2019 McNeese Distinguished Service Award Recipients Named by McNeese Alumni Association

The McNeese State University Alumni Association has awarded its 2019 Distinguished Service Awards posthumously to two alumni – Martin “Marty” Chehotsky, a 1978 graduate in accounting, and Thomas “Tommy” Coyne, a 1972 graduate in business administration.

“We are proud to recognize two exceptional members of our McNeese family who provided years of loyalty and service to McNeese,” said Joyce Patterson, McNeese director for alumni affairs. 

At McNeese, Chehotsky served as president of both Kappa Alpha fraternity and the Interfraternity Council and was a member of the Blue Key Honor fraternity. He was also chosen as a member of Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.  

After graduation, he joined the McElroy, Quirk and Burch CPA firm as a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner and Certified in Financial Forensics accounting. In 1997, he was elected to the McNeese Alumni Association Board of Directors and then served as secretary, treasurer, vice president and president of the association.

Chehotsky was instrumental in establishing the McNeese Mavericks – a group of individuals who give of their time and talents to support the work of the alumni association.  In 2008, he joined the Mavericks and served as a volunteer for the next 10 years. He was also a longtime member of the McNeese Cowboy Club, which supports the McNeese athletic program. 

Receiving the award on his behalf will be his wife, Nancy, along with his sons Thomas, Nicholas, John, David and Andrew.

At McNeese, Coyne was an outstanding member of the McNeese track team, having broken the school record of 7 minutes, 39 seconds in the two-mile relay. He was also an active member and alumnus of Kappa Sigma fraternity.

A longtime concrete sales representative in Southwest Louisiana, Coyne was the regional general manager of Port Aggregates. He served on the boards of the Coastal Conservation Association, Southwest Louisiana Home Builders and the McNeese Cowboy Club.

Coyne was a founding member of the McNeese Mavericks and one of its most active members. He was instrumental in raising funds for McNeese through sponsorships and donations and was a volunteer for the McNeese Homecoming Ladies Champagne Bingo.

His family established the Tommy Coyne Scholarship Fund in his memory through the McNeese Foundation. Receiving the award on his behalf will be his wife, Susan, daughters Kristi, Kara and Katie, and his father, Thomas.