Hugo C.
Heldenfels ’35
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Year Awarded: 1979
Beeville, TX
Heldenfels received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Administration. He later formed Heldenfels Properties, Inc and served as President.
During his tenure on the Board of Directors of The Texas A&M University System, the name of the College changed to Texas A&M University, women enrolled for the first time, and membership in the Corps of Cadets was made optional. A new classroom and laboratory building was named in his honor on Texas A&M’s campus in 1977.
"There is no adequate way to thank Tony Heldenfels for all he has done and does and will do; but I am certain I speak for everyone affiliated in any way with Texas A&M when I say to Tony that we are proud of him and grateful to him—that we cherish deeply his unwavering faith in our efforts."
- Dr. Jack K. Williams, Former President of Texas A&M
Fred W.
Heldenfels IV ’79
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Year Awarded: 2015
Austin, TX
Fred W. Heldenfels IV, Class of 1979, received a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Texas A&M University, where he was chapter proconsul (vice president) of Sigma Chi fraternity and served on the Student Body Judicial Board and Moore Hall council.
Appointed by Gov. Rick Perry ’72 in 2006, he served as chairman of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board from May 2010 to September 2013. He has served as chairman of the 12th Man Foundation board of trustees and twice as a member of its executive committee. He is the current chairman of the A&M PAC Board. He is founder, president and CEO of Heldenfels Enterprises, Inc., an Aggie 100 award recipient in 2005, 2006 and 2010. He chaired the industry’s national trade organization, the Precast/ Prestressed Concrete Institute, and was inducted into the Corpus Christi Business Hall of Fame in 2010.
Heldenfels has chaired both the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Foundation and the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, where he helped initiate support for tort reform in the Coastal Bend and creation of a four-year university within the Texas A&M University System. He has long taught Sunday school classes at Hyde Park Baptist Church and serves on the Austin Chamber of Commerce board as vice chair of state advocacy.
His Aggie family includes brothers Ken ’82 and Gil ’85, father Fred III ’56, grandfather Fred Jr. ’33 (also a Distinguished Alumnus) and great-grandfather Fred W. “Fritz” Sr. , Class of 1909. Frederick and wife Elizabeth Pfaff Heldenfels ’79 have three children, including Amy Heldenfels Jerke ’05 and Holly Heldenfels ’09, and two grandchildren.
"Fred Heldenfels has taken our core values and applied each and every one of them in his career, his family, his service to country, state and school, and in every area of his personal life. His selfless service is, indeed, a model for all Aggies."
- Sam Torn '70, Past Chair, 12th Man Foundation
Fred W.
Heldenfels, Jr. ’33
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Year Awarded: 2009
Corpus Christi, TX
Heldenfels graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. As a student, he participated in the Corps of Cadets and was a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.
Heldenfels joined the family business in 1933 and with his brother, Tony Heldenfels, Class of 1935, led the lumber business started by his father and uncle to become one of the largest contractors for public and private construction projects in South Texas. He was named Chairman of the Board of Heldenfels Brothers, Inc. in 1978 and remained so until his death in 1992.
Active and influential within the construction industry, he served as president of both the Associated General Contractors of Texas and the Associated General Contractors of America. He served as a board member for the Del Mar College Board of Regents for 24 years and as its president for 10 years. In recognition of his service to the school, the administration building was named for him in 1982.
Heldenfels served on the Board of Directors of the Texas A&M Research Foundation and was an active supporter of The Association of Former Students and the 12th Man Foundation.
A native of Beeville, TX, Heldenfels spent most of his professional life in Corpus Christi. He was married to Rae Heldenfels, and after her death to Paula Heldenfels. He was father to two sons; Frederick III ’56 and John ’60; grandfather to Frederick IV ’79, Kenneth ’82, Gilbreath ’85, John ’85; and Steven ’88; and had seven great-grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
"My father was drawn to Texas A&M because of the spirit exhibited by both his father and uncle who preceded him at Texas A&M. To him, being an Aggie was not just an education but also a lifelong experience, and he was guided throughout his career by the principles of leadership and contribution that he learned at Texas A&M."
- Fred W. Heldenfels III '56, son of Fred W. Heldenfels, Jr. '33
Mike A.
Hernandez III ’83
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Year Awarded: 2020
Ft. Worth, TX
His native Rio Grande Valley has always been important to Mike Hernandez III ’83, who founded the Brownsville Scholars Program at Texas A&M specifically to send low-income students from his hometown to become Aggies.
Hernandez is the owner and CEO of D&M Leasing, one of 2019’s Top 100 Places to Work rated by the Dallas Morning News, among the Fort Worth Business Press’s Top 5 privately-held companies and Dealer Rater’s Top Leasing Company in America. He is the president and founder of the Hernandez Foundation, which has provided significant support to area schools and scholarships, and has supported nonprofit ventures that boost opportunities in Cameron County.
In 2019, Gov. Greg Abbott appointed him as a member of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.
He was recognized as one of Fort Worth’s top CEOs in 2014 and one of FTWInc’s “400 Most Influential and Powerful Leaders in Greater Fort Worth” in 2018.
