Stan Graner ’81 will be honored with the 2024 Alumni of the Year Award at the awards dinner on Nov. 1. Stan is celebrated not only for his remarkable talent as an actor and musician but also for his generous support to Texas Wesleyan. His support extends beyond financial contributions and scholarships; he also dedicates his time to hosting and emceeing key events, such as the President’s Honors Concert.

Stan Graner ’81 graduated magna cum laude from Texas Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Music degree, and was honored to be invited back to the campus in 2008 to perform an evening of Broadway songs. In 2020 Stan, along with husband Jim McBride, established scholarships at TXWES (one in music and one in theater) to be awarded to deserving Black students.

Stan has acted regionally in DFW for over 40 years at such theaters as Amphibian Stage Productions, Artisan Center Theater, Brick Road Theatre, Casa Mañana, Circle Theatre, Classical Acting Company, The Classics Theatre Project, Contemporary Theatre of Dallas, Dallas Repertory Theatre, Fort Worth Theatre, Garland Summer Musicals, Kitchen Dog Theatre, Lyric Stage, Mainstage Irving-Las Colinas, One Thirty Productions, Plano Repertory Theatre, Plaza Theatre Company, Stage West, Stolen Shakespeare Guild, Theatre Arlington, Theatre Three, Uptown Players, and WaterTower Theatre.

Stan has received a DFW Theater Critics Forum award, the Ann L. Rhodes Philanthropic Individual Award from The Live Theatre League of Tarrant County, several Column Awards, was nominated for a Leon Rabin award, and was named one of the Outstanding Male Performers of 2010 by critic Alexandra Bonifield (Critical Rant & Rave, Arts+Culture Magazine, TheaterJones.com). Stan has had children’s musicals published with Hal Leonard (Inventive Mind, The Harder They Fall), Choristers Guild (All God’s Children), Lorenz (Double Occupancy), and Jenson Publications (Lost and Found). Jenson also published two of Stan’s choral anthems.

He had musical arrangements performed by The Turtle Creek Chorale and Cathedral of Hope in the Meyerson Symphony Center, and three shows at Theatre Three and one show at Contemporary Theatre of Dallas. Stan is featured on all three Holidazzle recordings put out by DFW Actors Give Back, including arranging work on the most recent release. Stan sponsors The Classics Theatre Project’s Graner Company of Resident Artists, and has served as a member and officer of the boards of directors for WaterTower Theatre, The Classics Theatre Project, and The Turtle Creek Chorale. He was active on the Actors Advisory Board at both Theatre Three and Theatre Arlington, was voted 2006 Choir Person of the Year at Arlington Heights United Methodist Church, and was Volunteer of the Month for SPCA of Texas.

About the Alumni Medal Awards 

Each year, Texas Wesleyan University honors distinguished alumni and friends. Their achievements and contributions are amazing reflections of the University, and we are honored to celebrate and recognize them each year.

This year’s Alumni Medal Dinner will be held at the Fort Worth Club on Friday, Nov. 1. The reception begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and program at 7 p.m.

The event is open to all alumni, friends and faculty and staff, and tickets are $75 per person. Register online to reserve your seat, and be sure to check out other homecoming weekend activities as well.

Questions? Contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 817-531-6548 or alumni@txwes.edu.