MSU President Geoff Gamble presents the Blue and Gold Award to Sue Leigland
MSU grants prestigious awards
David B. Orser of Billings, Erlind Royer of Colorado Springs, and Sue Leigland of Bozeman received the top awards given by Montana State University and the Alumni Association at the President's Luncheon and Awards Ceremony on October 8, during Homecoming 2004 weekend festivities. Orser and Leigland were awarded the prestigious Blue and Gold Award, and Royer, who received the Centennial Alumni of Achievement Award, was selected during the Alumni Association's 2003 Centennial celebration.
The Blue and Gold Award honors an individual who has rendered great lifetime service or who has brought national or international distinction to MSU or to the state of Montana.
The person must have achieved prominence through service to one or a combination of professional, family, country, world, university, philanthropy or humanity.
David B. Orser, a 1966 graduate in commerce from MSU and recipient of an honorary doctorate from Montana State in 1989, is a former president of Occidental Oil International and an independent businessman working with international oil claims. Orser lived in Libya and London for many years before returning to Montana after he retired. He established the David B. Orser Distinguished Visiting Professorship for the MSU School of Business, which gives MSU business students access to world-class business professionals. Orser has also served on the Museum of the Rockies Board of Directors, as a Montana Ambassador and is a life member of the MSU Alumni Association.
Sue Leigland, known for dedicating time and services to better the Bozeman and university communities, owns Bozeman-based Montana Travel. She has served as the community volunteer on MSU's University Planning, Budget and Analysis Committee, the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Gallatin Airport Authority Board.
"Sue is the boss that everyone wants to work for--she is fair and compassionate. She loves children and reveres family above work," wrote Tiffany Rak, one of Leigland's employees.
The Alumni Achievement Award goes to alumni who have distinguished themselves through professional achievement, or who have an outstanding record of service to community, state or humankind, or who have provided great service to MSU. The Centennial Alumni of Achievement Award was given in recognition of the association's 100th year.
"Recipients of the Centennial Achievement Award exemplify what is best about MSU, and they show our students and university community the powerful results of an education from MSU," says Jaynee Drange Groseth, '73, '91, executive director of the Alumni Association.
Royer, a 1961 electrical engineering graduate, is the founder of EGR Associates, former vice president of Titan Corporation and former dean of engineering at the United States Air Force Academy. He continues as a visiting professor at the Academy. Royer also served at NATO headquarters in Brussels as deputy chief, Command and Control Operations.
In nominating Royer, David Sloan, '61 EE, wrote: "This is a man of highest character and accomplishment. I think Erlind represents the best of Montana and Montana State."
Each award recipient was honored at the President's Luncheon in Hannon Hall on Friday of Homecoming weekend.
The Alumni Association is seeking nominations for both the Blue and Gold Award and the Alumni Achievement Award for 2005. Nominations for these awards can be made by MSU alumni, faculty, friends and students. These prestigious awards will be presented to selected honorees at the awards ceremony during Homecoming weekend. The award was initiated in 1999.

If you would like to nominate someone who deserves to be honored by Montana State University and the Alumni Association, please visit www.montana.edu/alumni/awards or request a nomination packet from the Alumni Association at alumni@montana.edu or by calling 1-800-842-9028
The nominations deadline is April 15.