Texas A&M
University and The Association of Former Students are proud to
announce the recipients of the 2008 Distinguished Alumnus Award:
- Charles H.
“Charlie” Weinbaum, Jr., Class of 1947, of Beaumont;
- James D. “Doug”
Pitcock, Jr., Class of 1949, of Houston;
- Arthur R.
“Artie” McFerrin, Jr., Class of 1965, of Kingwood; and
- Neal W. Adams,
Class of 1968, of Euless.
Established in 1962,
the Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a
former student of Texas A&M University. Since its inception, 284
individuals have been recognized for their significant contributions
to their professions, Texas A&M University and their local
communities.
“Each and every
one of the more than 300,000 former students of Texas A&M has a
special place in our university’s history, and every year we
recognize only a few with the prestigious Distinguished Alumnus
Award,” said Texas A&M University President Dr. Elsa A. Murano.
“This award recognizes some of the most dedicated former students,
whose service to Texas A&M and lifetime personal and professional
achievements truly exemplify the Aggie Spirit. I applaud this year’s
recipients for their leadership and selfless service, and would like
to also express my appreciation to their families for their continued
support.”
The recipients
learned of their honor when surprised in their places of business and
other locations by a group of university and Association
representatives, including Texas A&M President Dr. Elsa Murano;
The Association of Former Students’ 2008 President General Hal M.
Hornburg (USAF, Ret), Class of 1968; Association Executive Director
Porter S. Garner III, Class of 1979; Association Assistant Executive
Director Marty Holmes, Class of 1987; and a Ross Volunteer.
“I'm so pleased that our nominating process found Aggies such as
these four wonderful individuals to be named as the 2008 recipients
of the Distinguished Alumnus Award,” said Association President
General Hal M. Hornburg (USAF, Ret), Class of 1968. “Each has
contributed in his own unique way; yet they all posses the same
common qualities: they are loyal Aggies, exemplary citizens and
outstanding Americans. Their actions will inspire others to follow
their example: service before self. Texas A&M and all Aggies can
take great pride in the honor bestowed on these most deserving men.”
The
Association’s Executive Director, Porter S. Garner III ’79,
echoed the sentiments of Dr. Murano and General Hal Hornburg and
offered his congratulations on behalf of the Aggie Network.
“Each of our 2008
Distinguished Alumni are exemplary role models and truly deserving of
the highest honor bestowed upon a former student of Texas A&M
University,” Garner said. “Charlie, Doug, Artie and Neal have
certainly distinguished themselves in their respective professions
and without fail have been lifelong advocates for Texas A&M and
Texas Aggies. I am honored to know them.”
The Association of
Former Students will further honor Texas A&M University’s 2008
Distinguished Alumni in formal events and ceremonies throughout the
year. Recipients will be hosted for dinner by Dr. Elsa Murano and
will be recognized during the May commencement ceremonies. In
addition, The Association will honor all recipients of this award
during its annual Distinguished Alumni Gala as well as at the Texas
A&M vs. Kansas State football game in October.
Brief biographical
information on Texas A&M University’s 2008 Distinguished Alumni
is below.
Texas
A&M University
2008
Distinguished Alumni
Charles H.
“Charlie” Weinbaum, Jr., Class of 1947,
received
a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from Texas
A&M. During his time as a student, he was a member of the Corps
of Cadets, the Beaumont Hometown Club and the Hillel Club, and he
lettered in basketball. He went on to attend the Graduate School of
Business at New York University before beginning his career with
Beaumont’s Weinbaum Insurance Agency, of which he remains a
partner. Weinbaum began developing commercial real estate in 1953
and, since 1975, has been president of two oil and gas firms,
Cherokee Royalty and Marion Cass. In addition, he has been general
partner of Weinbaum Family Investments since 1980. He is a Paul
Harris Fellow of Rotary International and has served as a volunteer
and contributor to dozens of educational and nonprofit organizations.
Weinbaum has been
actively involved with Texas A&M, having served as president of
the Beaumont A&M Club and on the Board of Directors of The
Association of Former Students. He is a co-founder of the Texas A&M
Letterman’s Association as well as a member of the 12th Man
Foundation Champions Council. Weinbaum funded a President’s Endowed
Scholarship in 1990 and has contributed to many other A&M
organizations and activities. He serves a councilman emeritus for The
Association of Former Students and was recognized by the Beaumont A&M
Club for 50 years of dedicated service. In 1982 he and his late
wife, Gloria, were recognized by Texas A&M University as its
Parents of the Year.
Weinbaum has five
children, Charles, Class of 1977; Daniel, Class of 1981; Jonathan,
Class of 1982; Bernard; and Rebecca; seven grandchildren, including
Elana Weinbaum, Class of 2007; and a great-grandchild.
James D. “Doug”
Pitcock, Jr., Class of 1949, graduated from Texas A&M with a
Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. As a student, he was
a member of the Corps of Cadets, American Society of Civil Engineers,
Houston Hometown Club and Saddle and Sirloin Club.
