CHICAGO —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
“I would say to you students, find yourselves an organization to make a commitment to,” Farquharson said during the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s Salute to Excellence Awards gala. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
The event, held during the NRA Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, capped a daylong forum in which the nation’s top hospitality students were treated to words of wisdom and insights from industry luminaries. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
“I salute the industry you have chosen for a profession,” Farquharson said. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
A retired executive of Philadelphia-based Aramark’s global food services division, Farquharson, now spends his time traveling the world to raise awareness of the importance of food safety education and proper food handling techniques for the ISC, which he founded. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
A graduate of the University of Denver School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, Farquharson also attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business and has received honorary doctorates from Johnson & Wales University and The Culinary Institute of America. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
Three other industry veterans were inducted into the NRAEF’s College of Diplomates during the gala’s festivities. They are Jim Funk, chief executive of the Louisiana Restaurant Association; Bill Shore, founder and executive director of Share Our Strength; and Regynald Washington, vice president of food and beverage for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Worldwide. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
Funk, who has led his state association for 26 years, was honored for his leadership in establishing an employee relief fund after the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
“You can help by coming back to see us,” he told the crowd. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
Among his accomplishments was founding the LRA Education Foundation to promote the restaurant industry as a career choice. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
Shore has spearheaded the collection of more than $210 million to help feed the hungry since founding Share Our Strength in 1984 with a $2,000 advance on his credit card. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
“Within the next 10 years we want to end childhood hunger in the United States,” Shore said. “We live in an extraordinary time; we’ve got the resources—do we have the will?” —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
Shore thanked the industry for its generosity and efforts to improve the lives of the 37 million Americans who live below the poverty level. The industry has donated more money toward ending hunger than any other industry, Shore said. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
Washington, who has won many awards for excellence, also paid tribute to hospitality students. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
“The future of our industry is in excellent hands with the students I met today,” he said. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
His civic involvement includes being an officer and board member of the National Restaurant Association, of which he was chairman four years ago, former president of the Georgia Restaurant Association and current board member of the NRAEF and Concessions International. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
The Michael E. Hurst Lifetime Achievement in Education Award went to Carol Kizer, hospitality management department chairwoman emeritus at Columbus State Community College in Columbus, Ohio. She recently retired from a 50-plus-year career during which she established several new management programs. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
“The love of my life has been hospitality education,” said Kizer, who continues to be active in the foodservice community nationwide. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
ProStart teachers given this year’s James H. Maynard Excellence in Education Awards were Diane Ryberg of Eau Claire North High School in Eau Claire, Wis., and Allen Bild from Hammond Area Career Center in Hammond, Ind. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
Each received a $5,000 cash prize. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
Coca-Cola and Ecolab Inc. also presented scholarships to outstanding hospitality students. —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.
Outgoing NRA president Ed Tinsley addressed the gathering, and, speaking to all of the honorees, said, “We’re in awe of all that you have accomplished.” —In accepting the 2007 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award honoring a lifetime of commitment to the restaurant industry, John Farquharson, president of the International Safety Council, paid tribute to the hospitality students poised to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.