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CORVALLIS - Jean Starker Roth, a Corvallis community volunteer and philanthropist, has been named the 2001 recipient of the E.B. Lemon Distinguished Alumni Award at Oregon State University.

Sponsored annually by the OSU Alumni Association, the award is the highest honor given by the association to OSU graduates. It will be presented Friday, April 20, in special ceremonies at the CH2M HILL Alumni Center on the Oregon State campus.

Roth is the daughter of T.J. Starker, the first recipient of the E.B. Lemon Award and one of the first four graduates of the university's forestry school.

She received her bachelor of science degree from Oregon State College in 1942 in home economics. She taught for two years at Blue River High School and then worked for the OSU Extension Service's Clatsop County Office for four years. She continued for many years to judge food and clothing events at fairs and other events.

Roth is an honorary trustee of the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation in Corvallis and recently co-chaired the hospital's campaign for a new regional heart center. She has been involved with the Majestic Theatre, the Horner Museum Society and the OSU Folk Club in Corvallis. She and her children were major contributors to Corvallis Gateway Park.

She has been a strong supporter of Oregon 4-H programs and has served as trustee of the Oregon 4-H Foundation. Her family provided the funds to build a swimming pool at the 4-H Center, and she continues to help financially to support and improve the pool.

Throughout her life, Roth has been an active supporter of Oregon State University. She served as the first chair of the College of Home Economics Development Council, leading efforts to raise funds for the Mercedes Bates Family Study Center and she was one of the major contributors to the center.

She has been a trustee of the OSU Foundation since 1989 and is a member of the OSU Foundation Scholarship Awards Committee. She has been a member of the Presidents Club since 1975 and is former chair of the OSU Foundation Presidents Club Committee and former vice chair of the OSU Foundation Real Property Committee. She was named the "Presidents Club Most Honored Member" last year.

Roth has contributed to a wide variety of university programs including marine mammal research, athletics, scholarships, the Trustee Leadership Fund, the Valley Football Center, the CH2M-HILL Alumni Center and The Valley Library.