Dr. Robert V.
Walker ’45
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Year Awarded: 2012
Dr. Robert V. Walker, Class of 1945, studied pre-dentistry at the Agricultural & Mechanical College of Texas before he was drafted into the army. While at A&M, he was named “Best Drilled Man” of H Battery Field Artillery during his sophomore year, 1st Sergeant in his junior year, earned a walk-on position on the freshman baseball team in 1942, and played the full 1943 season of baseball on the A&M varsity team, earning his “T” medal. He earned a doctor of dental surgery degree from Baylor University College of Dentistry in 1947, studied at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Medicine for a year in 1953, and won Honorary Fellowships from both the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland in 1973 and England in 1984.
He was called back into the army in 1951, where he advanced from 1st lieutenant to captain at the Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio in 1953. During his tenure there he joined the BAMC Comets baseball team and played at the national championship level in 1951-52. It was here that he was introduced to oral surgery and was encouraged to continue his education, and he became a certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon in 1958. Walker was an assistant professor, and then professor as well as Chairman of the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and ended his time there as Professor Emeritus.
Walker held leadership roles and remained active in many societies and associations around Texas, such as the American Trauma Society, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Dallas County Dental Society and the Southwest Society of Oral Surgeons, just to name a few. He won numerous honors and achievement awards, like the Texas Dental Association Gold Medal for Distinguished Service in 2003, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Dallas County Dental Society in 2002, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Baylor College of Dentistry (now Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry) in 1999. He was a founding member, board member and past president of the Texas A&M Medical-Dentistry Society, past chair and vice-chair of the College of Science External Advisory and Development Council, member of the Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets Association, The Association of Former Students, the Texas A&M Foundation and the 12th Man Foundation. In 1994, he established the Emily and Robert Walker Endowed Scholarship in Science at Texas A&M, followed in 1995 by the Emily and Robert Walker ’45 Endowed Lectureship in Biology. In 2004 he was honored with induction into the Texas A&M College of Science Academy of Distinguished Former Students.
Walker and his wife, Emily, had one daughter and two sons. He passed away on April 28, 2011.
"Dad really enjoyed the Corps and playing baseball. He was a walk-on player for the baseball team, and beat out a recruited player with a scholarship for shortstop. He was very happy to win the Best Drilled Man award for his unit, over students who had come from large city high schools with ROTC programs. It was a big disappointment when he was drafted at the end of his junior year, and he didn't get to wear his boots or take a position of leadership in the Corps as a senior."
- -Trey Walker, Robert Walker's son
Joe Carter
Denman, Jr. ’46
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Year Awarded: 1981
Lufkin, TX
Denman received a bachelor’s degree in Architecture in 1950. He was an Aviator in the U.S. Naval Corps during WWII.
Denman received a bachelor’s degree in Architecture in 1950. He was an Aviator in the U.S. Naval Corps during WWII.
Denman is an Officer, Director, or Trustee for more than 25 financial, investment, industrial, governmental, and professional firms or organizations. He was very successful in the lumber industry as he served on the governing boards of the Lumberman’s Investment Corporation, National Forests Products Association, and was the Past President of the Southern Forest Products Association and the Texas Forest Products Manufacturers Association. Currently, Denman holds patent on an apparatus to efficiently measure lumber volume. He also served as President and CEO of Temple-Eastex Inc., Diboll.
"I doubt anyone could better exemplify the Spirit of Aggieland in his everyday associations than Joe Denman."
- C.M. Harbordt ’70
Harold J.
Haynes ’46
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Year Awarded: 1972
Fort Worth, TX
Haynes received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1947. In 1969, he was elected President of Standard Oil Co., which later became Chevron Corp. He assumed the role of Board Chairman in 1974, a position he held until his retirement in 1981.
His other activities have included directorship of the Bay Area Council and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Haynes was presented the John Rogers Award at the 11th Annual Institute on Exploration and Economics of the Petroleum Industry in 1971.
"To revitalize the tremendous productive potential of this great nation, America will need the spirit symbolized by the tradition of the 12th Man—the willingness to participate if called upon."
Bill W.
