Darrell Cobbins '97 is the president and principal of Universal Commercial Real Estate LLC and a former vice president at Cushman & Wakefield/Commercial Advisors LLC. A respected leader in the Memphis community, he serves as a trustee of Rhodes College and is a member of Lambda Alpha International – Memphis Chapter. Darrell is also a board member of the National Civil Rights Museum, former chairman of the boards of 100 Black Men of Memphis, MLGW Board of Commissioners, and the New Memphis Institute. He has been recognized for his leadership as a class member of Leadership Tennessee and Leadership Memphis.
Established in 1998, the Black Student Association's Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes those African-American alumni whose record of outstanding personal achievement and service to others has inspired Rhodes students and brought honor to their alma mater. The BSA Distinguished Alumni Award is presented each year during Homecoming/Reunion Weekend.
Eligibility and Nominations
All alumni who were members of the BSA as students are eligible. Nominees for the BSA Distinguished Alumni Award are eligible and will be considered for the Distinguished Alumni Award, the Young Alumni Award, or the Distinguished Service Award as appropriate. Make your nomination today by filling out the online form on the front page.
2024 Darrell Cobbins '97
2023 Wilfreda Lindsey ’11, MD, MS
2022 Kathy Moore Cowan ’78
2021 Florence Johnson ’88
2020 Melanie A. Hilliard '92
2019 Dr. Sherry Turner '84
2018 Dr. Coby V. Smith ’68
2017 Dr. Sandra Waller Shelton '76
2016 Aubrey Howard '72
2015 Roblin J. Boxill '99
2014 Steven L. Becton '88
2013 Patricia Spears Jones '73
2012 Dr. Lorenzo Childress Jr. '68
2011 Dorothy Sanders Wells '82
2010 Virgil Starks, III '85 (posthumous)
2009 Julian T. Bolton ’71
2008 Vicki Gilmore Palmer '75
2007 Donald Duggan '86
2006 Charles Holt '89
2005 Ryan Mire '93
2004 Patricia Howard '70
Marcus Kimbrough '90
2003 Johnny Moore '88
2002 Julian T. Bolton '71
2001 Jerome Franklin '89
Russ Wigginton '88
2000 Herman Morris '73
1999 Anita Davis '90
1998 Joyce Broffitt '77
