2015 Distinguished Alumni

The 2015 Distinguished Alumni Gala was held Oct. 2 in Reed Arena. The Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a former student of Texas A&M University, awarded since 1962 to fewer than 250 of Texas A&M’s 425,000 former students. Presented jointly by the university and The Association of Former Students, this award recognizes Aggies who have achieved excellence in their chosen professions and made meaningful contributions to Texas A&M University and their local communities.

Read reporting by theeagle.com and watch a video of the Distinguished Alumni being honored on Kyle Field at halftime at kbtx.com.

The 2015 Distinguished Alumni are:

• Col. E.V. Adams ’29, legendary director of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band.
• William M. Peña ’42, World War II hero and architectural pioneer.
• Stanton P. Bell ’54, leader of Bell Hydrogas and a past King of San Antonio’s Fiesta.
• Lupe Fraga ’57, businessman, past regent and former chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
• Dr. Charles H. Bowman '59, oil industry leader and educator who helped establish Texas A&M-Qatar.
• J. Richard Steadman ’59, ground-breaking orthopedic surgeon and nine-time Winter Olympics U.S. team physician.
• Ray R. Hannigan, Jr. ’61, business leader and mentor.
• Richard Kardys ’67, banking executive and 2015 Aggie Lawyer of the Year.
• Stephen F. Cooper '78 of El Campo, a sod farmer pioneer.
• Frederick W. Heldenfels IV ’79, past head of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating board and integral leader in Kyle Field's redevelopment.
• Lyle Lovett '79, a four-time Grammy Award-winning musician who is an enthusiastic ambassador for Texas A&M.
• Carri Baker Wells ’84, a law firm executive and community leader.

Read more about these Texas Aggies at tx.ag/DA2015.