H. Thurston Cooke '91
(Awarded 2011)

In his application for admission to Davidson College, a young H. Thurston Cooke II wrote: "I like to be a part of organizations that aid students who need a special lift. What I enjoy even more is service to my school, helping raise school spirit and serving on projects to help improve the school atmosphere."

The twin goals of service to others and service to school showed up immediately in Thurston's life as a Davidson student beginning in 1987-and they've been appearing together in various configurations ever since.

As a student, he was a hall counselor, a Big Brother, an inner-city tutor, a North Carolina Fellow, and chairman of the student Campaign for Davidson Committee. Graduating as a history major, Thurston next brought his love of Davidson to bear in his first job as assistant to the director in Davidson's Office of Alumni Relations.

His career path led him to earn an M.B.A. in real estate development at Georgia State University. In this field, Thurston's work has maintained the perspective of service, with his expertise often focusing on affordable housing, housing for seniors, and other development projects aimed at an equitable housing market.

Thurston and Carla Naegele '92 married in 1994, and they have two children, Christopher and Anne.

Through it all, Thurston never let go of service to his school. He served as young alumni chapter president in Atlanta, then as the president of the full chapter there. With imagination and purpose, he brought fellow Atlanta alumni together around events as diverse as ethics and service, history and happy hour. He nurtured the important work of the Davidson Alumni Admissions Program, he cultivated strong support for alma mater as an Annual Fund agent, and he represented his 1990s contemporaries as a decade representative on the Alumni Association Board.

Thurston, when Davidson has asked, you have answered.

For your personal and professional accomplishments these past 20 years, and because you have always been a ready-and-willing Davidson gentleman, freely offering your time, boundless energy, and leadership, the Davidson College Alumni Association is proud to honor you, Henry Thurston Cooke II, with the Alumni Service Award.