College inducts three more into Faculty Hall of Fame, honors exceptional faculty and staff members

The Florida State University College of Business established eternal reverence for three former faculty members who spent decades changing the lives of students and setting the college on its path to preeminence.

The college’s inductions in March of Robert Brymer, the late Ross Heck and the recently retired James Pitts into its Charles A. Rovetta Faculty Hall of Fame coincided with its annual faculty and staff awards presentations. On the night of the inductions, the college recognized 17 current faculty and staff members for their work to help the college fulfill its mission of producing the next generation of business leaders.

The event took place as the college continues its yearlong celebration of its 75th anniversary and prepares to move into its world-class new home, Legacy Hall, scheduled for completion in late August.

“Here’s to our exceptional legacy, the promise of an amazing future and to the remarkable people we’re here to honor this evening,” Michael Hartline, dean of the college, said to attendees in the FSU Alumni Association ballroom.

Brymer, Heck and Pitts joined 20 previous inductees in the Rovetta Faculty Hall of Fame, named in honor of the college’s second dean. The three “distinguished themselves in their longtime contributions to the college, their disciplines and, most of all, their students,” Hartline said. “Like the inductees before them, they made us who we are.”

Hartline dedicated a moment at the beginning of the ceremony to honor Charles Hardwick, the namesake and benefactor of the Charles Hardwick Teaching Awards. A 2005 inductee into the college’s Alumni Hall of Fame, Hardwick passed away earlier this year at age 83.

"Chuck's gift to create our teaching awards bolstered our faculty members, our students and our college," Hartline told attendees. "We always will genuinely appreciate and cherish Chuck's generosity and vision, and I will deeply miss him as a friend and mentor."

The dean also spoke in honor of Mary Solomon, who also passed early this year. Hartline described Solomon, widow of longtime dean and Faculty Hall of Fame member E. Ray Solomon, as "a major benefactor of the college and a beloved friend to so many."

ROBERT ANDREW BRYMER 

Influential professor, hospitality leader 

Brymer joined the College of Business faculty in 1981 and retired in 2018 from the Dedman School of Hospitality, which later became a college. He served as Dedman's director from 2006 to 2008 and established himself among the world's top 20 hospitality researchers. Now the Cecil B. Day Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Brymer is credited for integrating ethics into FSU’s business and hospitality management curricula.

He also connected students with outstanding hospitality leaders and companies. Dave Dinnie (BS Hospitality ’88), a longtime senior leader at The Walt Disney Company, credited Brymer for helping to launch his career and that of his son, Jack Dinnie (BS Recreation & Tourism Management '24), a food and beverage manager at Hyatt Hotels.

Clint Day (BS Business Administration ’82), another former student, called Brymer “the most influential professor in my life.” And Jane Ohlin, who joined the business faculty in 1989 and now works for Dedman, said Brymer worked passionately on behalf of students and faculty members alike.

Brymer gave a humble and hilarious acceptance speech, playfully telling of his kids’ and grandkids’ creation of a “hall of fame for the Brymer family.”

He shared details of a phone call he and his wife, Becky, received last spring with news of the first vote: Becky got “inducted.” He’d have to wait until next time.

The crowd erupted in laughter.

On a serious and touching note, Brymer hailed his 55 years of marriage to Becky and added: “Everything I've accomplished of any value is a direct result of having her in my life.”

He returned to fun in his closing remarks, telling audience members: “If any of you happen to see or talk to any of my kids or grandkids in next of couple weeks … please put in a word for me.”

WILLIAM ROSS HECK

Tax law expert, demanding educator

Heck (1925-2005) served on the FSU faculty from 1959 to 1988, including as interim chair of the accounting department. He earned widespread respect for his expertise in tax law and unwavering dedication to students and their careers.

Heck's accolades included Florida's Outstanding Educator Award from the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Professor of the Year Award from Beta Alpha Psi and the Instruction Efficiency Award from Alpha Kappa Psi. He also co-authored numerous publications on tax laws and conducted professional development courses for practicing accountants.

Fellow inductee Pitts worked with Heck in the college and remembered his former colleague as a thorough, compassionate teacher and a stickler for detail who kept his door open to students.

