News Releases 2008

Dale Crownover Addresses LETU Graduates In May 3 Ceremony

Fri, May 30 2008

Two-time Malcolm Baldridge Award winner Dale Crownover, president and chief executive officer of Texas Nameplate Company in Dallas, was the commencement speaker at commencement ceremonies at LeTourneau University in Longview on Saturday, May 3. The Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award in Small Business was awarded to Crowniver in 1998 and 2004, making it the first and only small business twice honored. The prestigious Baldridge Award is presented by the President of the United States for business excellence, with criteria recognized around the world—Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and China.

Crownover earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management in 1997 from LeTourneau University and authored his first book, Take It to the Next Level, in 1998. Texas Nameplate Company was founded by his father, Roy, in 1946 and remains a family-owned business, supported by the 50 individuals who make nameplates for the identification of products and equipment. [link to speech]

Due to significant growth in both traditional and nontraditional degree programs, LeTourneau University hosted two separate commencement ceremonies at the university’s S. E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and Performance Center. About 175 traditional-age college students participated in a morning ceremony, receiving their bachelor’s degrees from the School of Aeronautical Science, School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Education, School of Engineering and Engineering Technology. An afternoon ceremony honored nearly 150 working adult from LETU’s nontraditional programs in Longview and from sites across the state and online, students receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business and interdisciplinary studies.