Four alumni from the University of California, Davis, who have distinguished themselves in the fields of medicine, academia, law and agriculture will be honored by the UC Davis Alumni Association during Homecoming Weekend on Friday, Nov. 7. Each year, the alumni association presents four awards to alumni who have dedicated themselves to their university, their communities and their careers. This year's celebration program will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Walter A. Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center. Cost is $30, and reservations can be made by calling the alumni association at (916) 752-0286. The Emil M. Mrak International Award is given to alumni of UC Davis who have distinguished themselves in their careers or service outside of the United States. Shortly after receiving his Ph.D. from UC Davis, this year's recipient, Thira Sutabutra '64, Ph.D. '68, joined the Department of Plant Pathology as a lecturer in plant virology and mycoplasma at Kasetsart University in Thailand, where he rose to the rank of full professor. Recently he was elected president of Kasetsart University for a two-year term ending in June 1998. Sutabutra's contributions to research and development have opened up a new era for plant virus and mycoplasma disease control in Thailand. His research has also significantly improved socio-economic conditions for Thai farmers by, for example, establishing strawberry production in the north of Thailand. Sutabutra has also been instrumental in the establishment of an agreement of cooperation between Kasetsart University and UC Davis. The agreement is designed to foster joint faculty research and graduate education programs, as well as joint sponsorship of conferences, courses, seminars and symposia. Daniel E. Hayes Jr., Ph.D. '91, will receive the Young Alumnus of the Year Award, given to UC Davis alumni who have made outstanding contributions in their profession, community or the university and are no older than age 35 or who received their first degree within the past 10 years. Shortly after receiving his degree, Hayes formed Hayes Medical Inc. to provide general biomedical engineering consulting services to the orthopaedic community. His company now specializes in services related to custom hip prostheses and revision surgeries and markets its own hip prosthesis design, the Hayes Hip. Hayes is also a co-founder of the International Society for the Study of Custom Implants. Floyd D. Shimomura '70, J.D. '73, is the recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Award, given to alumni who have distinguished themselves over the span of their careers in their community or in public service. Shimomura began his career in the California attorney general's office, where he worked from 1973 to 1981, handling seven cases before the California Supreme Court. From 1981 to 1986, Shimomura taught contracts and administrative law at the UC Davis law school. During this time he also served a two-year term as national president of the 27,000-member Japanese American Citizens League, where he helped lead the fight for compensation for Japanese American internees and met with Japanese Prime Minister Nakasone to discuss the social effects of trade friction. He returned to the California attorney general's office from 1986 to 1988, then was appointed chief counsel of the California State Personnel Board. Since 1991, Shimomura has been senior assistant attorney general in charge of the Government Section, overseeing 22 attorneys specializing in state finance and political matters. The Jerry W. Fielder Memorial Award was established to perpetuate the lifelong interest of one of the university's most esteemed and supportive alumni, Jerry W. Fielder. This award is given in recognition of service to the UC Davis Alumni Association, UC Davis Foundation and the university. This year's recipient, Lester Heringer, who received a non-degree certificate in agronomy in 1940, has a distinguished record of service to UC Davis covering almost three decades. Heringer has contributed to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the School of Medicine, the Davis Chancellor's Club and capital projects such as Rec Hall and the Alumni and Visitors Center. He has served on the UC Davis Alumni Association's board of directors, served as board member and chair of the UC Davis Foundation and served on the School of Medicine's Board of Visitors, and he has participated in many UC Legislative Conferences, meeting with legislators and asking their support for the University of California. He recently retired from his business, Heringer Ranches, but continues to be active in the field of agriculture as a member of the Tomato Advisory Board. He has served as president and member of the Council of California Growers, chair of the board of California Canners and Growers and president and director of the California Tomato Research Institute.