2026 Distinguished Alumni Honorees Announced

Regina Bynote Jones ’92 is a global business executive, attorney and corporate leader whose career spans more than three decades across technology, energy, agriculture and corporate governance. An SHSU College of Business Administration graduate, she built her career through grit, calculated risk and relentless learning, defined by innovation, strategic leadership and a commitment to service.

Larry Larrison ’77 represents the enduring strength of a Bearkat legacy. A third-generation Sam Houston State University alumnus, he is the grandson of H.O. “Molly” Crawford, SHSU’s head football and track coach and the son of former SHSU football player Jeff “Jumbo” Larrison and Bearkat Band alumna Mary Carolyn Crawford Larrison.

A proud Huntsville native, Kenneth R. Ross ’81 has built a career defined by service, leadership and an unwavering commitment to giving back. During his time at Sam Houston State University, Ross became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and briefly served as a member of the Huntsville Police Department while earning his bachelor’s degree in business. Three years after receiving his diploma, he launched what would become a forty-plus-year career with State Farm Insurance.

Former track and field athlete and Sam Houston State University graduate Joseph ’11 has transformed hard work and determination into an extraordinary career as owner-operator of Chick-fil-A I-45 & Almeda.

Chief Mattie C. Provost ’84, ’95 serves as deputy chief of the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office and is a distinguished law enforcement executive with extensive experience in operational public safety leadership.

As the first in her family to attend college, Kathleen Gilbert ’15, ’21 understands the challenges many first-generation students face. As director of the Sam Houston State University Food Pantry, she has dedicated her career to removing barriers to student success.