ASU Alumni Association Announces 2026 Homecoming Honorees

SAN ANGELO, TX -- The Angelo State University Alumni Association has announced its 2026 slate of alumni, faculty and staff honorees who will be recognized at multiple events during ASU's Homecoming festivities, Oct. 9-10.

As part of a tradition that began in 1976, the Alumni Association annually solicits honoree nominations in nine different categories from ASU alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends. Those selected have selflessly and generously contributed to the ASU student experience, or graduated from ASU and continued to honor their alma mater by demonstrating excellence in character and achievement.

"Highlighting and celebrating distinguished Angelo State alumni, faculty and staff is one of our most important traditions and is also a lot of fun, as Homecoming should be," said Jamie Mayer, vice president for external affairs. "Every year, we get to meet and hear the stories of these remarkable people who are making tremendous impacts in their careers and communities while also specifically supporting Angelo State. They are all outstanding representatives of ASU and exemplify the best of the Ram Family."

The ASU Alumni Association's 2026 Homecoming honorees are:

• Distinguished Alumnus: Dr. Bobby Ott (Class of 1996 & 2000) - Superintendent of Temple Independent School District
• Distinguished Carr Scholar Alumna: Rita Mbanga (Class of 2001) - TV/Movie Producer at Sunrise Productions, Cape Town, South Africa
• Distinguished ROTC Alumnus: Lt. Col. (ret) Timothy Neslony (Class of 2006) - Venture Advisor at Forgepoint Capital
• Distinguished Young Alumnus: Maj. David DeLeon (Class of 2020) - Team Chief at U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Florida
• Golden Ex of the Year: Bill Dendle (Class of 1977) - Owner of Angelo Plumbing Supply, San Angelo ISD Board Member
• Honorary Alumna: Elta Joyce McAfee - Philanthropist and previous San Angelo Citizen of the Year
• Outstanding Retired Faculty: Dr. Doyle Carter (Class of 1981) - Professor of Kinesiology from 2006-24
• Distinguished Faculty Achievement: Dr. Simon Pfeil - Associate Professor of Mathematics
• Outstanding Staff: Tom Nurre Jr. (Class of 1991) - Office of Communications and Marketing

The honorees will be recognized at the Alumni Association Homecoming Honoree Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 9, and will then be featured in the Homecoming Parade and as part of the halftime festivities for the Homecoming football game on Saturday, Oct. 10. They will also be profiled in this year's ASU Rambouillet magazine that publishes in September.

The electronic nomination form for future Homecoming honorees is available on the ASU Alumni Association website.