Four alumni of Catawba College will be honored with Alumni Awards on Saturday, October 20th during Homecoming Weekend activities. Those to be recognized include Allan Robert Autry ’08 of Raleigh, recipient of the Young Alumni Award for Career Development; Robin Tynes-Miller ’12 of Charlotte, recipient of the Young Alumni Award for Service; John D. Balls ’70 of Charlotte, recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Career Achievement; and Marvin T. Moore ’99 of Concord, recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Service.
Given annually by Catawba’s Alumni Association, these awards recognize individuals who have served their communities at large and the Catawba College community, and distinguished themselves at different stages of their professional development.
The Alumni Awards Ceremony and Alumni Brunch is slated from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday, October 20th in Goodman Gymnasium. Tickets are required and are $15 for those over 6 years of age; and free for children under 6 years of age. Tickets may be purchased online at www.catawba.edu/homecoming.
Allan Robert Autry ’08, Young Alumni Award for Career Development
Allan Autry is a CPA and the youngest Tax Principal at Johnson Lambert, LLP, the fifth largest accounting firm to insurance industry in the country.
A native of Fayetteville, N.C., Allan majored in Accounting while an undergraduate at Catawba and was a member of the College Golf Team. Recognized for his academic success while a student, Allan served as Junior Marshal and was a member of the Philomathean Society.
After graduating from Catawba, he earned his Master of Accounting degree, magna cum laude, from N.C. State University’s Poole College of Management.
A member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the North Carolina Association of CPAs, and the Insurance Accounting & Systems Association (IASA), Allan is a regular presenter at regional and national insurance industry conferences on tax and workplace issues. Recent talks include “Managing a Multigenerational Work Force: Unleashing Its Potential,” and “State Taxes: The Unknown Frontier.” He also authors articles for clients to help them better understand tax law, and his recent works include: “The Impact of the Tax Reform Act for Property and Casualty Insurers” for the PIAA Inside Medical Liability publication, and “Trump Tax Reform” for the IASA E-Interpreter.
Allan met his wife, the former Meagen Kittle, also a member of the Class of 2008, while both were Catawba students. She is employed as Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs at William Peace University and Teaching Assistant Professor at N.C. State University College of Engineering. The two are parents of daughter Rowan Meadow Autry and the family lives in Raleigh.
Robin Tynes-Miller ’12, Young Alumni Award for Service
Robin Tynes-Miller is the Founder and Artistic Director of Three Bone Theatre, and Analytics Manager for Children’s Theatre of Charlotte.
A native of Black Mountain, N.C., Robin came to Catawba as a transfer student, majoring in Musical Theatre and earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. While a student, she distinguished herself academically. She was tapped to serve as a Junior Marshal, inducted into Phi Epsilon, served as Blue Masque President between 2011 and 2012, and was a member of Alpha Psi Omega, the Theatre Arts Honor Society. She was Improv Team Captain, an Irene Ryan Semi-Finalist for 2012, and the recipient of the Augustin Daly Award. Popular with her fellow students, she was also a member of the Homecoming Court.
While a Catawba undergrad, she met fellow theatre arts alumna Carmen Bartlett ’10 and developed a close friendship. The two discussed their shared dream of establishing a small, non-profit theatre in North Carolina and actually realized that dream when they established Three Bone Theatre in Charlotte in 2012. The name of their theatre company comes from Reba McEntire quote: “To succeed in life: you need a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.” Through Three Bone, Robin and her colleague have established a company that serves as a catalyst for hope, strength and humor throughout society. Three Bone Theatre was recognized in 2017 by the North Carolina Theatre Conference with its George A. Parides Professional Theatre Company of the Year Award.
Recently married to husband Scott Tynes-Miller, the two make their home in Charlotte.
John D. Balls ’70, Distinguished Alumni Award for Career Achievement
John D. Balls of Charlotte is a former Vice President and Chief Information Officer for AT&T/Lucent Technologies, Inc., and a retired educator.
After graduating from Catawba with a degree in Business Management, John earned his Master of Science degree in Finance from Benjamin Franklin University (now George Washington University), an M.B.A. in Management and Finance from Fairleigh Dickenson University, and his master’s and doctorate degrees from Gardner-Webb University. He also graduated from Cornell University’s Executive Leadership Program and from Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Executive Program in Technology.
While a student at Catawba, John was honored as Student of the Month and inclusion in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. He also served as a Junior Marshal at the College.
After a long career with AT&T/Lucent Technologies, Inc., N.J., where John held several strategic positions between 1971 and 2000, he began a career as an educator. He served as an instructor in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools between 2000 and 2003, then worked in the Stanly County Schools first as a vice principal at West Stanly High, and then as a high school principal at Stanly Early College between 2006 and 2010. Thereafter, he joined Gardner-Webb University, serving as director of the Center for Innovative Leadership Development between 2012 and 2016, as coordinator of the Doctorate of Education in Organization Leadership Program between 2014 and 2016, and as assistant professor in the School of Education there between 2013 and 2016. John continues to serve Gardner-Webb University as an adjunct faculty member in the School of Education.
John has numerous publications to his credit and has been honored with various awards throughout his career, including the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Honoree Award in 2018, and the North Carolina New Schools Innovator of the Year Award in 2010. He has served on the board of directors for the local Boys & Girls Club, and has served as a mentor for students and young professionals in various ministries at his church.
He is married to wife Greta.
Marvin Moore ’99, Distinguished Alumni Award for Service
Marvin Moore ’99 is employed by the Rowan-Salisbury Public Schools as Principal of Isenberg Elementary School.
While a student at Catawba, Moore was a standout basketball player who earned his degree in physical education. His achievements on the court earned him many accolades, including three-time All-Conference Player; four-time champion – on the team that won two Conference Championships and two Conference Tournament Championships; All American, Conference Player of the Year; Conference Athlete of the Year; and Conference Hall of Fame member. He was the only player in Conference history to have 1500 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, and 200 steals. He holds the record as Catawba’s all time steals leader in a game, a single season, and in his career.
He served as Catawba’s assistant men’s basketball coach for 10 years and help lead the squad to three conference tournament championships and three conference championships. He still continues to mentor Catawba’s men’s basketball players.
After his Catawba graduation, Marvin earned his master’s degree from Gardner-Webb University and is currently pursuing his doctorate from Wingate University.
In the community, Marvin is active in several volunteer organizations including Dream on 3, Food for Thought, and the Crosby Scholars. He has been honored as a finalist for Rowan County Principal of the Year and as the Salisbury area Community Principal.
Married to wife Jessica, the couple makes their home in Concord and are parents of daughters Sydni, Maliya, and Londyn, and son Marvin “M.J.” Marvin is a native of Ahoskie, N.C., and the son of Helen Hurd.
