Distinguished Alumni Award

Casey D. Mahon, 73BA, 76JD, has amassed an impressive list of accomplishments and successes since she graduated from the University of Iowa. She began accumulating awards, in fact, even before she left the university, receiving the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers' Law Student Award and the Hancher-Finkbine Medallion (the university's highest academic and service award), both in 1976.

Soon after earning her Juris Doctor degree, Mahon was named assistant to UI President Willard L. Boyd, acting as in-house counsel. She held that post from 1977 to 1981 and distinguished herself during those years as a hardworking and talented employee, representing the university before state and federal agencies and providing legal advice to university officials, faculty, staff, and students. In 1981, in addition to fulfilling those many responsibilities, Mahon also served as registered lobbyist for the University of Iowa and the Board of Regents, while assisting university lobbyist Max Hawkins.

From 1978 to 1986, Mahon served the College of Law as lecturer, assistant dean, and associate professor. Former students attest that Mahon was both a gifted teacher and an inspirational mentor.

From 1982 to 1986, Mahon was associate vice president for finance and university services at the UI. Given her track record, it should come as a surprise to no one that her duties were many and that she carried them out with uncommon skill, energy, and aplomb. During those years, Mahon's responsibilities included developing the university's annual budget, planning and negotiating financing arrangement for capital and equipment acquisitions, representing the university in its relationship with the city of Iowa City and other governmental institutions, and preparing position statements on proposed state legislation. In January 1985, she was appointed acting treasurer and chaired the committee which addressed the university's stockholdings in companies that did business in South Africa.

Mahon was also responsible for the coordination and administration of athletic and recreation programs at the UI, where she was a major influence in the growth of women's athletics, continued support of men's athletics, and the development of the new track complex, as well as the indoor football and field hockey practice facility.

Since March of 1986, Mahon has served as senior vice president and general counsel for Teleconnect Company, one of the fastest growing firms in the country. But she remains, as always, a loyal booster to the University of Iowa. In the words of one of her colleagues, Casey Mahon carries her loyalty to the university like a banner, waving it proudly wherever she goes.