LSU Alumni Association announces its 2026 Hall of Distinction class

BATON ROUGE — Frank W. “Billy” Harrison III, co-founder and co-owner of Houston Energy, LP, will be honored as the 2026 Alumnus of the Year. Jaime Glas Odom, founder and CEO of Queen of Sparkles, is the 2026 Young Alumna of the Year.  
They will be inducted into the LSU Alumni Association Hall of Distinction on Friday, April 17, 2026, at the Lod Cook Alumni Center.  
Joining Harrison and Odom are fellow Hall of Distinction inductees:

• Karen Brack, Airborne Electronic Hardware Engineer, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. 
• John H. “Johnny” Fife, Chairman and Owner, Arkel Constructors, Inc. 
• U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, U.S. Representative from Louisiana. 
• Rene Joyce, Board of Directors, CEO & Executive Chairman, Targa Resources. 
• Jeffrey Springmeyer, President, Geophysical Pursuit, Inc. 

Tickets and sponsorships are now available for purchase at www.lsualumni.org/hall-of-distinction. 

Harrison earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Geology. He has more than 30 years of successful petroleum exploration experience in the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coasts, as well as the Gulf of America. As exploration manager, he oversees all aspects of oil and gas exploration for Houston Energy. 

Harrison is a past chairman of the LSU Foundation Board of Directors, a member of the College of Science Dean’s Circle, and a member of the Geology Field Camp Endowment Committee. He was inducted into the LSU College of Science Hall of Distinction in 2012 and was honored with the 2015 Greek Excellence Award as a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. 

Odom has a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering and international Trade & Finance. After she struggled to find flame-retardant jumpsuits that fit her and other female engineers, she started her first business, HauteWork, which she sold to National Safety Apparel in 2019. 

Odom launched Queen of Sparkles in 2021. Queen of Sparkles, a line of statement separates featuring vibrant and sparkly novelty pieces, can now be found in more than 1,000 stores and ships to customers worldwide. 

“Each year, the LSU Alumni Association proudly honors alumni who have made exceptional contributions to their professions, communities, and to LSU,” said Joe Carvalhido, LSU Alumni Association President and CEO. “This year’s honorees continue that legacy of excellence — embodying the spirit, impact, and lifelong loyalty that define what it means to be a Tiger.” 

The first LSU Alumnus of the Year award was conferred in 1966, and the Young Alumnus of the Year Award was established in 1999 to recognize alumni who have attained professional prominence early in their careers. Over the years, the LSU Alumni Association has recognized more than 400 individuals representing a cross-section of LSU alumni.