National Commerce Bancorporation Karla Merritt has joined OConnor Kenny Partners as associate art director. She is a graduate of the University of Memphis. Sue S. Hunter has been appointed director of attorney recruitment for Baker, Donelson, Bearman & Caldwell. She formerly was director of attorney recruitment for Walker Handsen. Josh Harper has been promoted to account coordinator for Thompson & Price Dialogue Marketing. He formerly was advertising assistant. Harper is a graduate of Arkansas State University. Linda Lott has been named vice president of Thompson & Price Dialogue Marketing. She also is director of client services. Askew Hargraves Harcourt & Associates has announced several appointments. Dave L. Lloyd was named manager of the mechanical, plumbing and electrical department. He formerly was vice president of FDS International. He is a graduate of Christian Brothers University. Robert Davenport was named mechanical engineer. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas. Tet Chiou and Brian Schneider were named civil project managers. Chiou is a graduate of the University of Memphis. Schneider has a bachelors degree from the University of Memphis and a masters degree from Texas A&M University. Ed Cochran was named structural engineer. He is a graduate of Christian Brothers University. Bob Watson was named structural project manager. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University. Michael S. Collins was named electrical project manager. He is a graduate of the University of Memphis. Andy Reynolds and Mark Gauthier have joined the firms land planning and landscape architecture department. Reynolds is a graduate of Mississippi State University. Gauthier is a graduate of Louisiana State University. Dianne Higgs was named marketing coordinator. She formerly was assistant marketing director for a local real estate agency. Dedrick Green was named survey technician. He is a graduate of Southeast College of Technology. Doug Weaver was named structural technician. He previously was with AutoZone and is a graduate of Tennessee Technical Center. Ronnie Owen was named project inspector and Allen Kolwyk was named structural technician in the companys Jackson office. Jeremy R. Scallion, a structural engineer in the Jackson office, has been granted registration as a professional engineer by the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners. Larry W. Miller has been named president of Dalphis Inc. Raymond E. Schultz, former chairman and chief executive officer of Promus Hotel Corp., has been appointed to the board of directors for Choice Hotels International Inc. James H. Daughdrill Jr., president of Rhodes College, has been elected to the board of directors for National Commerce Bancorp. David Loebel has been appointed music director and conductor of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. He most recently was associate principal conductor with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, artistic director of Classics in the Loop and conductor-in-residence of the New World Symphony. Sharon Simmons of Ballinger Pounds and Yarbrough Inc. will serve as chairman of the Education Focus Group of the Insurors of Tennessee. Richard Cleveland of the Collier Insurance Co. has been appointed to the Education Focus Group of the Insurors of Tennessee. Robert V. Redding will be managing partner of the Jackson, Tenn., office of Armstrong Allen Prewitt Gentry Johnston & Holmes. Jonathan O. Steen will be an associate in the office, which opened Monday. Michael Drompp, associate professor of history at Rhodes College, received the Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Teaching. Gail Streete, associate professor of religious studies at Rhodes, received the Clarence Day Deans Award for Outstanding Research and/or Creativity. The University of Memphis has announced its 1999 Distinguished Alumni Awards. Ben C. Bryant Jr., chief executive officer and vice chairman of SCB Technology Inc., and Gail Robinson, an opera singer and visiting artist at the U of M, will receive the Distinguished Alumni Awards. Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks, former executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and pastor of Greater Middle Baptist Church, will be presented the Distinguished Friend Award. John Dye, who stars in "Touched by an Angel," will receive the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. The University of Memphis has announced several faculty awards. Dr. Arthur C. Graesser, a psychology professor, has been named the 1999 winner of the Board of Visitors Eminent Faculty Award. Dr. Jack Grubaugh, an assistant professor of biology, and Dr. Mark C. Timmons, a professor of philosophy, have been named winners of the 1999 Thomas W. Briggs Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award. Dr. Lester J. Pourciau, retiring director of libraries, has been named the recipient of the Allen J. Hammond Award for Distinguished Service. Dr. Thomas R. Caplinger, a mathematics professor; Sherman Franklin, a business law professor; Roger Kirk, an instructor in accountancy; and psychology professor Robert Neimeyer have been named winners of the Alumni Association Distinguished Teaching Award. Gloria Baxter, a theater professor; Dr. George Annastassiou, a math professor; Dr. Terence Horgan and Dr. John Tienson, philosophy professors; and psychology professor Dr. Bruce Bracken were named winners of the Alumni Association Distinguished Research Award. Mason Granger, most recently executive vice president and general manager of WMC-TV, has been named president and general manager of WDSU-TV in New Orleans, La.