Troy University will recognize four alumni as Alumni of the Year on Saturday as a part of the University’s Homecoming game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
This year’s honorees are: Jimmy H. Baker, Dawn Railey, C. Gibson Vance and Rudeejanok “Rudee” Kritakara. The Trojans will welcome Sun Belt Conference foe Louisiana for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff. The Alumni of the Year awards, which will be presented during the halftime show, recognize outstanding professional accomplishments, civic involvement and loyalty and service to Troy University. Winners are selected by the Board of Directors of the TROY Alumni Association.
“We are delighted to honor these four alumni for their contributions in the workplace, the community and to the University,” said Faith Ward, alumni affairs director. “Homecoming is a special time in the life of Troy University and we hope that our alumni and friends will join us for all of the special activities planned for the weekend.”
Baker, a 1963 graduate, serves as Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System. His experience in education includes tenures as assistant state superintendent and deputy state superintendent for the Alabama Department of Education, as well as superintendent at the local school system level. Baker also managed the 1993-94 gubernatorial campaign for Gov. Fob James and served as State Finance Director during the James’ administration. He and his wife, Joy, have two daughters and four grandchildren. Several members of the Baker family hold degrees from TROY.
Railey, a 1982 graduate, has proudly demonstrated her Trojan spirit far and wide. A strong advocate for TROY, Railey has supported TROY events and activities and followed TROY sports teams across the country to cheer on the Trojans. A member of the University’s Alumni Association, she currently serves as president of the Pike County Alumni Chapter and is also active in the Sound of the South Alumni Chapter. Professionally, Railey serves as sales manager for Atrium Hospitality/Embassy Suites in Montgomery and is one of the top 10 elite sales managers in the country. Many members of the Railey family are also proud TROY alumni.
C. Gibson Vance, a 1987 TROY graduate, has been a member of the Troy University Board of Trustees since 2012. An attorney for the Montgomery law firm of Beasley Allen, Vance is past president of the American Association for Justice, the Alabama Association for Justice, and the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation. In 2017, his generosity enabled TROY to establish the Gibson Vance Distinguished Lecture Series and recently he and his wife have agreed to endow the Kate and Gibson Vance Study Abroad Scholarship. Vance and his wife, Kate, have two children – Carter and Andrew.
Kritakara graduated Summa Cum Laude from TROY in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in computer information science. She currently serves as chief operating officer at BECi Corporation, the official digital media, services and content solutions offered through Channel 3 Thailand. As a student at TROY, she was a member of several honor societies and a member of the homecoming court. Kritakara was honored during a visit to the Troy Campus in September and will be unable to attend Saturday’s festivities.
