Dr. Walter C. Daugherity, senior lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University, will be honored as the Mathematics and Computer Science Alumnus of the Year by Oklahoma Christian University.
Daugherity was selected by Oklahoma Christian’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science for his numerous contributions to computing, computer science education and global cyberethics.
The award will be presented by Dr. Don Leftwich, chair of Oklahoma Christian’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, on Friday (Nov. 6) at the university’s annual homecoming. Daugherity will also give a seminar titled “[My] 53 Years of Computing History.”
“This award is long overdue and recognizes his noteworthy contributions to computing,” Leftwich said. “In fact, he helped develop the standard for all our computer keyboards.”
Daugherity graduated from Oklahoma Christian in 1966 and attended Harvard University for his master’s and doctorate degrees. While working on his undergraduate degree, Daugherity made a name for himself among his peers. Dr. Ralph DeBoard, a former classmate and professor at Oklahoma Christian, has stayed in contact with Daugherity since graduation.
“Since Walter was always the top in class, he made it hard for the rest of us to ask for a curve,” DeBoard said. “It was no surprise when he went to Harvard for graduate school and qualified for Mensa.”
During his 28 years at Texas A&M, Daugherity received the Undergraduate Faculty Award from computer science and the Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award from Texas A&M’s Graduate Student Council. Additionally, he received the Bowdoin Prize from Harvard University and Outstanding Regional Intercollegiate Programming Contest Director Award from the Association for Computing Machinery.
“I am honored and humbled to be chosen,” Daugherity said. “It’s hard to believe that it was 53 years ago I programmed my first computer. It’s been great to be part of the development of the field and to share that with my students at Texas A&M.”