Dr. Charles W.
Graham ’53
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Year Awarded: 2016
Elgin, Texas
DR. CHARLES W. GRAHAM ’53 received bachelor’s degrees in animal husbandry and animal science and a doctorate in veterinary medicine. As a student, he was a member of the Saddle and Sirloin Club, chair of the NRA Rodeo program at A&M, involved in the Little Southwestern Stock Show and president of the Civilian Students; he “lived at the horse barn” and on one occasion converted a “borrowed” boar hog into a second-place show winner using shoe polish and other cosmetic means.
He has built the largest vet hospital facility/business in Texas and also created the state’s oldest continuous stallion breeding operation, Southwest Stallion Station.
He is one of the world’s top equine vets and a leader in Texas’ horse and cattle industries as well as a volunteer, advocate and youth mentor.
He has been a member of the Texas A&M Equine Research Committee, an influential participant in funding and construction of the new Veterinary and Biomedical Education Complex and a supporter of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He helped recruit veterinary college dean Dr. Eleanor Green and Dr. Jim Heird, coordinator of A&M’s Equine Initiative, furthering A&M’s status as one of the top veterinary and equine programs in the country. He is a Silver level member of The Association’s Century Club, with 21 years of giving. He is a former director of the American Association of
Equine Practitioners and was a founder of Frontier Bank of Texas in Elgin; a director of the American Quarter Horse Association; a member of the Board of Managers of Kalon Biotherapeutics; and a founding member of Rodeo Austin.
His family includes grandchildren Tyler Graham ’06, Casey Graham ’11 and Callie Lee ’19.
Kathryn
Greenwade ’88
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Year Awarded: 2023
College Station, TX
Greenwade dedicated her life to selfless service. As a student, Greenwade served her peers through Muster, Fish Camp and more while earning a degree in journalism. She began work in marketing and training before returning to Aggieland for a role with the Texas A&M Career Center. In 1999, she began a 22-year career with The Association of Former Students.
Greenwade championed Aggies as the vice president of communications and human resources at The Association. She supported and connected current, former and future students by leading with empathy and promoting community. Passionate about beginning a tradition of giving, she sponsored hundreds of students’ first year in the Century Club. She served with the Aggie Women Network, was an Endowed Century Club member, established an Aggie Ring Scholarship and supported programs across Texas A&M.
On campus, she served 13 years as an academic advisor to Company C-2 in the Corps of Cadets, honored twice as academic advisor of the year. She sponsored the Fish Camp attendance of many freshmen and purchased multiple students’ Aggie Rings over the years. In 2000, she was selected as a Fish Camp namesake. Her volunteer service also reached off campus as president of the board of the Bryan-College Station chapter of Habitat for Humanity and a Brazos Valley Figure Skating Club board member.
Greenwade passed away in February 2022. She is survived by her parents, James ’66 and Sharon Greenwade, her sister and brother-in-law, Karen ’92 and Kevin ’91 Schiller, and their children, Sarah ’18, Sam ’22 and Jacob Schiller.
“Kathryn seemed to be everywhere … promoting our university and The Association while endearing herself to everyone she encountered.”
- Dr. R. Bowen Loftin ’71
Dewitt C.
Greer ’23
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Year Awarded: 1966
Pittsburg, TX
Greer received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1923. Known as the “King of the Highway Builders,” his 54-year career with the Texas Highway Department impacted the development, construction, maintenance and administration of the state’s 72,000 miles of highway.
He was the recipient of the George S. Bartlett Award (1953) and the Thomas MacDonald Award (1964), the two highest honors of the American Association of State Highway Officials, in 1962 Mr. Greer was named among the “Top Ten Public works Men-of-the-Year” by Kiwanis International and the American Public Works Association.
"Dewitt Greer was a man of exceptional honor, vision and integrity. All of is who travel the highways of Texas today have him to thank for the prosperity and quality of life those highways have brought to our great state."
- Dennis Christiansen, Deputy Director, Texas Transportation Institute
Charles H.
Gregory ’64
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Year Awarded: 2017
Houston, TX
CHARLES H. GREGORY ’64 received a bachelor’s degree in economics. As a student, he was commander of the Ross Volunteers, active in Student Conference on National Affairs, and first sergeant and commander of F-2 in the Corps of Cadets.
He served in the U.S. Army 1967-69 to the rank of captain, primarily in intelligence in Vietnam. He then worked for a regional securities firm and became its vice president of venture capital operations. For 30 years, he served as CEO of Rupley Holdings, purchasing its predecessor out of bankruptcy and building it into four separate businesses.
He served for seven years on the board of trustees of the Texas A&M Foundation and was chairman. He has also served on the President’s Board of Visitors and for more than 20 years on the Liberal Arts Development Council, and has been a Double Diamond member of The Association’s Century Club, with 33 years of giving. He has created an endowed chair in liberal arts and a graduate student fellowship and has supported The Gardens at Texas A&M project, the MSC renovation and the Texas A&M Foundation building fund, among other gifts.
In 2016, he was inducted into the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor. He is a class co-representative for the Ross Volunteers Association and a class representative for Company F-2. He served on A&M’s Vision 2020 planning group and the committee for A&M’s early-2000s capital campaign. He also supports and serves Houston charities.
His family includes wife Mary, a son and a daughter, as well as his late father, R.P. Gregory ’32, and uncles A.J. Gray ’45 and Delbert W. Gray ’49.
Rex B.
