March, 2007
Urban Planner Gregory C. Rigamer
Named UNO Distintinguished Alumnus of the Year - 2007
The University of New Orleans International Alumni Association
has selected urban planner, political consultant and demographer
Gregory C. Rigamer as the 2007 recipient of the Homer L. Hitt Distinguished
Alumnus of the Year award.
Rigamer, who earned a master’s degree in urban planning from
UNO in 1974, is founder, president and chief executive officer of GCR & Associates.
GCR & Associates, headquartered in the UNO Research and Technology
Park, now has 75 employees.
“Over the years, Greg’s unrivaled ability to acquire, digest,
analyze and interpret key demographic and economic data has proved to
be a treasure trove of useful information for private companies, nonprofit
organizations, institutions and political candidates,” said Clancy
DuBos, 2003 recipient of the Hitt Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
award, editor of Gambit Weekly, and a 1976 graduate of UNO. “He
has a long and distinguished list of clients that includes U.S. senators,
members of Congress, state legislators, public entities, universities
and large corporations.”
GCR & Associates has helped manage operations at major East Coast
airports, including LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark. Rigamer helped develop
the Airport Information Management System (AIMS) in the 1990s. In the
wake of September 11, 2001 bombings, his company was instrumental and
developing airport security standards and systems. GCR & Associates’ contributions
include helped develop systems to track airplanes flying below radar.
Rigamer has contributed to the Homer L. Hitt
Alumni & Visitors
Center, and has sponsored several fundraisers for the UNO School of
Urban Planning and Regional Studies which houses the Department of Planning
and Urban Studies. He has also been instrumental in the development
of such regional projects as the Crescent City Connection, Louis Armstrong
International Airport, the West Bank Hurricane Protection Levee System
and the 2005 Louisiana Housing Needs Assessment.
Past recipients of the Hitt award, in addition
to DuBos, include State Sen. Walter J. Boasso, 2006; Allan B. Colley,
2005; Dr. Edward William “Rocky” Kolb,
2004; Bartholomew F. Palmisano, Sr., 2002; Dr. D. James Miller, 2001;
Gary N. Solomon, 2000; Donald J. Landry, 1999; Gary B. Froeba, 1998;
Thomas M. Kitchen, 1997; Jim Clark, 1996; Michael A. Flick, 1995; Mario
Villa, 1994; former Louisiana Lt. Gov. Melinda . Schwegmann, 1992; Michael
J. Kettenring, 1991; Harold J. Heno Jr., 1990; David R. Sherman, 1989;
Susan O. Hess, 1988; UNO Chancellor Timothy P. Ryan, 1987; and James
J. Donelon, 1986.
The 2007 Homer L. Hitt Distinguished Alumnus
of the Year award will be presented to Rigamer on June 1, at the annual
UNO Reunion Soirée
at the Homer L. Hitt Alumni & Visitors Center on the Lakefront Campus.
For ticket information, call (504) 280-2586 or visit www.unoalumni.com.
