The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to those who have attained outstanding success and achievement or given extraordinary service to their community, church, country or educational endeavor. The following awards were presented during Commencement Weekend 2012.
Dr. Thomas W. Eyler ‘65
Tom graduated from Iowa Wesleyan with a bachelor of science degree. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathy at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1968 then went on to serve an internship at Tucson General Hospital in Tucson, Arizona. He opened a solo family practice in Tucson in 1969. In 2006 he joined Arizona Community Physicians.
Tom was a charter member of the American College of Emergency Physicians. He is a member of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. He is also a Fellow of the American College of International Physicians.
Tom served in the United States Air Force Reserve Medical Corps with the rank of Captain and Chief of Professional Services at Like Air Force Base for the 41st Medical Service Squadron. He was the first D.O. commissioned in the USAF Reserve without prior active duty service.
Tom has been active in the medical community in Tucson for more than 40 years. He has served as a Board member and advisor to numerous local, regional and state committees and organizations dedicated to the health and welfare of Arizona citizens.
For more than 25 years, Tom has provided free medical care to teens through the non-profit organization, Youth on Their Own (YOTO). He was a founding board member of the organization and has served as its president and vice president. He continues to serve today as an active board member.
In 2004 Tom received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the state medical association for his contributions to the Tucson community through YOTO.
Tom is an avid photographer and donates most of the profits from this avocation to YOTO.
Tom and his wife, Maria, are the parents of three daughters, Michelle, Lisa and Patti.
R. Kurt Swaim ‘72
Kurt Swaim, a native of Drakesville, Iowa, majored in economics at Iowa Wesleyan. He earned a bachelor of arts degree. He went on to the University of Iowa Law School, where he was a member of the Order of Coif.
Kurt began his legal career as an associate in the Eldora, Iowa, firm of Lundy, Butler, Wilson and Hall. He then served as the senior staff attorney in the Dubuque office of the Legal Services Corporation of Iowa.
Kurt returned to Davis County in 1981 as partner in the Harris and Swaim law firm, then opened Swaim Law Office in 1983. He served as Davis County Attorney for 13 years. Today he practices with his sons, Justin and Joshua.
Kurt was elected as an Iowa State Representative for District 94 in 2002. He is retiring this spring after serving five terms in the Iowa House. He is ranking member of the Judiciary Committee and has served as a member of the Economic growth, Agriculture, Commerce, Justice Systems Appropriations and Public Safety Committees. He has served as vice chair of the Government Oversight Committee and co-chair of the Criminal Code Reorganization Interim Committee.
In addition, he has served on the Iowa Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning Advisory Council and the Child Support Advisory Committee.
Kurt is an active member of the Bloomfield United Methodist Church, where he is currently Lay Representative to the Iowa Annual Conference. He has been active in the Lions Club, serving as both president and treasurer, and the Masons. He has also served as a board member and secretary-treasurer for Citizens Mutual Telephone Company.
Kurt and his wife, Julie, are the parents of four adult children: Justin, Mandy, Joshua and Jon.
