EDUCATION

Jane Katz Professor Emeritus John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY

HEALTH EDUCATION

Dr. Jane Katz is being recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Lifetime Distinguished Professor in the field of Health and Physical Education for her remarkable contributions and professional excellence as a Professor Emeritus with John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

As a seasoned and award-winning educator, Dr. Katz has garnered 60 years of extensive knowledge and professional experience in health and physical education. She has led an impressive long-standing career as a pioneer of global aquatics teaching thousands of students about the benefits of water fitness at the City University of New York since 1964. Her pursuit to enter the aquatics career was inspired by her father, who suffered a traumatic water experience. Dr. Katz is most proud to see her students smile and full of excitement upon learning to float for their first time. Most recently, Dr. Katz served as professor at John Jay College in the Department of Physical Education and Athletics teaching fitness and swimming to New York City’s police and firefighters from 1989 to 2019. Prior to her appointment at John Jay, she also served as a Professor of Physical Education at the Bronx Community College from 1964 to 1989.

Throughout her acclaimed career, Dr. Katz has been proud of her professional achievements. She participated as a member of the 1964 Synchronized Swimming Performance Team at the Tokyo Olympics. Thirty-six years later, she was awarded the Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA) Certificate of Merit to honor her “dedication and contribution to the development” of the sport as a Swimmer and Promoter of Aquatic Sports, awarded in Sydney, Australia, during the XXVII Olympiad in 2000. This was awarded in recognition of Jane’s development in 1983 of a program and book called Water Exercise Techniques (W.E.T.) that introduced fitness athletes to water exercises. Seeing a need in her community, in 2007, she helped create the KARE (Kids Aquatic Re-Entry) Program, in cooperation with the Department of Juvenile Justice to help troubled youth learn life’s lessons poolside. In 2015, Dr. Katz launched W.E.T.s 4 VETS™, a service for rehabilitating the mind, body, and spirit of military veterans re-entering civilian life using holistic water exercise techniques. She has written 16 books on the subject of health and physical fitness, as well as contributed to many other creative works including swimming workout videos.

To prepare for her career, Dr. Katz earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Health and Physical Education at the City College of New York in 1963. Later, in pursuit of furthering her education, she obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Organization Administration from New York University in 1966. She then went on to obtain both a Masters of Education Degree in Therapeutic Recreation for Aging in 1972 and her Doctor of Education degree in Gerontology from Teachers College at Columbia University in 1978. Since then, she has maintained affiliations with several professional organizations in various roles including Member/Celebrity Athlete with the Women’s Sports Foundation (1985-2008), Honorary Chair, “Against the Tide” Benefit hosted by the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (19992004), Fitness Ambassador to Fifty-plus Fitness Association at Stanford University (2004, 2005), Advisory Board of the International Congress, aand the International Swimming Hall of Fame, just to name a few. Additionally, she served as a member of the Women’s Medical Association, USA Swimming Education Committee, Aquatics International, National Aquatic Council, and the National Fitness Leader Association. She is also a highly sought after speaker and has given speeches at many professional events.

In recognition of her professional excellence, Dr. Katz is the recipient of many accolades and awards throughout her career. She received the Outstanding Teacher Award for the academic year 1999-2000 at John Jay College of Criminal Justice of CUNY, and was the 2000 honoree of the New York City PSAL’s National Girls and Women in Sports Day. In April 2001, the Dr. Jane Katz Natatorium was dedicated to the Children’s Better Health Institute in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 2004, for the second time, Professor Katz was voted Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year of the City University of New York Division III Athletic Conference. In 2005, she was selected by Aquatics International Magazine as one of the 25 most powerful people in the world of aquatics. In May 2012, Dr. Katz received the Distinguished Educator Award from City College of New York (CCNY). In April 2010, Dr. Katz was honored with a Distinguished Faculty Award by John Jay College, and in 2011 she was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. In September 2012, Dr. Katz was inducted into the John Jay College of Criminal Justice Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2014, she was awarded the Presidents’ Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition their Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in Aquatics.

As an award-winning swimmer and aquatics innovator, Dr. Katz competed in U.S. Masters Swimming, Synchronized Swimming, AAU Open Water Swimming, and Fin Swimming. In Masters Swimming she placed nationally over 780 times in the top ten positions from 1972 thru 2020 with 34 of those swims being the fastest for that event over the entire year in her age group. Since winning the Miss America Pageant Mile Swim competition in 1976 through 2019 she was at her best in the mile swim. She competed for Team USA since 1957 in Masters Maccabi Swim Championships highlighting over 60 years of attendance at 15 consecutive Maccabiah Games winning 7 gold medals in one year. Dr. Katz has competed in World and National Senior Games and the Huntsman Senior Games.

