A new alum is Bourne
Alumni
SUMMARY: The JMU Alumni Association Board of Directors has voted to honor Jeff Bourne, the retiring director of JMU Athletics, with their highest recognition, Honorary Alumni status, on April 20, 2024.
The JMU Alumni Association Board of Directors has voted to honor Jeff Bourne, the retiring director of JMU Athletics, with their highest recognition, Honorary Alumni status, on April 20, 2024. Bourne joins his wife Mary Lou (’04M, ’20M), sons Jason (’11) and Kyle (’14), daughter-in-law Megan (’11) and nephews Thomas (’16) and Christian (’19) as an alumnus of James Madison University with lifetime membership in the JMU Alumni Association.
Alumni Board President Tripp Hughes (’09) joined current and former directors of the JMU Alumni Association to present Bourne with the framed proclamation at half-time during the spring football game.
“I am proud to present this honor to Mr. Bourne, on behalf of the JMU Alumni Association, for his years of dedicated service to JMU,” Hughes said. “We always welcome alumni to come home, and Mr. Bourne’s contributions to growing athletics, the front porch of any university, has made our home at JMU that much more welcoming.”
The framed proclamation presented to Bourne reads: The Board of Directors of the James Madison University Alumni Association proudly recognize Jeffrey T. Bourne with the association’s highest honor, that of Honorary Alumnus for his steadfast leadership as the James Madison University director of Athletics from 1999 to 2024 and in recognition of his 25 years of service to our alma mater.
The JMU Alumni Board of Directors is a corporate board with the responsibility of directing the JMU Alumni Association. They give their time, talent and treasure to represent JMU’s 160,000 living alumni.
In addition, several former board members joined in recognizing Bourne on the field. A director’s investment and love of JMU doesn’t end when their time on the board comes to a close, so the Dingledine Society was created as a way for all former association directors to stay engaged. The JMUAA Board last bestowed honorary alumni status on Dr. Lindwood Rose upon his retirement in 2012.
“Athletics is a key component in our strategy to engage alumni,” Hughes said, “and Mr. Bourne’s contributions to JMU Athletics have presented us with countless opportunities to meet and engage alumni across the country who support our Dukes.”
Visit the JMU Alumni Website to learn more about the JMU Alumni Association.
