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2025 Wall of Honor Recipients

Established by the CHSS Alumni Advisory Board in 2011 to acknowledge faculty and alum who have distinguished themselves in their careers through personal and professional achievements and who have made significant contributions, thus bringing honor and distinction to our university.
Metal Wall of Honor plaques displayed in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Building.

Herbert H. O'Quinn

Distinguished Alumni

Smiling older white man in a beige button-up and glasses.

Herbert H. O’Quinn was a proud alumnus of Sam Houston State University whose life and career exemplified leadership, service, and steadfast commitment to people and community. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Industrial Relations from Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1963, with minors in Economics and Transportation. Hebert often credited the College of Humanities and Social Sciences with providing the skills that became the foundation of his professional success—skills in communication, leadership, and human relations that guided him throughout a distinguished, multi-decade career.

Following graduation, Herb embarked on an impressive career that spanned more than 40 years in human resources, industrial relations, and large-scale operations management. Beginning with the Texasgulf Sulfur Company, he advanced from power plant operations into senior management, ultimately overseeing complex industrial facilities with hundreds of employees and multi-million-dollar budgets. His leadership extended to international project management, including serving as project manager for a major sulfur facility in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Herbert later held senior roles with Inter Redec Inc., Burza International Ltd., Tidewater Materials, and TexMarc and Kinder Morgan, where he managed and consulted on large-scale infrastructure and conveyor system projects across the United States and around the world. His career was marked by operational excellence, environmental stewardship, labor relations expertise, and the mentorship of countless professionals.

Herbert remained deeply connected to Sam Houston State University throughout his life. In addition to being a proud Bearcat alumnus, he served with distinction on the University Alumni Board from 2012 to 2015 and was a founding member of the CHSS Advisory Board. Beyond the University, Herb was equally devoted to his community and church, teaching adult Sunday school classes, fostering strong relationships with local leaders, and living out his faith through service and example.

Above all, Herbert H. O’Quinn was a devoted husband, father, and family man. He married his high school sweetheart, Betty Bennett, in 1961, and together they raised two sons, Michael and Byron. Herb never missed a Little League game, school program, church event, or family gathering, and his family remained his greatest source of pride and joy. Remembered for his kindness, integrity, generosity, and unwavering dedication to faith, family, and education, Herbert H. O’Quinn passed away on September 11, 2025. His legacy reflects the very best traditions of Sam Houston State University and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Donald V. Coers

Distinguished faculty

Smiling, older, white man in a black suit and yellow striped tie.

 

Donald Vernon Coers was a distinguished scholar, educator, and academic leader whose decades of service left an enduring mark on Sam Houston State University and higher education in Texas. Born June 2, 1941, and raised in Dickinson, Texas, Dr. Coers earned his bachelor’s degree in English from The University of Texas at Austin in 1963, where he was a proud member of the Longhorn Marching Band and performed at President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration. He went on to complete a master’s degree in English at UT Austin in 1969 and earned his Ph.D. in English Literature from Texas A&M University in 1974, laying the foundation for a career defined by intellectual rigor, service, and leadership.

Dr. Coers joined the faculty at Sam Houston State University in 1969 as an assistant professor of English and was promoted to professor in 1986. Over a thirty-year career at SHSU, he served the institution in numerous leadership roles, including Coordinator of Graduate Studies, Interim Director of Institutional Research, and ultimately Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Services from 1995 to 2000. His commitment to institutional excellence was evident through his service as the first President of the SHSU Faculty Senate, Chair of the President’s Task Force on Student Retention, and Director of the University’s 10-year Reaccreditation Self-Study. For his extraordinary service, Dr. Coers received the 1991 SHSU Excellence in Service Award. He later served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Angelo State University and Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Sul Ross State University, retiring in 2012.

A respected and internationally recognized scholar, Dr. Coers was widely known for his expertise on the life and works of John Steinbeck. His book John Steinbeck as Propagandist: The Moon Is Down Goes to War earned the Elizabeth Agee Prize, and he received the Burkhardt Award as Outstanding Steinbeck Scholar of 1995. He co-edited After the Grapes of Wrath: Essays on John Steinbeck and was selected to write introductions for major Steinbeck publications, including Penguin’s reprint of Tortilla Flat. Beyond academia, Dr. Coers was deeply engaged in the Huntsville community and across the state, serving as President of the Huntsville Rotary Club, State President of the Council of Faculty Governance Organizations, and on numerous civic and church boards.

Donald V. Coers was devoted to his family, whom he considered his greatest joy. Spending time with them was the highlight of his wonderful life. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Jeanne Coers; his children and grandchildren; and a wide circle of extended family and friends who cherished his wit, generosity, and integrity. Dr. Coers passed away on June 16, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. His legacy as a mentor, scholar, administrator, and community leader lives on through the many students, colleagues, and institutions shaped by his wisdom and compassion.

mike yawn

Distinguished faculty

White male in beige suit and blue tie.

Mike Yawn is a distinguished educator, mentor, and civic leader whose career reflects an extraordinary commitment to Sam Houston State University, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the broader Huntsville community. A proud Bearkat alumnus, Mike earned both his Bachelor of Science in Political Science (1992) and Master of Arts in English and Political Science (1994) from Sam Houston State University and doctoral coursework in Political Science at Arizona State University and doctoral course in Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University. His academic training, paired with a deep belief in experiential learning, has shaped a career devoted to preparing students for engaged citizenship and public service.

Since joining the Department of Political Science at SHSU in 2001, Professor Yawn has been a highly respected Clinical Assistant Professor known for excellence in teaching, advising, and program development. He has taught a wide range of courses, many of which he pioneered for the department, including Politics and the Media, Politics and Film, and Statistics, now part of the department’s core curriculum. Consistently ranked among the highest in teaching evaluations, he has also served as a faculty advisor, pre-law advisor, and internship coordinator, expanding student internship placements from just a handful each year to as many as fifty at the local, state, and federal levels. Through his leadership in Political Science Junior Fellows and as founding director of the Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics (LEAP), now in its third decade, Mike has created transformative opportunities for students to travel, attend presidential inaugurations, engage with policymakers, visit historic and cultural sites, and participate in meaningful civic and service-oriented experiences across Texas and the nation.

Mike’s impact extends far beyond campus. His work has strengthened SHSU’s partnerships with the City of Huntsville, the Texas Legislature, and community organizations throughout the region. He has implemented and overseen state and local internship programs that have become a model within the Texas State University System, helped bring nationally recognized authors and speakers to Huntsville, and led numerous civic initiatives such as citizenship education programs, community seminars, and charitable events benefiting local organizations. His service includes volunteering with the Huntsville Arts Commission, the City Charter Review Committee, and countless nonprofit efforts, often alongside his students. Through these endeavors, Mike exemplifies SHSU’s motto, “The Measure of a Life Is Its Service,” and has profoundly shaped how students understand leadership, responsibility, and community engagement.

At the heart of Mike Yawn’s legacy is his genuine care for students and the relationships he builds with them. He is widely regarded as a mentor who recognizes potential, opens doors, and walks alongside students as they discover their purpose and voice. His influence is reflected in the many alumni who now serve in government, public service, education, and community leadership roles. Supported by his family and grounded in humility and service, Mike Yawn has quietly built a legacy that has changed lives and elevated Sam Houston State University.