Bauer College Alumni Association

Honorees

“Honoree Foursome”

In 2011, we started a tradition at the Ted Bauer Golf Classic in honoring former students and current supporters of UH. In 2016, we recognize individuals who emulate Ted Bauer’s principles and values. These individuals have given tirelessly of their time and talent to the university and to Bauer College. They will serve as honorary starters and will be recognized at the dinner following the golf tournament.

Welcome Wilson, Sr. (BBA '49)

Earning his BBA in 1949 from the University of Houston, Wilson has been a prominent Houston real estate developer for 59 years. His first projects in the 1950s and 1960s were Master Planned Communities Jamaica Beach and Tiki Island in Galveston, Texas. During this time, he served in the Executive Office of the President under Eisenhower and JFK. He witnessed the Atom bomb test in Nevada and the Hydrogen Bomb test at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.

Since then, he has developed many apartment projects, retail centers, hotels and three downtown office buildings. He is currently Chairman of the Welcome Group, owning 4,000,000 square feet of manufacturing and industrial facilities in 83 locations in Texas.

Wilson has been inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Houston Business Journal, and awarded an Honorary Doctors degree from the University of Houston. He also received the UH Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1970 and the UH Bauer College of Business Distinguished Alumni Award in 1996. He was a long-time Chairman of the Board of Regents of the University of Houston, and is now Chairman of its UH Political Action Committee.

He married his college sweetheart on the day he graduated from UH 67 years ago. They have 5 kids, 16 grandkids and 12 great-grandkids, one of whom is in college.

Mark Woodroof (BBA '78)

Mark Woodroof graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Business in 1978. Since earning his degree, Woodroof has been active in Residential Real Estate serving in a variety of leadership roles. Beginning in Houston with Coldwell Banker, he relocated to Atlanta in 1986. Returning to Houston in 1990 where he was responsible for supporting brokerage operations in both the Houston and Dallas-Ft Worth Metroplex. In 1996, Woodroof associated with Gary Greene, Realtors, Better Homes and Gardens where he was responsible for the company's business development. In March 2000, Woodroof became a principal in Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors®, formed with partners Marilyn Eiland and Bill McIlwain by acquiring the residential assets of Gary Greene, Realtors®, Better Homes and Gardens and four Prudential affiliates. In 2012, the firm reunited with their former franchise, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. Better Homes and Gardens was #51 on the 2015 Cougar 100 list.

Woodroof has been actively involved with the Houston Association of Realtors® since 1991, serving as its chairman in 1999. He has also been active with both the state and national associations serving on numerous committees and is a past director of both organizations. He currently serves as a Director of the National Association of Realtors.

John A. Clarke (BBA '82)

John A. Clarke attended the University of Houston, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration – Finance in 1982. He is also a graduate of the ABA’s National School of Real Estate Finance, University of Wisconsin. Beginning his banking career in 1982, Clarke has over 34-years of banking experience serving in various senior level positions at Bank of Texas, Encore Bank and Frost Bank. Clarke joined Integrity Bank in February, 2014, where he currently serves as a Senior Vice President. Prior to joining Integrity Bank, Clarke served as Chairman of the Board of the University of Houston Alumni Association, as well as being a member (ex officio) of the University of Houston’s Board of Visitors. Clarke currently serves on the Board of the University of Houston Alumni Foundation, The Houston Cougar Foundation, and is an honorary member of the “H” Association, the official letterwinners association of the University of Houston. Clarke is also a member of the Advisory Board of The Briarwood School and is a Lifetime Member of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo where he serves on the Advisory Board of the Calf Scramble Donors Committee.

James Hong (BBA '05)

James Hong graduated from Bauer with a double major in Finance and Management. In 2001, while attending UH, Hong and a former teammate co-founded what is now BE A CHAMPION, INC.- a non-profit youth organization providing youth sports, after-school, tutoring and food programs to over 14,000 students and youth. After 4 years with Mass Mutual in 2010, Hong founded HONG FINANCIAL, where he is an independent broker offering insurance and investment products and services to businesses and individuals. He is also a co-owner of the new Pinks Pizza UH across the street from Calhoun Lofts. In Fall of 2012, Hong became a lecturer of the Life Insurance and Annuities course (FINA 4397), part of the Risk Management Certificate Program at the Bauer College of Business. Hong is involved heavily with the University of Houston where he is a Life Member of the University of Houston Alumni Association; past President of the Bauer Alumni Association; president of the H-Association (the former lettermen of UH Athletics), Secretary of the Houston Cougar Foundation, and member of Cougar Pride. He was also the 2012 recipient of the Rising Star Award from the UHAA.