural shoreline in Hermann Park. Her dedication to LU is evident through her endowment of several scholarships and the Carolyn J. Keating Center for Academic and Career Success in the College of Engineering.

“The 2025 honorees not only recognize and are grateful for the impact that °®Éñ´«Ã½ has had on their lives, but they are giving back and setting the stage for future Cardinals to have their turn,” Figueroa added.

To learn more about °®Éñ´«Ã½’s Distinguished Alumni, visit /advancement/alumni-affairs/distinguished-alumni-award-recipients.html.