Pitcock began his
professional career in 1950 as a purchasing agent for Farnsworth &
Chambers in Houston. He served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army
from 1951 to 1952 before returning to Farnsworth & Chambers. By
1955, he was co-founder, partner, president and CEO of Williams
Brothers Construction, a company he built from a startup to one of
the nation’s largest highway construction firms.
In 1976 Pitcock was
appointed by President Gerald R. Ford to the National Transportation
Policy Study Commission, and served as national president of
Associated General Contractors of America in 1984. In 2002, he was
honored for his emergency reconstruction of the collapsed Queen
Isabella Causeway in Port Isabel, Texas. Pitcock was inducted into
the Texas Good Roads and Transportation Association Hall of Fame in
2004, the Texas Transportation Institute’s Hall of Honor in 2005
and was honored as the ‘Houston Engineer of the Year’ in 2006.
Pitcock has
generously volunteered his time and resources to Texas A&M,
funding numerous scholarships, fellowships and research projects. He
has been honored as a Distinguished Graduate of Texas A&M’s
Department of Civil Engineering and as an Outstanding Alumnus of the
Dwight Look College of Engineering.
Pitcock and his
wife, “Puddie,” have two children, Jim and the late Jan.
Arthur R. “Artie”
McFerrin, Jr., Class of 1965, received a Bachelor of Science
degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M and went on to earn
a master’s degree in the same field in 1969. As student, he was a
member of Company E-1 in the Corps of Cadets, the Student Conference
on National Affairs, the Society of Military Engineers, as well as
the Great Issues Committee.
McFerrin began his
career in 1967 with Shell Chemical, before becoming an independent
plant manager in 1972. In 1975 he founded KMCO, a chemical processing
and manufacturing company, and in 1990 established KMTEX, a
high-volume distillation company. He purchased South Coast Terminals
in 1995 and is a partner in several other chemical processing plants.
McFerrin has served
Texas A&M as chairman of the Chemical Engineering Advisory Board
and has served on the President’s Corps of Cadets Board of
Visitors, the 12th Man Foundation Board of Trustees, Texas A&M
Research Foundation, and the Chancellor’s Century Council.
In 2005, McFerrin
established an endowment to support Texas A&M’s department of
chemical engineering, which now bears his name. His many
contributions to Texas A&M are visible throughout the campus and
include the McFerrin Indoor Athletic Center and the Cox-McFerrin
Basketball Center. McFerrin endowed the Becky Gates Children’s
Center, the Marilyn Kent Byrne Student Success Center in the College
of Education and Human Development, as well as the Byrne Chair
currently held by Dr. Jim Kracht.
He has been part of
the Distinguished Visiting Executive Series at the George Bush School
of Government and Public Service and in 1998 was named an Outstanding
Alumnus of the Department of Chemical Engineering.
McFerrin and his
wife, Dorothy, have two children, Jeffrey, Class of 1992, and
Jennifer.
Neal W. Adams,
Class of 1968, received his Bachelor of Business Administration in
marketing. As a student, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the
Student Senate, served as head yell leader, and was honored as a
Distinguished Military Graduate and Distinguished Student. Upon
graduation, Adams attended Baylor School of Law, receiving his
juris
doctorate in 1970.
He served as a first
lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1972, receiving the
Distinguished Service Medal. He began his professional career in 1972
as president of Neal W. Adams, P.C. Since 1987, he served as
president, principal attorney and co-owner of Adams, Lynch &
Loftin, P.C.
In 2001, Governor
Rick Perry appointed Adams to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board, where he served six years and, in July 2005, Governor Perry
appointed him as vice chairman of the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board, a position he held through August 2007.
In October 2002 and
2007, Texas Lawyer magazine named Adams as the “Go-To
Lawyer” for school law in the state of Texas. Each year beginning
in 2003 through 2007, Adams has been honored as one of the Texas
Super Lawyers in school and education law by Texas Monthly
magazine. He is a past chairman of the State Bar of Texas School Law
Section. A Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, Adams was
named ‘1994 Man of the Year’ by the Northeast Tarrant County
Board of Realtors.
Adams is a loyal
supporter of Texas A&M. He is a member and chair-elect of the
Chancellor’s Century Council, a member of The Association of Former
Students’ Leadership Council, the A&M Legacy Society, the Corps
Development Council and the Corps of Cadets Association. Adams also
serves as a member and past chair of the President’s Board of
Visitors for the Corps of Cadets, a member of the 12th Man
Foundation’s Board of Trustees, and a member and past president of
the Former Yell Leaders Association. He is a regular Muster speaker
and a life member of the Fort Worth-Tarrant County A&M Club. In
addition, he is a frequent contributor of his time and talents to
various civic, church and community organizations.
Adams and his wife,
Sonja, have two daughters, Marti Morgan, Class of 1993 (son-in-law,
Craig Morgan, Class of 1993) and Paige.