In her spare time, Dr. Katz enjoys seashore vistas and patriotic-themed vignettes.

Dr. Katz dedicates this recognition in the loving memory of her Father, Leon Katz. He was an engineer who taught at CUNY Queensborough Community College. She also dedicates this in the loving memory of her Mother, Dorothea Oberkewitz Katz.

For further information, please visit http://www.drjanekatz.com/ and www.globalaquatics.com.

Travis Sample, Col. Professor Emeritus Shanandoah University Leesburg, VA

MILITARY

Dr. Travis Sample, Col. is being recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Distinguished Educator in the fields of Education and Military; and acknowledgment of his prominent role as Professor Emeritus at Shenandoah University.

A distinguished professor, Dr. Sample has garnered over three decades of industry and military experience. As Professor of Organizational Behavior for the past 21 years, he served as the Chairman and Executive of many organizations at Shenandoah. He is also privileged to serve as Faculty Athletics Representative and Executive Director of the Government and Public Affairs Committee.

During his 26 years of active duty in the military, Dr. Sample experienced extensive training at numerous Air Force bases. His first assignment was five years at General Electric Corporation, then, after Chinese language training at Monterey, California, he controlled U-2’s over China out of Ta Kang Shan, Taiwan. His next assignment, for one year, was at the Defense Intelligence College at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. He then completed extensive air combat training prior to Air Force Survival School training in Northern Idaho. Thereafter, he experienced Jungle Survival School training in Northern Luzon, Philippines. He then served one year flying air combat night missions over Ho Chi Minh Trail Vietnam out of Korat, AFB, Thailand. Returning to America, he was assigned to the Pentagon for five years, and then he attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF) for a year; also at McNair, Washington, D.C. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the White House for a year. He completed his 26 years’ service at the Defense Intelligence College. The many awards he received during his distinguished service career, was the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the first and second Oak Leaf Cluster.

A native of Shelbyville, TX Dr. Sample pursued his formal education at the University of Houston, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. Later, he earned a Master’s degree in Government at Southern Illinois University and a Doctorate in Public Administration at the University of Southern California. His Doctoral Dissertation, which was highly praised by the USC faculty, was America’s Introduction to Global Terrorism.

Active in his local community Dr. Sample was a parishioner and former Vestry member of St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg as well as a former member of the Oatlands Historic Property Foundation. He was for many years the President of the Conversations at Oatlands. A former member of the Leesburg Economic Development Commission, he served in a variety of positions with numerous organizations in Loudoun County, Virginia to include the Board of the Washington, D.C. Airports Authority. He was also blessed to serve as the Head Coach and Board Member for the Central Loudoun County Little League and privileged to serve four years on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. Among his numerous organizational relationships, he is a lifelong member of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

Dr. Sample remains abreast of the latest trends in his areas of interest through his many affiliations. He remains very active with the Air Force Association, the American Legion, the Association of ICAF, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Additionally, Dr. Sample has maintained involvement with the American Society for Public Administration, the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Keep Loudoun Beautiful, the Josephson Institute of Ethics, and the Stephen Covey Leadership Center. To conclude Dr. Samples’ achievements, he published a very popular book about living out one’s dreams; Humanizing Change: A Journey of Discovery. It captures the eight principles for pursuing and achieving greatness in one’s life.

In his spare time, Dr. Sample enjoys reading, running, and spending time with his extended family.

Dr. Sample dedicates this recognition in the loving memory of his beloved wife Barbara; to his children Jessica and Andrew, to his sonin-law, Jeff, and four beautiful grandchildren.

Claris Eugene Jones Jr., Ph.D. Botanist / Educator Retired Placentia, CA

BOTANY

Claris Eugene Jones Jr, Ph.D., is being recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Distinguished Botanist and Educator for leading a remarkable career and his outstanding contributions to his field.

Currently retired, Dr. Jones has garnered a laudable reputation as a Botanist and Educator with 45 years of extensive experience and professional excellence under his belt. Botany by definition is the scientific study of plants, including their physiology, structure, genetics, ecology, distribution, classification, and economic importance. This includes the plant life of a particular region, habitat, or geological period. Dr. Jones main areas of focus are pollination, ecology and botany.

An academic scholar, Dr. Jones earned his Doctor of Philosophy at Indiana University, and later known for his published works such as the Dictionary of Botany and editor of “Handbook of Experiment Pollination Biology.” Even in his retirement he remains Distinguished Faculty member at the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and remains affiliated with the American Society of Botany, Botanical Society of American and American Institute for Biological Science.

In his personal time and now more so in his retirement, Dr. Jones enjoys spending time with his wife, three children and five grandchildren.

