Two alumni recognized as Dr. Ralf J. Thomas Distinguished Service Award recipients
Harlan Hess and Rob Kobel were honored at a reception on Thursday, March 4 prior to being recognized as part of the Apple Day celebration at Pittsburg State University as Distinguished Service Award recipients.
Harlan Hess, BS '63, MS '68
A retired school teacher and administrator, Harlan Hess has remained involved with Pittsburg State University since his graduation. Hess served on the PSU Alumni Association Board and has been a volunteer for the Kansas City Phonathon. Hess, who was inducted into the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990, is a charter member, past president and present member of the Kansas City Gorilla Club. He and his wife, Carol, are members of the Excellence in Athletics endowment fund and are lifetime football and basketball ticket holders. Harlan has helped administer the Gorilla Open Gold tournament for the past 28 years. A former Lt. Col. in the Army, Hess is also a lifetime member of the Friends of the PSU Veterans Memorial. Harlan and Carol Hess live in Pflugerville, Texas.
Rob Kobel, BST '80
From the time Rob Kobel graduated and joined the Service Center management team with Ford, he has given back to his alma mater. During his years with Ford, Kobel supervised and mentored more than 100 Pittsburg State University graduates. Kobel served on the Automotive Technology Advisory Board and has been a resource for faculty seeking to help the program grow. He has been a frequent participant in on-campus career fairs and Automotive Orientation Days. Kobel, through his association with Ford Motor Co. was instrumental in securing, automotive components and even vehicles. Kobel has been a major contributor to the annual PSU Phonathon and he and his family have established the Kobel Family Endowed Scholarship, which helps out-of-state students meet expenses after choosing to come to PSU and study Automotive Technology. Kobel, his wife, Karen, and their family live in Allen Park, Michigan.