Klotz ’46
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Year Awarded: 1999
Goose Creek, TX
Klotz received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1948. In 1983, he was named Director of Public Works for the City of Houston and later founded Klotz Associates, Inc., for which he served as President and Chairman of the Board. He was involved in projects to expand football stadiums at Texas A&M, the University of Texas, and the University of Oklahoma.
"Love for Texas A&M has been a prime trait of Mr. Klotz. He has been a tireless ambassador for Texas A&M University."
- David W. Klotz ’74, son of Bill W. Klotz '46
Dr. John M. "Jack"
Knox ’46
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Year Awarded: 1971
Dallas, TX
Headed by John Knox since 1963, the Department of Dermatology at Baylor University College of Medicine is recognized throughout the world. It is the recipient of important research grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Surgeon General of the Army, the Armed Forces Epidemiological Board, the Veterans Administration, as well as from private foundations and industry. Baylor’s Department f Dermatology also is the leading academic center in research of venereal diseases.
Author of Technical papers published in scientific journals, Know was named chairman of the Council of the National Program of Dermatology. He also serves as chairman of the Southern Medical Association Section on Dermatology. He is president of the Houston Dermatological Society and the American Venereal Disease Association and is on the board of directors for the Society for Investigative Dermatology, American Social Health Association, and the American Academy of Dermatology.
Chief of Dermatology, Ben Taub General Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital, Knox is senior attending physician at Methodist Hospital. He is on the consultant staff to Texas Research Institute for Mental Science, Texas Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, and Veterans Administration Hospital. He is also a consultant to the U.S. Public Health Service; the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia; and Brooke General Hospital in San Antonio.
Knox was a cadet lieutenant colonel and Head Yell Leader before entering the Navy V-12 program at Texas Christian University. He received his bachelor’s degree in science from A&M in the summer of 1947 and his MD from Baylor University College of Medicine in 1949.
"Be sure to call upon me at any time for any cause that would be of benefit to Texas A&M. The school has been unbelievably good to me and there is no way I can repay it for all that is has contributed to my life."
A. P.
Wiley, Jr. ’46
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Year Awarded: 1994
Dallas, TX
Wiley received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1949. A recognized authority on construction feasibility and sire selection, A.P. Wiley does consulting work with insurance companies. In 1949, he joined his father in A.P. Wiley and Son Contractors. In 1960, he and his brother established Wiley Brothers General Contractors, In., which he served as Chairman of the Board. Wiley has served as president of the 30th Infantry Division Association and actively supports the Dallas Theatre Center and the Dallas Symphony Super Pops.
He was presented the Dallas A&M Club’s Jimmy Williams Award for service to his community and to Texas A&M. He and his brother endowed Texas A&M’s internationally-renowned annual MSC Wiley Lecture Series and assist the program with their advice and resources. He and James F. Wiley ’46 are the only brothers ever selected for the Texas A&M Distinguished Alumnus Award. He has also endowed a chair in A&M’s College of Business and Veterinary Medicine. He is on the A&M President’s Council and the College of Business Development Council.
"I first met A.P. and Earline Wiley as a veterinary student 3 years ago, and have remained close friends with them ever since. I have yet to meet a truer Aggie."
- Dr. Cindi Lee Welch '90, Chief of Staff, I-20 Animal Med Center
James E.
Wiley, Sr. ’46
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Year Awarded: 1990
Dallas, TX
Wiley received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1948. As a student he lettered in track and football and played in the 1944 Orange Bowl. He and his brother founded Wiley Brothers General Contractors which designs, leases and manages commercial and industrial buildings. During his career, he supervised construction of many Dallas landmarks.
In addition to his professional and community service, Mr. Wiley served on key advisory groups on campus and has been a major supporter of programs in a variety of areas. In 1983, when he and his brother were on campus to endow the A.P. and Florence Wiley Chair in Civil Engineering in honor of their parents, they attended a Memorial Student Center lecture series featuring two former U.S. Secretaries of State and were so impressed with the student run program that they provided $500,000 endowment for what is now know as the Wiley lecture Series.