Grey ’41
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Year Awarded: 1971
El Paso, TX
Grey studied Mechanical Engineering while at A&M College of Texas and received a bachelor’s degree in Engineering at the University of Houston. He became owner and President of Texas Apparatus Co. in 1955. He later joined International Telephone and Telegraph Corp., and served as President in the Africa and Middle East Headquarters. There, he initiated coordinating functions of 30 to 40 ITT companies in Africa and the Middle East from one London headquarters and these activities tripled in size under his management.
Grey gave extensive guidance and advice to the planners of SCONA XV, Black Africa: The Challenge of Development. African leaders and students were suggested for invitations and much money was provided to support these invitations. Grey also has contributed a $25,000 President’s endowed Scholarship to Texas A&M.
"The honor you bring to Texas A&M University is a source of great pride to all of us."
- Dr. Jack K. Williams, Past President, Texas A&M University
Gerald D.
Griffin ’56
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Year Awarded: 1985
Fort Worth, TX
Griffin received a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1956 and served four years on active duty in the United States Air Force. In 1964 he joined NASA as a Flight Controller in Mission Control Center and later was Director of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. He was lead Flight Director for Apollos 12, 15, and 17. During the NASA’s Apollo Program, his real life experience led to Mr. Griffin being a technical advisor for the movie Apollo 13 (Universal), and a technical advisor and an actor in Contact (Warner Brothers) and Deep Impact (Dreamworks). In addition to his Director position, he also served as the Deputy Director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida and the Hugh F. Dryden Flight Research Center in California.
After taking early retirement from NASA in 1986, Mr. Griffin was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Houston Chamber of Commerce, a post held until 1989 when he joined Korn/Ferry International, a worldwide executive search firm, as Managing Director of the firm’s Houston office.
"Whether it is waking up astronauts on the moon to the strains of the ‘Aggie War Hymn’ or advising outstanding high school students to attend A&M, Gerry Griffin is an Aggie who recognizes and attempts to repay every day the debt he owes to his great university."
Henry J.
Gruy ’37
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Year Awarded: 1990
Victoria, TX
Gruy received a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1937. In 1950, he founded H.J. Gruy and Associates, an independent petroleum and natural gas consulting firm, which evolved into Gruy Engineering Corp. He is noted for his grasp of international politics and economic problems within the industry. Mr. Gruy has been widely honored for his contributions to the oil and gas industry. He was elected to the prestigious National Academy of Engineering.
His alma mater has long benefited from his expertise through his service on advisory groups in the College of Engineering and College of Geosciences. He served on the Texas A&M Engineering Advisory and Development Council and the College of Engineering’s Doctor of Engineering Advisory Committee.
"My admiration for his judgment, acuity, and sense of humor, not to speak of his many accomplishments in the petroleum industry, continues to rise faster than the value of the Japanese Yen."
- Gerard Waller
Hector
Gutierrez, Jr. ’69
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Year Awarded: 2023
El Paso, TX
Gutierrez was very involved in student life at A&M, leading as a member of the Ross Volunteers, president of the University Honor Council and the first Hispanic Corps commander.
Upon graduation, he received a commission into the U.S. Air Force and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a minor in Russian.
Gutierrez spent nearly 20 years of his career at Southwestern Bell Telephone, acting as assistant vice president of government relations before leaving the company in 1993. He soon became a consultant, specializing in public relations, communications and governmental affairs. His past clients include the city of El Paso (where he still lives today), AT&T, the El Paso Water Utility Public Service Board, HILLCO Partners and more corporate entities. He also served as the first senior advisor for legislative affairs to the lieutenant governor of Texas, Rick Perry ’72.
Generous with his time, Gutierrez has made it a point to lead and mentor wherever he can. He has served on the boards of The Association of Former Students, the Texas A&M University Press, the Bush School of Government and Public Service, the Texas A&M Health Science Center and the Corps of Cadets Board of Visitors. He is also the founding chairman of the Texas A&M Hispanic Network, where his passion and vision directly supported A&M’s recent designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution, which in turn unlocked new levels of federal funding.
Gutierrez and his wife, Debbie, have one daughter, Camila.
“I know of few people who possess such focused dedication, sincere personal integrity and thoughtful communication style.”
- Lupe Fraga '57
Richard E.
Haas ’45
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Year Awarded: 1982
Marathon, KS
Haas received a bachelor’s degree in Animal Husbandry in 1947. After graduation, he founded many agricultural- and energy-related businesses. He served as Owner-Manager of R.E. “Dick” Haas Land & Cattle Company, R.E. “Dick” Haas Pipeline Company and R.E.H. Energy Enterprises, Inc.
Haas was President of the Corpus Christi A&M Club, served on The Association of Former Students Board of Directors, and was a Trustee of the Texas A&M Development Foundation. He also established an endowment of more than $300,000 to fund a President’s Scholarship and created the Haas-Litterst Endowment in Animal Science.
Jon L.
Hagler ’58
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Year Awarded: 1999
La Grange, TX
Hagler received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics in 1958 and earned a master’s of Business Administration from Harvard University in 1963. As a student, he served as a Ross Volunteer and was Corps of Cadets commander his senior year.
Hagler has managed mutual funds for numerous investment firms but mostly recently for Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co., LLC of which he is a Partner. He currently serves on The Association of Former Students Board of Directors.
"Jon is a superb role model for future generations of Aggies, and represents the finest example of what Texas A&M has to offer."
- Eddie J. Davis '67, President of the Texas A&M Foundation