Distinguished Alumni Dinner Set

The Texas Tech Alumni Association will present its Distinguished Alumni Awards during a dinner on Nov. 3.

Alumni News

This year's recipients are Dain M. Hancock, a retired executive from Lockheed Martin; Phil Price, advertising agency executive and Karen P. Tandy, head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

The dinner and awards recognize and honor alumni who have made significant contributions toward furthering the excellence of Texas Tech University through outstanding accomplishments, careers and/or through extraordinary measures of service. A video biography highlighting the lives of the honorees will be shown during the evening.

The evening begins with a reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. To make reservations, please contact the Alumni Association at (806) 742.3641. The dinner is set for the night before Texas Tech football teams takes on Baylor.

2006 Convocation Crowd

Dain M. Hancock

Dain M. Hancock’s dedicated service as the program leader and business executive for Lockheed Martin has had a positive impact on engineering throughout the world.  The College of Engineering at Texas Tech continues to benefit from his dedicated service and support.  The influence reflected in Hancock’s professional achievements distinguishes him as an international leader in engineering, science and technology and business.

Hancock retired from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in January 2005, after a 40-year career in the aerospace industry.  In his most recent assignment, he was the chief executive responsible for all of Lockheed Martin’s military aircraft business activities, serving as Lockheed Martin corporate executive vice president and as president of the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. from November 1999.  He has served since March 2005 on the board of directors of Textron Inc. and continues work with Lockheed Martin as a consultant.

He was born in New York and graduated from Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1964 and with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1966.  He began his career with the General Dynamics Fort Worth Division in 1966 and held positions of increasing responsibility in research and engineering, program management, marketing and executive management.  

Hancock has been awarded numerous honors including Distinguished Engineer of the Texas Tech University College of Engineering in 1999; the Haddaway Medal of Aviation Achievement from the Frontiers of Flight Museum Association in Dallas; the Society of Automotive Engineer’s Engineering Leadership Award and the 2001 National Management Association’s Executive of the Year.  In 2003, he was honored as Outstanding Fort Worth Business Executive and received the Reed Aeronautics Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics which is the highest award an individual can receive for achievements in the field of aeronautical science and engineering.

He has a son, Gregory, and currently resides in Fort Worth with his wife, Marian.

2006 Convocation Crowd

Phil Price

Hard work and a tenacious spirit have been driving forces in the life of Texas Tech graduate Phil Price. He is currently President and CEO of the Price Group Inc. in Lubbock, and has been described as one of “Texas Tech’s most dedicated and creative Red Raiders.”

Price earned his bachelor’s degree in advertising/marketing from Texas Tech in 1967.  After graduation, Price volunteered to join the Army and attended Officer Candidate School.  As an infantry officer in Vietnam, Price was hit twice by gunfire while rescuing an ambushed American convoy.  Upon release from active duty, he attended graduate school at Texas Tech. 

His current business started in 1972 as a one-man shop and has grown into one of the largest advertising agencies in West Texas.  His agency has been the recipient of many awards including Omni, Telly and Addy national advertising awards.  Price has also received many personal awards and honors including recognition by the American Advertising Federation, Lubbock Advertising Federation, Outstanding Alumni of the School of Mass Communications at Texas Tech and the Mass Communications Hall of Fame.

Price continues to be deeply involved in the Lubbock community, serving on numerous advisory committees and boards including the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce and Lubbock Area Foundation, as well as the WorkSource Development board. He formerly served in various volunteer capacities with United Way of Lubbock, Science Spectrum of Lubbock, American Cancer Society, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lubbock Symphony Orchestra and Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

He worked tirelessly to see the Lubbock Area Veterans War Memorial become a reality.  He serves as the current president and founding member of the Texas Tech Vietnam Center Advisory Board and, in 2000 represented the Vietnam Center and Lubbock on a tour of Vietnam cities and universities.

In addition to his successful business and civic involvement, Price has written musicals, plays and novels that have won regional and national recognition.  He can often be found behind the scenes at the Cactus Theatre where many of his works have been performed.

Phil is married to Victoria who is also a Texas Tech graduate.

2006 Convocation Crowd

Karen P. Tandy

While there’s no quick fix for societal problems caused by illegal drug use and trafficking, Karen P. Tandy is one Red Raider who is doing her part to diminish the threat. On July 31, 2003, Tandy was confirmed as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), following her nomination by President George W. Bush.  In that role Tandy oversees a federal agency with almost 10,000 employees and a $1.9 billion budget.

Prior to becoming the DEA administrator, Karen Tandy was associate deputy attorney general and director of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces. In her capacity as associate deputy attorney general, she was responsible for oversight of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the National Drug Intelligence Center, as well as being responsible for developing national drug enforcement policy and strategies.    

Between 1990 and 1999, Tandy served in a variety of positions in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, supervising the department’s drug and forfeiture litigation.  From 1979 to 1990, Tandy was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia and in the Western District of Washington, handling the prosecution of violent crime and complex drug, money laundering and forfeiture cases. 

Tandy has been most helpful with helping establish working relationships within the federal government, both with Congress and among federal agencies for the Texas Tech University System. One specific example of her direct contribution to Texas Tech has been her support of the Center for the Study of Addiction in the College of Human Sciences through obtaining federal grant funds and congressional assistance. She was honored with the Distinguished Alumna Award by the Texas Tech School of Law in 2005.

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Tandy is a 1974 graduate of Texas Tech and a 1977 graduate of Texas Tech University School of Law.  She is married to Steve Pomerantz, and the couple has two daughters.

Jan 15, 2020