Devoted. Loyal. Dedicated. Those are the words that describe the 2004 West Virginia University Alumni Associations Outstanding Alumnus, David K. Hendrickson. Hendrickson will be honored at halftime of the Nov. 6 WVU -Temple Homecoming game.

The Charleston attorney graduated cum laude from WVU in 1979 with a bachelors degree in history, and received his law degree from WVU in 1982. He is a former student body president and member of Mountain Honorary.

He also served four years in the U.S. Army.

Stephen Douglas, president and chief executive officer of the WVU Alumni Association said Hendrickson has maintained a steadfast commitment to WVU for more than 20 years. He was a member of the WVU Alumni Associations Board of Directors, serving as president in 1999, and was instrumental in establishing the Marmaduke H. Dent Society, an endowment that supports alumni programming.

Today, he continues his support of the endowment by assisting in fund raising efforts including the annual Gold and Blue Weekend golf tournament and Kanawha Valley Chapter scholarship dinner/wine-tasting event.

There is no one who better represents the Mountaineer spirit than Dave Hendrickson,Douglas said.His loyalty and commitment to WVU are unwavering. He has spent countless hours promoting the University and fostering new programs for alumni and students. We are extremely proud of Daves accomplishments and are pleased to honor him with the 2004 Outstanding Alumnus Award.

Hendrickson has also excelled professionally as one of the founding partners of the law firm Hendrickson&Long where he focuses on the areas of product liability, toxic tort, medical malpractice, insurance defense and general business litigation. Hendrickson&Long was named as one of West Virginias top general commercial litigation firms by Chambers USA in 2004.

He currently serves on the Mountaineer Athletic Clubs Development Council and the WVU Athletic Council. He also is a member of the visiting committee for Student Affairs and the Board of Directors at Berry Hills County Club. In 1994, he served as president of the Kanawha Valley Chapter of the WVU Alumni Association and remains active in the chapter. His professional activities include membership in the American Bar Association, the West Virginia State Bar Association and Kanawha County Bar Association.

Hendrickson said he is honored and humbled to receive the award.

West Virginia University is very much a part of who I am and to be recognized this way is overwhelming,he said.There arent enough words to describe how much this means to me.

Hendrickson, a native of Parkersburg, lives in Charleston with his wife, Stephanie, and stepson, Andrew.

The WVU Alumni Association also announces its Homecoming tailgate from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, for alumni and guests prior to the WVU -Temple game. The cost is $10 in advance, $15 at the door. To R.S.V.P., call 304-293-4731.