In 2016, he was named Brownsville’s “Person of the Year,” and in 2017, he was Rio Grande Valley’s Citizen of the Year, Honorable Mention.
He is a member of the advisory committee for Texas A&M’s McAllen campus and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s advisory committee on workforce training. He is also a member of the National Automobile Dealers Association and Texas Automobile Dealers Association.
Hernandez is a Diamond-level member of The Association’s Century Club, with 12 years of giving, and has supported the ACREW Living Learning Community at A&M.
His Aggie family includes his father, Mike Hernandez Jr. ’54, sisters Ana Hernandez Franklin ’80 and Sandra Hernandez, ’84, brother Albert Hernandez ’87 and great-great-uncle Praxedis Orive, Class of 1897.
He and wife Kelly have four children, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren.
Robert R.
Herring ’41
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Year Awarded: 1974
Childress, TX
Herring received a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1941. After service in WWII, he began a more than 30-year career in the natural gas industry, ultimately serving as President and Chairman of the Board for Houston Natural Gas Corp. He was a Director for the Independent Petroleum Association of America, Texas Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, and the American Gas Association.
Herring also served as President of the Texas Heart Institute, Board of Governors at Rice University, Trustee of the University of Houston Foundation, and Past President and Director of the Houston Chamber of Commerce.
"I consider Bob Herring a most outstanding person. His character and integrity are of the highest order. He represents the epitome of the word ‘distinguished’."
- Michel T. Halbouty '30, Distinguished Alumnus, 1968
James B.
Hervey ’42
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Year Awarded: 1988
Greenville, TX
Hervey received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics in 1942. In 1947, he became the third Executive Secretary of The Association of Former Students, a position he held until 1964. Under his leadership, he implemented a computerized database, and established the Distinguished Alumnus Award and the Texas A&M Archives.
"I’ve had a great love for the university that gave me the education I got. And for this reason, I hope that my civic service in this community has in some way made our community a better place to live."
William B.
Heye, Jr. ’60
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Year Awarded: 1991
San Antonio, TX
Heye received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1960 and later, a Master of Business Administration degree from the Harvard Business School. After a 20+ year career with Texas Instruments, Heye served as Vice President and General Manager of the Ampex Corp., which markets products used in graphics, editing and special effects.
Mr. Heye has been a Campus Muster Speaker and a Distinguished Visiting Executive Series speaker in the College of Business. Heye and his wife, Joan, were awarded Aggie Parents of the Year 1986-87.
John R.
Hill, Jr. ’44
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Year Awarded: 1994
Dallas, TX
Hill received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1947. After serving in WWII, he joined Gifford-Hill and Co., rising to President, CEO and Chairman of the Board. He is acknowledged as an innovative leader in the development and marketing of construction materials and fellow professionals cite him for unique advancements in construction materials and methods, laud his managerial skills and praise his leadership in the civil engineering profession.
Hill served on the Board of The Association of Former Students and a Trustee of the Texas A&M Development Foundation. He also was a charter donor of a 12th Man Athletic Scholarship and received the Dallas A&M Club’s Jimmy Williams Award for service to the community and the club.
"John is truly a quality individual who cares about Aggies and cares about Texas A&M University. He is a friend to many, many Aggies and Texans."
- Dr. William H. Mobley, Texas A&M University System Chancellor Emeritus
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
C. Ray
Holbrook, Jr. ’48
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Year Awarded: 2014
Santa Fe, TX
C. Ray Holbrook, Jr. '48 received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from A&M. While at A&M, he was in the Corps of Cadets, the Aggie Band and student government. He was named to Who’s Who Among American Universities and received the Engineering Achievement Award. He also won four varsity track letters, won several conference championships and was a member of the 1948 national-champion mile relay team. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he began his career as an engineer with Monsanto Chemical Co. in 1952, and after earning a law degree, transferred to Monsanto’s patent department. He served as Galveston County judge from 1967 to 1995. He also served on the Texas State Board of Education and the Gulf Coast Water Authority. He is a former president of the Houston Galveston Area Council and a former chairman of the Texas Conference of Urban Counties. Holbrook was a founding member of the Texas A&M Lettermen’s Association and served on the Board of Visitors for Texas A&M University at Galveston. He is an Endowed Century Club donor to The Association of Former Students, has been active with the Galveston County A&M Club for more than 50 years and is a member of the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame. He is also an Eagle Scout and serves on the executive board of the Bay Area Boy Scouts. He has been a member of the Episcopal Church for over 70 years and serves on the vestry of St. Michael’s Church in La Marque. He has won multiple gold medals in bicycling, walking and swimming in the Texas Senior Games and Texas Senior Olympics. Holbrook’s wife of nearly 60 years is Mary Ann, a graduate of Texas A&M-Commerce. They have three children, C. Ray III ’78, Lauren Spalding, and Lee Ann Postma ’82; and 10 grandchildren.
"Everyone knows that being an Aggie gives you access to the largest and greatest fraternity in the world. Everybody admires Aggies whether they are one or not. And I hear every day from people they are so thankful they had a chance to be an Aggie, or they did not go to college but if they had they would have gone to A&M."