Stephen F. Austin State University

The Stephen F. Austin State University Foundation continued its tradition ofhonoring outstanding educators and generous donors at its 18th annual galaSaturday at the Fredonia Hotel.

Donors honored for their support of the university included Ed and Gwen Cole, Richard and Lucy Dewitt, Gerald Schleif, Bill and Ann Stokes, and Focus POS Systems.

The Coles were inducted into the Stephen F. Austin Society.

"The Nacogdoches community and Stephen F. Austin State University were blessed when this couple decided to retire in East Texas," said Jill Still, SFA director of development. "Almost every area of the university has been touched by the Coles' legendary generosity. There are not enough awards around to adequately express our love and appreciation for them."

Richard and Lucille Dewitt also were inducted into the Stephen F. Austin Society. Lucille Dewitt has long been an active volunteer for Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital and has served as the auxiliary's president.

"The DeWitts have been a positive influence on health care in Nacogdoches and strong supporters of SFA's nursing program, most recently making a significant commitment to increase the number of nurses educated at SFA," Still said. "They are dedicated to helping their community by ensuring that patients have access to highly skilled nursing care."

Stephen F. Austin Society inductee Gerald W. Schlief, a Houston resident and SFA accounting alumnus, has made a generous gift to permanently endow the accounting program at SFA.

"The generosity of Mr. Schlief and his wife, Candy, will make the Rusche College accounting program one of the best in the state and strengthen the public's awareness of its reputation," Still said. "This gift will provide distinguished faculty stipends, technology and other capital purchases, and the pursuit of accreditation for the department."

The Stephen F. Austin Society honors lifetime gifts of $1 million or more.

Focus POS Systems, a Texas-based company supplying technology to the hospitality industry, was inducted into the Fredonia Society, which honors gifts between $100,000 and $500,000.

After graduating with computer science degrees from SFA in 1986, Lance Hirsch and James Foreman left Nacogdoches to pursue master's degrees. During their graduate studies, they began to develop software for restaurants and organized Focus POS Systems, which became a leader in the food service technology industry.

"This company is supportive of education at all levels, and the owners decided to make a positive impact on SFA's computer science program, ensuring that it continues to attract, recruit and produce high caliber students," Still said.

The endowment in computer science will support four academic scholarships annually.

Also inducted into the Fredonia Society were Bill and Ann Stokes. Ann Bradshaw Stokes, a Texas Woman's University graduate, was a journalist, avid theatre patron and amateur playwright. When she died in 1981, her estate funded a foundation to support theatre education in Texas colleges and universities. Her husband, Bill, established relationships with theatre departments in 19 schools, including SFA.

Bill was an active member of the Texas Folklore Society at SFA. His son, W.N. Stokes III, graduated from SFA, and his granddaughter, Lacey Stokes, is a graduate student in horticulture.

Proceeds from the gala help build the permanent endowment created by the foundation to honor faculty achievement in teaching, research and service. Faculty members honored at this year's gala were Drs. John T. Moore and Jimmie Yeiser.