A festive crowd of alumni and friends gathered at the Post Oak Hotel in Houston to celebrate Rice University’s most dedicated supporters at the Association of Rice Alumni’s annual Laureates Celebration May 8.
Emceed by Tania Min ’90 ’92, past president of the ARA board, the event was attended by more than 300 alumni and friends, including President Reginald DesRoches and Rice Board of Trustees Chair Robert T. Ladd ’78.
“Tonight we are honoring the exceptional individuals who have contributed widely to the university, who have exhibited truly remarkable generosity to Rice with respect to their time and talent,” Min said.
Gold Medal recipient Robert Maxfield: Pathbreaker, visionary, loyal friend
The Gold Medal Award , the highest honor given by the ARA, was presented posthumously to Robert Maxfield ’63, ’64. Maxfield passed away Aug. 13, 2024, at the age of 82.
The award recognizes outstanding service in promoting the ideals of the university, deep dedication to and advancement of academic excellence and uncommon generosity of time and means in support of Rice.
Maxfield’s wife Kathie accepted the award on his behalf and spoke about his passion for the university: “He had a great love and respect for Rice.”
A video produced for the event included interviews with friends and colleagues who memorialized Maxfield and used powerful words to describe him: pioneer, visionary, technical leader, loyal friend, pathbreaker.
A distinguished engineer, technology trailblazer and philanthropist, Maxfield helped put Rice at the forefront of scientific innovation and education. Originally from Wichita Falls, Texas, Maxfield earned his Bachelor of Art and Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Rice, where he was a member of the varsity swim team, Phi Beta Kappa, Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi.
“Bob in so many ways represented the very best of Rice,” former President David Leebron said in the video. “He was an example of the kind of person you should aspire to be and of the kind of contribution you can make with a Rice education to our world.”
A lifelong advocate for science and education, Maxfield founded the Maxfield Foundation to channel his support into high-impact projects, including Rice’s OpenStax, a revolutionary initiative to provide free, high-quality textbooks. As one of OpenStax’s earliest investors and a longtime strategic adviser, Maxfield helped make education more accessible and affordable for millions of students worldwide.
Kathie Maxfield said her husband felt “lucky to be involved in OpenStax and to be intellectually engaged by the remarkable leaders and to shoot for the goal of impacting worldwide education.”
Distinguished Alumni awardees Thomas Benford and Eugene Keilin
Thomas Benford ’00 and Eugene Keilin ’64 were recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award , given to those who have advanced the interest and standards of excellence of Rice through distinctive professional careers.
From leading on the gridiron at Rice to leading a billion-dollar business enterprise, Benford’s legacy of excellence and entrepreneurship stretches far and wide. An exemplary student-athlete at Rice, Benford was a four-year starting linebacker for the Owls, known for being as tenacious on the field as he was in the classroom. After receiving his undergraduate degrees in economics and computational and applied mathematics, he went on to earn his MBA from Harvard Business School before beginning his career in investment banking.
“He stood out for his intelligence, maturity and leadership,” said friend and former teammate N.D. Kalu ’97 in an introduction video . “What sets Thomas apart is his commitment to others, whether he is mentoring friends, teaching communities about financial literacy or giving back to our school Rice University.”
“Rice really caused me to mature, because I learned that … a lot of the value isn’t what we say but what we actually do,” Benford said while accepting the award.
A prominent leader in investment banking and private equity, Keilin became a force in public and private sector finance by combining business creativity with a deep commitment to public service. After graduating from Rice in 1964, where he served as editor of The Thresher, Keilin earned his law degree from Harvard University and served as general counsel of the New York City Mayor’s Budget Bureau.
“His guiding principle of sharing success has shaped his life work from finance to settling labor disputes at the Metropolitan Opera to the New York Philharmonics,” said friend and alumna Elizabeth Vickrey Lodal ’66 in a prerecorded video .
“My life pivots around Rice,” Keilin said. “For a provincial Texan, that opened a wider world of history and politics, art and culture, and it provided the courage to confront it.”
Meritorious Service Award: Frank Liu and Jan West
Frank Liu ’78 and Jan West ’73 received the Meritorious Service Award , which honors significant, sustained, voluntary contributions of energy, time and creativity toward the advancement of the university.
Liu, a visionary entrepreneur, has been a steadfast benefactor and advocate for Rice. His philanthropic efforts have touched countless lives, embodying the university’s ideals of excellence, service and innovation. His generous contributions to the university include helping found the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie Lab) at Rice, which has enrolled more than 1,600 students.
“There aren’t many people who played a bigger role in shaping the physical landscape — the skyline — like Frank has,” said Kyle Judah , executive director of the Lilie Lab. “The entire city bears the imprint of Frank’s passion, courage and, most importantly, his impact.”
“Rice has the resources to do more than educate — they can empower,” Liu said. “We need to invest in our students, alumni, faculty and our associates for building companies, solving problems and to change the future.”
West, assistant director of multicultural community relations in the Office of Public Affairs, has dedicated more than 50 years to Rice as a mentor, advocate and bridge-builder. Arriving at Rice in 1969 as one of only three Black freshman women and the only Black student in Brown College, West quickly became a leader on campus. More than 50 years later, West’s service to the university has continued to grow.
“Whether at student recruitment dinners or community building events, she wasn’t just present,” said Caleb McDaniel , the Mary Gibbs Jones Professor of Humanities. “She was a driving force behind a more inclusive Rice.”
“Service has taught me to be resilient and creative and to be patient and to love people who sometimes aren’t very lovable,” West said. “When you serve, you get the better end of the deal. You get a joy and a peace and a calm that cannot be replaced.”
“It is an honor and privilege to serve.”
View all of the Laureates videos and learn more about the program at alumni.rice.edu/laureates .