Michael S. Brown, C'62, M'66, HON'86, and William H. Shore, C'77
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The School of Arts and Sciences' 1997-98 Distinguished Alumni Awards were presented to Michael S. Brown, C'62, M'66, HON'86, the Paul J. Thomas Professor of Medicine and Genetics, director of the Jonsson Center for Molecular Genetics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, and winner of the 1985 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; and to William H. Shore, C'77, founder and executive director of Share Our Strength, an anti-hunger organization. Dr. Brown was recognized for his achievements in the life sciences. Mr. Shore was recognized for his achievements in community service.
Michael Brown received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from the College at the University of Pennsylvania in 1962, and went on the graduate from the University's School of Medicine in 1966. He received the Medical School's Distinguished Graduate Award in 1985 and received an honorary doctorate degree from the University in 1986. He has been very active with the University and served on Penn's Board of Trustees. Dr. Brown began teaching at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in 1971. His ground-breaking work with Dr. Joseph L. Goldstein led to the discovery that human cells have receptors that determine how much cholesterol circulates in the blood and revolutionized the treatment of diseases caused by abnormally elevated cholesterol levels. Their research lead to dozens of honors and awards, including election to the National Academy of Sciences; the Albert D. Lasker Award in Basic Medical Research; the U.S. National Medal of Science; and the Nobel Prize..
William Shore earned his B.A. in political science from
the College of the University of Pennsylvania, and his law
degree from George Washington University. From 1978 through
1987, Mr. Shore served on the senatorial and presidential
campaign staffs of U.S. Senatoar Gary Hart. He was chief
of staff for U.S. Senator Robert Kerrey from 1988 to 1991,
and he continues to serve as an informal advisor to Senator
Kerrey. Mr. Shore founded SOS in 1984 in response to the
Ethiopian famine and renewed concern about hunger in the
U.S. In addition, he serves as the chair of the task force
that evaluates private sector commitments for the Presidents'
Summit for America's Future. His transition from politics
to community service is documentented in his book Revolution
of the Heart, published in 1995. Mr. Shore has received numerous
awards for his work, including the 1991 Humanitarian of the
Year of the James Beard Foundation, the 1994 Washingtonian
of the Year, and one of the Caring Institute's top ten caring
people of 1995.