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Troy A. Clair, 1982

President and CEO of Clair Global Corporation. Clair Global is the world's largest provider of live concert amplification and infrastructure, They employs about 650 worldwide and generate over $135 million in sales (USD). Clair Global provides sound and support services to all of the top grossing concert tours: the Rolling Stones; Elton John; and Bob Seger, among others. During any peak summer touring season, the company's equipment and crews are involved in up to 125 concerts a day.

James B. Benemann, 1978

Emmy award winning journalist and co-anchor on CBS Denver news.  Jim was part of the inaugural induction class of the CSU Media Hall of Fame in 2011.  "Jim is an outstanding journalist and an exceptional communicator. His passion for his work and his commitment to this community make him one of the most respected broadcasters in Colorado."

Carlton P. Smith, 1973

President & Chief Executive Officer, American Pop Corn Co.

Carlton and his cousin Garry are the fourth generation to run the family-owned company.

Cloid H. Smith, their great grandfather packed the first sack of homegrown popcorn in 1914 in the basement of his home. The ownership remains in the Smith family and sales in 2002 were $1.2 billion in the U.S. at a time when Americans munched 17 billion quarts of their Jolly Time Pop Corn, the third largest popcorn company in the US.

David J. Jenkins, 1964

Philanthropist, Real Estate Developer

Founded Nor'wood Development Group in 1978, and under his leadership it grew into one of the Colorado Springs' largest real estate firms.

Create the Economic Development Corporation, now the Regional Business Alliance,

The Nor'wood Foundation is his company's philanthropic organization focusing on donation to religious, medical, educational and youth groups, community organizations and service clubs, among others.

David is the recipient of many honors and awards, they include:

• 2016 Humanitarian of the Year, presented by the American Red Cross of Southeastern Colorado.

• University of Colorado at Colorado Springs' College of Business 2014 Lifetime Entrepreneurship Award.

• 2011, he was named the Business Citizen of the Year by the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce.

• Realtor of the Year in 1984

Walter Scott, 1953

Walter developed a regional construction company Kiewit into one of the largest and most respected construction and mining companies in North America. As Kiewit Chief Executive, Walter took the company into fiber optics and he is recognized on the Forbes 500 list.  Walter Scott has served on many corporate boards including the role of Chairman of Level 3 Communications.  On April 14, 2011, Walter and Suzanne Scott were honored for their $10 million gift to CSU toward construction of the Engineering II building on Laurel & Meridian St in Fort Collins.  The Scott's have supported Engineering students with scholarship opportunities for 29 years impacting 18 students per year as of 2011.

Kenneth W. Monfort, 1951

Received his degree in agriculture in 1951 and by 1968 he had grown the family business from an 8,000-head capacity feedlot to the largest in the world with 100,000-head of cattle.

Monfort of Colorado, Inc. became a Fortune 500 company sending 500,000 head of cattle to market each year, its plants processed a million head of cattle each year. in 1987 he sold Monfort to ConAgra Foods, Inc. After the sale, ConAgra formed ConAgra Red Meat Companies, which Kenny oversaw until he retired in 1989.

Monfort was a generous philanthropist, he established the Monfort Excellence Fund at CSU. He was named the Citizen of the West in 1991 by the National Western Stock Show for his efforts. And in 1971 was recognized with the Sigma Phi Epsilon Citation.

Joseph F. Phelps, 1950

Owner, President and General Manager of Hensel Phelps Construction company until 1975. Under Joe’s leadership the company grew into a multi-billion-dollar employee owned, national contractor with an eclectic and unparalleled portfolio of successfully completed projects.

In 1973 Joe founded and operated his Napa Valley vineyard, Joseph Phelps Vineyard, that produced the Wine Spectator 2005 Wine of the Year: Joseph Phelps Insignia.

Lloyd George Chavez, 1949

Lloyd’s father, Sam, was a gardener for Nate Burt Owner of Burt Automotive in Denver, and it was that connection that led the young Lloyd into a used-car sales position with Burt Chevrolet while completing his studies after the war.

While working for Burt Automotive Lloyd began buying into Burt’s business. In 1966, he purchased a quarter-interest in the newly added Toyota operations.  He continued to expand his interest until becoming the majority owner in 1982 and bought the last of the Burt family’s shares from Allen Burt (son of Nate) in 1987, making Lloyd sole owner. His Burt automotive empire became the largest Hispanic-owned business in the United States.

Dr. Charles Noah Shepardson, 1917

“Shep” is renowned for his achievements in both education and banking.

•He taught and coached at Colorado Agricultural College after serving overseas as a Captain in the U.S. Army in World War I.
•Head of the dairy husbandry department at Texas A & M 1928-1944.
•Director of American Jersey Cattle Club from 1940 to 1943.
•President of the Texas Dairy Products Association from 1942 to 1944.
•Director of the American Dairy Science Association.
•Dean of the School of Agriculture at Texas A & M from 1944 to 1955.
•Chairman of the World Dairy Congress in 1947 and 1955.
•Texas Board of Examiners for Teacher Education from 1953-55
•Chairman of the board of directors of the Houston branch of the Federal Reserve Bank.
•Appointed to the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C. by U.S. President Eisenhower from 1955-1967.
•Established the Shepardson fund at CSU in 1956.
•CSU bestowed him with an honorary doctor of laws degree in 1959.
•Was instrumental in forming the CSU Foundation for fund raising, served as chairman of the foundation’s trustee board in 1974.
•The agriculture building on campus would be renamed Shepardson Hall to honor Dr. Shepardson in 1974.