Distinguished Alumni

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor the Alumni Association can bestow on an individual. The recipients are richly deserving of this tribute, carrying on a tradition that began in 1963. Recognizing these individuals not only brings attention to their high achievements, but also displays the quality of education provided by Colorado Mesa University.

Previous Recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award

Click on the name of the recipient to learn more about their achievements.

2012 Distinguished Alumni

Jamie D. Hamilton '78

Jamie Hamilton graduated from Regis High School in
Denver, Colorado in 1974. He attended Mesa
College, graduating in 1978 with a teaching degree.
He played four years on the baseball team, becoming
an Academic All American and Honorable Mention All
American. After graduating, Jamie signed a free agent
baseball contract with Golden West Baseball California
Angels and played up to the AA level in El Paso in 1981.

Jamie is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Home Loan & Investment Company, a banking and
insurance operation, as well as being active in many
community ventures. He was recognized as the State of
Colorado Volunteer of the Year in 1995, inducted into
the Colorado Mesa Hall of Honor in 1997, awarded the
Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce 1999 Citizen of
the Year and named 2011 Lion of the Year. Jamie has
served on Community Hospital’s Board of Directors and
the Colorado Governor’s Commission on Science and
Technology. He has also served as a Trustee to the State
Colleges in Colorado, Trustee to then Mesa State College’s
governing board, and served as President of the Colorado
Mesa Alumni Association. Jamie was awarded the 2002
Meritorious Service Award by the American Baseball
Coaches Association, was inducted into the 2011 class of
the Colorado Dugout Club Baseball Hall of Fame and the
2011 class of the NJCAA Hall of Fame.

In January of 2006, Jamie was named the Athletic
Director at Colorado Mesa and still serves as Associate
Athletic Director. In January 2010, Colorado Mesa
University held the dedication for it’s newly constructed
Hamilton Recreation Center, named in his honor.

Jamie enjoys spending time with his family, wife Debbie
of 32 years, daughter Sarah, 29, and son Dane, 26, whom
both live and work in Denver.

Debra Thompson Smith '84

Debra Thompson Smith graduated from Mesa
State College in 1984, earning her Bachelor
of Business Administration with an Accounting
emphasis. After graduation, Debra and her family
moved to Texas where she utilized her accounting
degree in the banking and audit industries before
starting at Pulliam Pools in 1992. She is currently
the majority owner, and for the past nine years, her
business has been recognized by Pool & Spa News
as a “Top 50 Builder in the United States.” In 2006,
Debra was named the “Top General Manager in the
Nation” in a dream team article. In 2007-2008 and
2008-2009, Debra served first as Vice President and
then President of the Aquatic Professional Education
Council, during which time she was active in getting
a bill signed into law that protected thousands of
jobs in Texas in the pool industry.

As well as being a dedicated businesswoman, Debra
uses much of her time and resources to help in her
community. She served as Chairman of the Board
of the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce from
2010-11, and continues to serve on the Executive
Board. The East Parker County Chamber of
Commerce named Debra ‘Woman of the Year’ in
2011 for mentoring other professional women in the
community in business. Noted for her philanthropy,
Debra’s effort’s have resulted in more than $160,000
in donations to Texas Shriners Childrens Hospitals
over the past five years, as well as thousands of
dollars donated to other smaller charities. She has
also built and/or renovated pools for the Texas
Pythian Home for Children and for A Place for Grace,
another children’s home. In 2011, Shriners Hospitals
awarded Debra the C. Victor Thornton Humanitarian
Award for tirelessly fundraising and bringing
awareness to their program.

Debra has touched the lives of many through home,
church, work, charity and friendship. Between
running a million dollar company, leading employees,
tending to her family and serving her community,
she is an example of what can be accomplished with
determination and a passion for life.

Previous Years

Distinguished Alumni recipients who wish to have their biographical information updated should contact the Alumni Association.

Nomination

2014 Nomination Form

Completed nomination forms and supporting materials should be submitted to:

CMU Alumni Association

Attn: Distinguished Alumni Committee

1100 North Ave.

Grand Junction, CO 81501-3122

FAX: 970.248.1107

Deadline for nominations is January 1st. Nominations not selected will be considered for two additional years (additional or updated supporting documents will be accepted prior to the nomination deadline). Nominations may be resubmitted after the third year. Non-alumni may submit nominations. Awards may be given posthumously.