Preston M. Geren, Jr., Class of 1945, entered Texas A&M University in the fall of 1941 to study architectural engineering and in 1943 left to enter the U.S. Army. Upon release from duty in 1945, the degree he was preparing for was no longer offered at Texas A&M, therefore he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture in 1947 at Georgia Tech and Texas A&M made special dispensation for Geren to remain a member of the Class of 1945. He was a member of the Corps of Cadets and a Letterman in swimming.
Geren began his career as a registered architect and engineer in 1947 when he joined the firm with his father, Preston M. Geren, Sr., which was established in 1934. The firm became a leading architectural force in Fort Worth and the state of Texas. After his father’s death in 1969, Geren became the sole owner of Geren Associates Architects and Engineers and was recognized as one of the 250 largest architectural firms in the nation at the time. Among Geren’s designs is the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center on the Texas A&M University campus.
Geren has generously volunteered his time to Texas A&M University as president and member of the Executive Committee of the 12th Man Foundation and member of the Chancellor’s Advisory Council and President’s Advisory Council. He also served on the Advisory Council to the Corps of Cadets and on the Advisory Council of the School of Architecture and Environmental Design. Texas A&M’s School of Architecture honored Geren with the Outstanding Alumni Award in 1998. Born in Fort Worth, Geren and his wife, Colleen, have three sons, Charles, Preston and Toby and two daughters, Eva and Chandra and 11 grandchildren.
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Raul B. Fernandez '59, Class of 1959, received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University. During his time as a student, Fernandez was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and was president of the Laredo A&M Hometown Club.
Fernandez began his career in 1960 with H. B. Zachry Co. in San Antonio. In 1961, he reported for a two-year tour of duty with the U. S. Army Artillery in Germany. Upon his return to San Antonio in 1963, he was associated with Zachry Properties and J. H. Uptmore & Associates where he was promoted to senior vice president in 1985. In 1990, Fernandez started his own building, development and real estate investment company. Throughout his career, Fernandez has been committed to public and higher education in the state of Texas, having served 18 years as a public school district trustee and on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. In 1990, he was honored with the naming of the Raul B. Fernandez Elementary School in San Antonio’s Northside School District.
Fernandez has been actively involved with Texas A&M having served as president of The Association of Former Students and the San Antonio A&M Club. He also served as chairman of the Corps of Cadets Development Council and as vice chairman of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. Fernandez has made over 20 Muster presentations, including one in San Salvador, El Salvador. Born in Laredo, Fernandez and his wife, Sylvia, Class of 1988, have three children, William; Monica, Class of 1984; and Michael, Class of 1988; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
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Roderick D. Stepp, Class of 1959, received a bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from Texas A&M University. As a student at Texas A&M, Stepp was the editor of the 1959 Aggieland. He was also a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Ross Volunteers, and named Distinguished Student and Distinguished Military Graduate.
Stepp began his career in 1959 with Pan American Petroleum. In 1961, he was called to service with the United States Army, where he served until 1963. In 1963, Stepp purchased interest in a small family-owned metal shop in Fort Worth with six employees. Under his business expertise, M & M Manufacturing Company has grown to become a major manufacturer of construction-related products utilizing leading edge technology to create state of the art manufacturing processes with six manufacturing plants and over 700 employees. Stepp co-funded and introduced a very significant research project to the Energy Systems Laboratory at Texas A&M University and co-funded a marketing project with the Mays Business School.
As a former student, Stepp has generously served Texas A&M with his time and talent as member, president and Muster chair of the Fort Worth/Tarrant County A&M Club and vice president of The Association of Former Students. He also served as president of the 12th Man Foundation, member and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Texas A&M Foundation, and member of the President’s Board of Visitors. Stepp has also been Muster speaker and served on the Vision 2020 Council and One Spirit One Vision Campaign. Born in Wichita Falls, Stepp and his wife, Claudia, reside in Fort Worth and have two children, Randall and Rhonda and four grandchildren.
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Dr. Edwin J. Kyle, Class of 1899, graduated from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas with a degree in horticulture. As a senior, Kyle served as Senior Captain, now known as Corps Commander, class president, president of the YMCA and valedictorian. Kyle brought national recognition to Texas A&M through his contributions to agriculture, education and athletics, but his most lasting impression would be the naming of Kyle Field in his honor.
Kyle began his professional career at Texas A&M in 1902 as an instructor, the head of the Department of Horticulture and Mycology and horticulturist to the Experiment Station. He became the first dean of the School of Agriculture in 1911. Kyle retired from A&M in 1944 and served as director of the Farm Credit Administration in Houston until the late 1950s. In 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him United States Ambassador to Guatemala. After his resignation in 1947, Kyle was called back to Guatemala to receive that nation’s highest decoration, The Order of the Quetzal. Kyle served as executive secretary of The Alumni Association from 1905 until 1906 and was President of the General Athletic Association, a precursor to the Texas A&M Athletic Council, and a member for 24 years. Born in Kyle, Texas, Kyle lived in Bryan until his death in 1963.
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View the official Media Release.
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