Tigers president headlines WMU Detroit 'All Stars'
April 17, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University will welcome the Detroit Tigers' new president back to Michigan during a reception from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2, in Comerica Park's exclusive Tigers Club.
The reception, which is open to the public by reservation, will feature brief remarks at 6:45 p.m. by WMU President Elson S. Floyd and alumnus David M. Dombrowski, who was named head of the Tigers this past November and is widely regarded as one of baseball's top administrators.
The event also will "celebrate the excellence of Western Michigan University" by recognizing members of the Detroit WMU Alumni All-Star Team. (See list below.) The team is made up of heavy hitters who live or work in the Detroit area and have received the WMU Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award, the association's highest honor for graduates of the University.
The reception, which is not being held on a game day, costs $50 for members of the WMU Alumni Association and their guests and $75 for nonmembers. Reservations may be made online at <www.wmich.edu/alumni> or by phone at (877) 241-7878.
Dombrowski, the newest All-Star team member, received a bachelor of business administration degree from WMU in 1979 and a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998. He began his baseball career with the Chicago White Sox in 1978, starting as administrative assistant for minor leagues and scouting and rising to the post of vice president for operations.
The 45-year-old executive moved to the Montreal Expos in 1986, where he was a key player in building the club's successful farm system. He spent five years with the Expos, the last two as general manager, then joined the Florida Marlins in 1991. He served as executive vice president and general manager of the Marlins until being elevated to president and general manger in 2000.
WMU Detroit Alumni All-Star Team
Dennis W. Archer of Detroit, chairman of Dickinson Wright PLLC and former mayor of Detroit, who received a bachelor of science degree in 1965 and a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1982.
Richard T. Cole of Hartland, senior vice president of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan, who received a bachelor of arts degree in 1969 and a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1987.
William B. Fitzgerald Jr. of Grosse Pointe, attorney, who received a B.A. degree in 1964 and a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1976.
James W. Goss of Grosse Pointe, attorney, who received a BBA degree in 1966 and a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1995.
Ronald E. Hall of Detroit, president and chief operating officer of Bridgewaters Interiors, LLC, who received a B.S. degree in 1965 and a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2000.
James P. Holden of Bloomfield Hills, WMU trustee and former president and CEO of Daimler Chrysler AG, who received a B.S. degree in 1973 and a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998.
William F. Pickard of Bloomfield Hills, chairman and CEO of the Regal Plastics Co., who received a B.S. degree in 1964 and a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1980.
Roy S. Roberts of Bloomfield Hills, retired General Motors Corp. group vice president, who received a BBA degree in 1970 and a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1995.
Dr. Jack Ryan of Royal Oak, retired president and CEO of the Detroit-Macomb Hospital Corp., who received a B.A. degree in 1948 and the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1989.
Peter A. Schweitzer of Grosse Pointe, president and CEO of J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, who received a master of business administration degree in 1967 and the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1997.
S. Martin Taylor of Grosse Pointe, vice president of human resources and corporate affairs for the Detroit Edison Corp., who received a B.S. degree in 1964 and the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1994.
Richard E. Whitmer of East Lansing, president and CEO of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan, who received a B.S. degree in 1963 and the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1997.
Media contact: Jeanne Baron, 269 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu
Media advisory: To arrange event coverage or an interview with David Dombrowski, contact Jim Anderson with the Detroit Tigers at 313 471-2349 or <jim.anderson@detroittigers.com>. For information about the WMU Alumni Association, contact Hardy Figueroa in the WMU Office of Alumni Relations at 269 387-8777 or <hardy.figueroa@wmich.edu>.