Ben Rosen, chairman of the board of Compaq Computer Corporation, got the event underway with a special tribute to Pfeiffer. The presentation was concluded with the unveiling of a bust of Eckhard Pfeiffer, created by sculptor David Adickes and presented to Pfeiffer by Carolyn Farb. Pfeiffer expressed his appreciation for the award, and his commitment to the future. I am deeply honored to have been selected by the University of Houston College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Alumni Association as the recipient of its 1999 Quest for Excellence Award. Technology will play a key role, but technology alone is not the answer.
Education is also essential.
With nearly 1,000 top executives in Houston from as far away as Japan and China for the event, Farb went to the creative limits to ensure everyone had a memorable time. Ms. Farb had an equally compelling drive to spend as little of the money raised on the event as possible. The need for excellence funds at public universities is very great, and we wanted to ensure that as much of the money raised as possible would to the college to support the Chair in Science being established in Eckhard Pfeiffer's name and to endow scholarships and faculty development support. Galas are supposed to be beautiful, magical, fun. But they have a very serious purpose.