Today@Sam Article
Retired Professor, Alumnus Named To CHSS Wall Of Honor
Feb. 11, 2015
SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt
Story By: Allyson Houser
A Sam Houston State University alumnus and a long-time professor will join a dozen others whose personal and professional accomplishments have earned them a place on the College of Humanities and Social Sciences’s “Wall of Honor.”
Christopher L. Tritico will be honored as CHSS distinguished alumnus and Caroline Castillo Crimm will be recognized as CHSS distinguished faculty member during the annual Wall of Honor induction ceremony on Feb. 27.
The ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. in CHSS Building Room C070.
The presentation will include remarks by CHSS dean Abbey Zink and SHSU provost Jaimie Hebert and introductions by former president of the CHSS alumni council Herbert O’Quinn, before formal presentations are made by CHSS faculty and alumni.
Following the presentation, a reception will be held on the CHSS Building’s first floor, at the north entrance where the Wall of Honor is located.
“The CHSS Wall of Honor recognizes the achievements of outstanding faculty and alumni. This year’s honorees embody the university’s motto, ‘The measure of a Life is its Service,’” Zink said. “They both have made significant contributions to their fields and to making a difference in the lives of others. They represent the very best of CHSS faculty and alumni.”
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| Christopher Tritico (above) and Caroline Castillo Crimm (below) are the two newest inductees to the CHSS Wall of Honor. —Photos by Brian Blalock |
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A 1983 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in political science, Tritico went on to earn his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree at South Texas College of Law in Houston in 1988.
While he attended law school, Tritico did investigative work for Richard “Racehorse” Haynes, a renowned Houston criminal defense lawyer. He later co-founded his own firm, Essmyer, Tritico & Rainey, L.L.P.
Since Tritico began practicing law, he has represented such notable clients as athletes Moses Malone, Gary Sheffield and Julio Lugo; Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh; the Houston Federation of Teachers; and the Employee Federation of North Harris Montgomery Community College District.
Tritico also has expanded his influence in the field beyond the courtroom by publishing several written works, including: “Teacher Contracts and the Hearing Process: The Road to Victory” (1997), “A Practical Guide to Policing Student on Student Sexual Harassments” (2000), “Real Culprit in Yates Case is the System” (2002), and “Investigative Techniques Every Lawyer Should Know.”
He has appeared on Good Morning America, World News Tonight, Night Line, CBS Evening News, Meet the Press, Dateline NBC, 20/20, CNN, Fox News Channel and Court TV.
Tritico currently serves as the legal analyst for FOX 26, KRIV, in Houston and the legal analyst and host of The Chris Tritico Show on News Radio 740 KTRH.
His many accomplishments in the field of law are evidenced by his “Houston’s Top Lawyer for the People” title awarded by H Texas Magazine for the years 2005-2006.
Crimm graduated with her Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Miami in 1969.
After devoting the first years of her teaching career to Texas public schools, Crimm returned to school to receive her Master of Arts degree in architectural preservation from Texas Tech University in 1986, and her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Latin American history from the University of Texas in 1990.
Crimm taught in SHSU’s Department of History from 1992-2011, during which time her teaching excellence earned her such recognitions as the SHSU Excellence in Teaching Award (1998-1999), the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation Award (2004), the LULAC Educator of the Year Award (2006), and the San Jacinto Descendants Texas Teacher of the Year Award (2010).
Crimm also distinguished herself as a serious scholar in the field of Mexican-American history.
Her many publications culminated in her major research accomplishment “De Leon: A Tejano Family History” (2004), which was met with much acclaim, receiving such awards as: the Texas Old Missions and Forts Restoration Association book award, the Presidio La Bahia Award for the best book on Spanish Colonial Texas in 2005, and the San Antonio Conservation Society Foundation award.
Since her retirement from SHSU, Crimm has expanded her repertoire to include historical fiction.
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences Wall of Honor was established by the CHSS Alumni Advisory Board to acknowledge faculty and alumni who have distinguished themselves throughout their careers through personal and professional achievements and who have made significant contributions to SHSU, the students, society, and thus have brought honor and distinction to our university.
For more information on the CHSS Wall of Honor, or to see previous recipients, visit shsu.edu/academics/humanities-and-social-sciences/honor.
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