Troy University honored five Alumni of the Year recipients on Saturday during halftime of Saturday’s Homecoming football game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Alumni of the Year recipients are recognized each Homecoming by the Troy University Alumni Association for their outstanding professional accomplishments, civic involvement and loyalty and service to the University. This year’s Alumni of the Year honorees are Dr. Gene Butler (’10, ’12), Tony Harris (’94), Denise Monroe (’82) and Jason Reeves (’01). Dr. Don Jeffrey (’74) will be honored posthumously.

The recipients were honored with a dinner on Friday night, a coffee on Saturday morning and the on-the-field presentation during halftime on Saturday.

Butler, a two-time graduate of TROY, earning a Bachelor of Music Education in 2010 and a Master of Music Education in 2012, serves as Director of Bands at Smiths Station High School and as an Adjunct Instructor of Music Education at TROY. As a student at TROY, Dr. Butler served as drum major of the “Sound of the South” Marching Band and principal tuba of the Symphony Band. He remains actively involved with his alma mater as a proud member of the Troy University Alumni Band Chapter and continues to support the next generation of music educators through his teaching and mentorship.

“It is truly an honor,” Butler said. “TROY means a lot to me and to my family. This is where I met my bride and started my education. To be honored with this recognition is remarkably humbling. When I first visited TROY before becoming a student, I felt welcomed immediately and felt like I belonged. I feel like that is the sense that everybody gets. It is a special place.”

Harris, who received his degree from the Hall School of Journalism and Communication in 1994, serves as chief of communications and government relations for the Alabama Department of Transportation, where he has held senior leadership roles since 2004.

Harris said the recognition represented a “full-circle moment” for him.

“When I was a freshman, Dr. Hawkins was the brand-new chancellor. It was a tremendous surprise when he called me to let me know that I had been selected for Alumni of the Year. It was just such a full-circle moment for me,” Harris said. “My TROY experience opened so many doors in my career. My first job right out of college was with the University, and it set me on a path in communications, government relations and public service where I’ve been able to meet great people and work on very meaningful projects.”

Monroe, who was an outstanding basketball star and outstanding student at TROY from 1977 to 1981, earned her bachelor’s degree in music and social sciences in 1982. In 1998, she became the first female athlete in TROY history to have her jersey retired, and in 2012, she was inducted into the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame. Today, she serves as owner and CEO of Innovation Consultants and Network Solutions and also is the founder and president of Community Betterment Society, Inc.

“For the university to remember you in this way truly makes you feel that you will never ever not be a part of TROY for the rest of your life,” Monroe said. “For me, it is a tremendous honor. I think it is one of the greatest honors. I thought going into the Hall of Fame was probably the epitome, but I think this absolutely supersedes that.”

Reeves, who served as Student Government Association President during his time at TROY, has served as the Mayor of Troy since 2012. Prior to becoming mayor, Reeves served for 16 years on the Troy City Council. When first elected to the council in 1996 at the age of 24, he became the youngest elected official in Troy’s history.

Reeves said Troy University has been intertwined with his life, making this honor very special.

“It is one of the most absolutely humbling honors that I’ve ever received,” he said. “The University is so tied up in the fabric of my life from generations of my family who have gone here, all the time I have been here and served here, being SGA president, and all this University means to this community, this is truly one of the great honors of my life. I certainly don’t feel deserving, but I’m so humbled and thankful.”

Jeffrey, a 1974 alumnus and longtime administrator at Troy University, was honored posthumously. He passed away in 2025 at the age of 78. During his 46 years of service at TROY, Jeffrey served a faculty member, director of aquatics, chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion and Dean of the College of Health and Human Services. He also served interim roles as Dean of the College of Education the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Communication and Fine Arts. Jeffrey twice served in the role of Vice Chancellor of the University’s Dothan Campus – first from 2007 to 2014 and again from 2016 until his retirement in 2023.

Dr. Jeffrey’s grandson, Christopher, and his family accepted on his behalf.

“He left a tremendous legacy, and this is a great way to honor him,” Christopher Jeffrey said. “This place meant so much to my grandfather. I truly appreciate Dr. and Mrs. Hawkins and what they have meant to our family.”