2011 New Pittsburgh Courier Men of Excellence Awards

Issue Date: 
November 21, 2011
Eric W. SpringerEric W. Springer

Eric W. Springer, a retired health care attorney who was also a pioneer Black faculty member in the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Health (GSPH), was recognized as the New Pittsburgh Courier’s 2011 Legacy Honoree. Springer was awarded the distinction during the Courier’s annual Men of Excellence Awards reception Oct. 27 in the Fairmont Pittsburgh Hotel, Downtown.

Springer was a founding partner of Horty, Springer & Mattern, P.C., one of the first health care law firms in the country, which pioneered the establishment of health care and hospital law nationwide. He was the first African American head of the Allegheny County Bar Association. In addition to his position in Pitt’s GSPH, Springer held a faculty position in Pitt’s School of Law. Springer also wrote columns for The Courier newspaper.

A total of 50 honorees were named Men of Excellence for their significant contributions to their professions as well as the Pittsburgh community. In addition, five men were honored posthumously, including the late David E. Epperson, dean emeritus and professor emeritus in the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work.

Epperson (A&S ’61, SOC WK ’64, A&S ’70G, ’75G) was recognized by the Courier in Memoriam. He led Pitt’s School of Social Work to national prominence during his 29-year tenure, and he was the longest-serving dean at Pitt and the longest-serving dean of any American school of social work when he retired. He passed away in June.

The Courier honored the following Pitt faculty and staff members as Men of Excellence in three categories:

Healthcare: Mario C. Browne (GSPH ’05), director of Pitt’s Office of Health Sciences Diversity, and Kevin F. Gibson, medical director for Pitt’s Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease;

Sports: Kirk M. Bruce (EDUC ’76), Pitt associate athletic director for sports administration; and

Education: Grady H. Roberts (SOCWK ’65G, GSPH ’71, EDUC ’74G), associate dean emeritus of the School of Social Work.

The following Pitt alumni were named Men of Excellence:

Corporate: Carlos T. Carter (CGS ’94), senior vice president for Bank of America Merrill Lynch;

Finance: Charles T. Curry (EDUC ’98G), vice president for finance and administration for Slippery Rock University;

Social Service: Kenneth J. Nesbit (CGS ’96, SOCWK ’03G), Section 3 specialist for the Coalition of Organized Residents of East Liberty; and

Healthcare: Anthony G. Robins (GSPH ’97), an epidemiologist and former director of federal program compliance for the Woodland Hills School District.