West Virginia University is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its School of Physical Education by hosting a panel discussion of renowned leaders Tuesday, April 22.

Legends II: Pioneers, Leaders and Legends in the Marketplacewill begin at 7 p.m. in the Erickson Alumni Center on WVU s Evansdale Campus.

Panel members include Gen. Earl Anderson, Robert DeProspero, George Esper and Alfred Ware. The panel will be moderated by Steve Douglas, president of the WVU Alumni Association.

The event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Brief bios of the speakers follow:

Gen. Earl Anderson

Anderson, a native of Morgantown, earned a bachelors degree in 1940 in physical education and a masters degree in 1949, both from WVU . He earned a law degree from George Washington University, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif.

Beginning his military career at WVU , Anderson was the top cadet officer in his class. During his 35-year Marine career, he served in combat actions in World War II, Korea and the Republic of Vietnam. He is one of only 21 four-star generals in the history of the Marine Corps, and he earned more than 20 U.S. and seven foreign personal decorations. He was also named West Virginia Son of the Year in 1973.

Anderson is a former vice president of International Marketing and Consulting Corp. of Springfield, Va., and a past member of the board of directors of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Committee.

He is a member of the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni, was on the WVU Alumni Association executive council from 1971-78 and served as president of the Alumni Association in 1976-77. He is chair of the trustees of the WVU Alumni Associations Loyalty Permanent Endowment Fund and is a member of the School of Physical Education Hall of Fame.

Robert DeProspero

As a former assistant director and special agent in charge of the Presidential Protective Division, United States Secret Service, DeProspero was responsible for planning, organizing, coordinating and directing the protection of U.S. presidents and members of their families. He was assigned to protect former Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson, Ford, Carter and Reagan.

DeProspero has received many awards including the United States Treasury Meritorious Award for Extraordinary Performance, Special Achievement Award and Outstanding West Virginia Italian-American Award. He earned a bachelors degree in physical education and a masters degree in education from WVU . He is also a member of the School of Physical Education Hall of Fame and the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni.

DeProspero is the former president of OGara Protective Services Inc., a multimillion dollar organization providing security counsel to governments and corporations.

George Esper

A veteran foreign correspondent, Esper was born and raised in Uniontown, Pa. He earned his bachelors degree in physical education from WVU in 1953 and joined the Associated Press in 1958.

During his 42 years with the AP, Esper covered the Vietnam War and the first Gulf War, as well as U.S. peace missions in Somalia and Bosnia.

In addition to his war coverage, Esper reported on many major stories in the U.S. including Hurricane Andrew, the great Midwest floods and the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City.

Esper returned to his alma mater to teach in the WVU Perley Issac Reed School of Journalism in the spring semester of 2000 after retiring from the AP.

His honors include the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni and WVU School Physical Education Hall of Fame. He received an honorary doctorate from WVU in 2000.

Alfred Ware

Ware received his Bachelor of Science degree in physical education in 1950 and his masters degree in speech/communication in 1952. He entered the business world in 1954, spending most of his career in international trading, finance, manufacturing and operational management.

Ware served as a vice president of Manufacturers Hanover Bank, vice president and director of Manufacturers Hanover World Trade Corp., president of the International/Expert Division of Burlington Industries Inc. and founder and CEO of Mitsubishi-Burlington Ltd. (Tokyo). He and his family resided in Tokyo from 1969-1974. He founded Amherst International Inc. (Amherst FiberOptics) in 1977 and retired in 1999 as chairman.

Ware is a past member of the International Committee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Japan Trade Council. He established one of the early prototype joint ventures between the U.S. and Japan. His pioneer trading activities in the Peoples Republic of China began in Shanghai in early 1972. He conducted business and traveled throughout the Peoples Republic of China for almost 20 years. He has been chief architect of many original equipment manufacturer projects in the United States and overseas.

Wares honors and awards include being inducted into the Order of Vandalia, WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni and WVU School of Physical Educations Hall of Fame. He also served as a member of the WVU Foundations Building Greatness National Campaign Committee and WVU Alumni Associations Board of Directors.