"James Wiley is a man who has done more than dream about how to expand the educational horizon for students and Texas A&M. He has made his vision of Texas A&M a reality. His integrity and family values are without peer. He is a role model for Aggies young and old."
- Dr. Irene B. Hoadley, Former Director, Sterling C. Evans Library
Robert E.
Bolen ’47
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Year Awarded: 1998
Fort Worth, TX
Bob Bolen received a bachelor’s degree in General Business in 1948. Bolen is a partner in Cornerstone Investment Group in Fort Worth. His undergraduate years at Texas A&M were interrupted by two and a half years as a U.S. Navy Gunnery Officer abroad the USS Iowa during World War II. After returning and completing his business degree, he worked at McCrory’s Five and Dime stores for several years at various locations across the country. In 1951, he founded Bolen Enterprises, opening a Fort Worth toy store and then a bicycle shop. The firm now operates 20 Hallmark Card shops around the city.
His interest in civic affairs led to his election to the Fort Worth City Council in 1979. He served as Mayor of Fort Worth from 1982 to 1991 and has been President of the National League of Cities and the Texas Municipal League. He was instrumental in establishing Forth Worth’s international sister cities program, bringing a U.S. Treasury Currency Plant, the Texas Robotics Center and the American Airlines Maintenance Facility to the Fort Worth-Arlington area, and acquiring the Rock Island Railroad right-of-way between Fort Worth and Dallas.
His work to create a spirit of cooperation between Dallas and Fort Worth resulted in the establishment of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board, the Metroplex High Technology Education Task Force, and the Dallas/Fort Worth International Trade Resource Center. Mr. Bolen served on Texas A&M’s College of Business Administration Development Council.
He has been recognized by the B’nai B’rith Jewish Anti-Defamation League, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and the International Good Neighbor Council.
Dr. Richard H.
Harrison III ’47
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Year Awarded: 1986
Dallas, TX
Harrison received a bachelor’s degree in Zoology in 1948 and a Doctorate of Medicine from Baylor College of Medicine. He entered private practice in Bryan in 1956 and fulfilled visiting professorships at the medical schools of the University of Cairo and the University of Kentucky and has authored 95 publications and papers.
He was a Clinical Professor of Surgery for Texas A&M’s College of Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. His strong support of Texas A&M includes a President’s Endowed Scholarship. And endowed Mark Francis Veterinary Medicine Scholarship, and endowed 12th Man Athletic Scholarship, and endowed Medical College Scholarship, an endowed Sul Ross Scholarship for A&M’s Corp of Cadets and an Endowed Century Club membership. Dr. Harrison served as 1958 President of the Brazos County A&M Club.
L.D. (Duke)
Hobbs ’47
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Year Awarded: 2018
Plano, TX
As a 314th Infantry sergeant in World War II, he earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. After returning to A&M to finish his degree, he served as an Air Force intelligence officer in the Korean War. Moving to a civilian career, he worked for Procter & Gamble Co., then W.L. Gordon Co. merchandise brokers, where as vice president he was responsible for growing one of the largest non-food organizations in the industry. Upon retiring, he came back to A&M to teach management and direct the Center for Executive Development, during which time he also actively supported many A&M organizations.
He served for more than 20 years as a Class Agent for the Class of ’47, is now a Class Agent Emeritus, and has been a Fish Camp namesake. Proceeds from his book I Knew I Was an Aggie When support Texas A&M’s Cushing Memorial Library.
Hobbs is a Bronze Century Club member of The Association with 47 years of giving; he is a Heritage member of the A&M Legacy Society and Corps of Cadets Center, and with wife Laura created a Sul Ross Scholarship fund.
He has been congregation vice president at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in College Station; an Eagle Scout, Scoutmaster, merit badge counselor and Boy Scouts of America regional director; a Republican National Convention delegate, election judge and county chair for regional development.
His family includes wife Laura; four children, David, Mark, Keith '84 and Stuart '84; four grandchildren; and siblings Sara Pitcher, John H. Wallace, Jr. ’52 and David M. Wallace ’59.
“Everything I have done since my fish year has been guided by Aggie core values"
- Duke Hobbs '47