Dr. Jones would like to dedicate his success to his mentor, Dr. William Gamble and Dr. Charles Heisev, his most distinguished professor.

Linda R. Gay Retired Director of Human Resources Tewksbury, MA

HUMAN RESOURCES

Linda R. Gay is being recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Distinguished Lifetime Achiever for her outstanding contributions in the field of Human Resources. This recognition is acknowledging her exceptional achievements as a Retired Director of Human Resources.

Currently retired, Mrs. Gay has led an impressive career for over 20 years, having garnered a laudable reputation for her outstanding contributions in the field of Human Resources and Education. She is highly respected for her compassionate nature and willingness to listen and advises anyone aspiring to enter the field to possess those traits. Throughout her distinguished career, she had thrived in varying positions including serving as an assistant manager of affirmative action at the Raytheon Company in 1974, and later advancing to senior human resources representative of Wang Laboratories, Incorporated, recruiter of the Zayre Corporation, and director of human resources for Cablevision. Mrs. Gay offered a superlative repertoire of valuable experience expertise in managing safety, wages, training, hiring, benefits, uniforms, and event planning, and representing both employees and companies.

To further her professional development, Mrs. Gay’s excelled in her academic career. She completed coursework at Fitchburg State College, and since then remained abreast of the latest developments in her field. She maintained active memberships with prominent organizations such as the Northeast Human Resource Association, the Minority Human Resource Association, and Women in Cable. Notably, she served as the secretary of the Boston Chapter of Women in Cable from 1988 to 1989.

In light of Mrs. Gay’s achievements, she takes pride in being the first family member to be voted onto the board of the 9/11 Fund. After the passing of her husband who was killed in the first plane on 911, Mrs. Gay was committed to supporting high school students throughout the state. She created an education program for the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund to remind others what was lost during that tragic day. In addition to her exceptional work on the 9/11 Fund, she also volunteers at the Tewksbury Senior Center and is a leader for Girl Scouts of the USA.

Mrs. Gay dedicates this honorable recognition in the loving memory of her husband, VP at Raytheon. She also would like to recognize all of the female managers she had worked with, all of whom pushed her to advance in her career.

William McBride, Ph.D. Professor Purdue University Lafayette, IN

SOCIAL & POLITCAL PHILOSOPHY

William McBride, Ph.D., is being recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Prominent Educator for his remarkable contributions to the field of Education and in recognition of his role as an Arthur G. Hansen Distinguished Professor at Purdue University.

Garnering over fifty years of experience in the field of education, Dr. William McBride has led an impressive career. Throughout his acclaimed career, Dr. McBride has gained extensive expertise in the areas of Social and Political Philosophy, Legal Philosophy, and Continental European Philosophy. In his previous years, Dr. McBride taught at Yale University for nearly a decade and has lectured at Northwestern University, Sofia University in Bulgaria, and the Korcula Summer School.

Encountering people with a different professional orientation that they have thought superior to all others, Dr. McBride distinguishes this crucial factor as one of the prime challenges he has faced throughout his career. When asked his advice to newcomers in the industry, Dr. McBride notes the importance of retaining a commitment to the truth as he or she sees it, and not be daunted by initial setbacks, if such there are, in seeking employment. An academic scholar, Dr. McBride earned an AB from Georgetown University. Thereafter, Dr. McBride attended the University of Lille from 1959 to 1960, where he was a Fulbright Fellow. Later, Dr. McBride attended Yale University where he obtained his Master of Arts degree as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow in 1962. He then went on to receive his Ph.D. at Yale in 1964 and was awarded a Social Science Research Council Fellowship.

Remaining abreast of the latest industry developments, Dr. McBride is an active member of several international and national scholarly organizations including the International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP), of which he was President from 2008-2013; the International Council for Philosophy and Human Sciences; and the North American Society for Social Philosophy, of which he is past President.

In light of his professional achievements, Dr. McBride has been recognized by several elite organizations for his exemplary work in the field including Who’s Who in America; Who’s Who in America Education; Who’s Who in the Midwest; Who’s Who in the World. He served as the first American Secretary-General and then President of the International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP), and gained an immense amount of international connections that led to these positions. Dr. McBride has established himself as a prominent figure in professional philosophy.

A respected voice in his field, Dr. McBride is well-known for sharing his breadth of expertise. He is the author of several written works including “From Yugoslav Praxis to Global Pathos,” “Social and Political Philosophy,” and “Social Theory at a Crossroads.”

In his spare time, Dr. McBride enjoys traveling and considers himself a news bluff. In looking to the future, Dr. McBride hopes to publish at least one more book, preferably more, while continuing professional involvement globally.

Dr. McBride dedicates this recognition to Gerard F. Yates. For further information, please visit www.purdue.edu