Rose Zongker, a 94-year-old former undergraduate advisor who attended the ceremony, recalled that Heck moonlighted as a Wakulla County ambulance driver. She said Heck once called to tell her that her daughter had been in an accident but that he was taking good care of her, and she was going to be OK.

Former student Doug Tatum likewise remembered Heck as “a wonderful human being.”

After a pause, he added: “Outside of the classroom.” Laughter ensued.

Tatum, who earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1979 and a Master of Accounting (MAcc) in 1980, accepted Heck’s posthumous induction and spoke on his former professor’s behalf.

“Inside the classroom, he was absolutely feared” for his insistence on preparation and performance, Tatum said of Heck, adding: “He was the most brilliant teacher I'd ever been around.”

JAMES 'JIM' PITTS

Academic leader, International Programs pioneer 

Pitts joined the college as an assistant professor of finance in 1968 and retired last year after a remarkable 56-year career at FSU. He also served as the college’s associate dean for administration and development.

In 1989, he became FSU's assistant to the president for oversight, then vice president for advancement. Later, at the request of Bernie Sliger, FSU’s president at the time, Pitts located and purchased a campus for the university's London program. In 1995, he assumed leadership of International Programs, making the university a leader in study-abroad enrollment.

Senior lecturer Bill Woodyard, who has taught business law and real estate in FSU’s European centers, called Pitts a visionary whose expertise in finance and real estate served him well in International Programs.

Gary Bliss, a senior lecturer in the college’s finance department who was a student of Pitts, remembered Pitts as a legendary holdout on allowing students to use calculators.

Bliss added: “I thoroughly love the man.”

In his acceptance speech, Pitts credited his wife, Martha, who had passed away four months earlier, for guiding him toward FSU more than five decades ago. He shared how, despite initially planning to accept an offer from another university, a thoughtful evening of reflection with Martha led him to choose FSU instead.

"God blessed us with a very rewarding and fulfilling career of 56 years at FSU,” he said.

He added that their three children all earned FSU degrees.

A grandchild could join them: Pitts said he recently purchased Florida prepaid tuition for his infant grandson, James Parker Pitts, who – decked out in garnet and gold -- was among family members at the ceremony. James is the son of Justin Pitts (BS Finance ’04).

“I sure hope he comes to FSU and becomes a Seminole,” Jim Pitts said.

-- Pete Reinwald

Faculty and staff awards

CORE VALUES AWARDS – Staff

Jason Harle, course facilitator and career coach, Business Career Services

Mariesa Haynes, course manager, Department of Risk Management/Insurance, Real Estate and Legal Studies

Elizabeth Kistner, director, Graduate Programs Office

CORE VALUES AWARDS – Faculty

Allen Blay, chair, Department of Accounting, and EY Professor of Accounting

Gang Wang, Madeline Duncan Rolland Professor of Business Administration, Department of Management

Ally Zimmerman, Madeline Duncan Rolland Associate Professor of Business Administration, Department of Accounting

STAFF AWARDS

MVP: Suzanne Barwick, director, Marketing and Communications

Emerging Leader: Eden Wahlquist, course manager, Rockwood School of Marketing

Ingenuity Award: Kallen Lunt, media specialist, Marketing and Communications

Extra Mile Award: Vanessa Roman-Sotolongo, academic program specialist, Undergraduate Programs Office

Esprit de Corps: Trinity Gonzalez, events manager, Strategic Engagement

CHARLES HARDWICK OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARDS

Undergraduate Teaching Award, Tenure-Track Faculty: Riley Krotz, assistant professor, Rockwood School of Marketing

Undergraduate Teaching Award, Specialized Faculty: Keith Ferguson, associate lecturer and entrepreneur in residence, Rockwood School of Marketing

Graduate Teaching Award: Darren Brooks, assistant chair, Department of Management; senior lecturer; MBA program coordinator

RESEARCH AWARDS

Junior Faculty: Remy Jennings, assistant professor and Dean’s Emerging Scholar, Department of Management

Senior Faculty: Colleen Harmeling, Dr. Persis E. Rockwood Associate Professor of Marketing, Rockwood School of Marketing

Distinguished Research Award: Michael Brusco, Haywood & Betty Taylor Eminent Scholar of Business Administration, Department of Business Analytics, Information Systems and Supply Chain