Dr. Mavis P. Kelsey ’32
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Year Awarded: 1983

Depost, TX

Kelsey received a bachelor’s degree in Biology in 1932 and a Doctorate of Medicine from University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Kelsey founded and is senior member of the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic of Houston, a large general clinic with 120 physicians serving a national and international clientele. He served as Medical Advisor for companies including Pennzoil Corp. and directed medical contracts for NASA and the U.S. Navy.



An avid collector of American art and Americana, Dr. Kelsey and his wife have donated valuable collections to several academic institutions and museums. The Kelsey’s have contributed several thousand books, prints and art works to Texas A&M’s Sterling C. Evans Library. Kelsey served on the President’s Council of Texas A&M’s College of Medicine and the Sterling C. Evans Library Development Council.

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. Edward F. Knipling ’30
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Year Awarded: 1962

Port Lavaca, TX

Knipling received bachelor and master’s degrees in Entomology and later a Doctorate degree from Iowa State University. He was instrumental in establishing the USDA Cotton Insects Basic Research Lab at A&M and developed methods of control for typhus disease, malaria, yellow fever, plague, dysentery, and other human diseases during WWII. He also developed a system for eradicating the screw worm which saved the livestock industry millions of dollars and authored 118 scientific papers in the Entomological Field.



Knipling has been awarded the President’s Medal of Merit, Distinguished Service Award, U.S.D.A., and Progressive Farmer Man of the Year in Service to Southern Agriculture.

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."

Arno W. Krebs ’64
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Year Awarded: 2017

Bryan, TX

ARNO W. KREBS, JR. ’64 received a bachelor’s degree in education. As a student, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, vice president and president of the Student Education Association and a member of the Pre-Law Society.

He joined the Houston law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski after law school graduation in 1967 and was a partner in the litigation section 1975-2007. He was head of the litigation department in the firm’s Dallas office 1997-2002.

He has served as president and an executive committee member for the 12th Man Foundation and on the board of The Association of Former Students, and is in the Lettermen’s Association Hall of Honor and Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor.

A past president of the Texas Aggie Bar Association, he was named Aggie Lawyer of the Year in 2006.

An Outstanding Alumnus of the College of Education and Human Development, he created an endowed scholarship in the college and has served on development councils for the college and the Bush School of Government and Public Service.

He is a Silver level member of The Association’s Century Club, with 54 years of giving; he and his wife helped fund the Memories exhibit in the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center. He has also supported the Sterling C. Evans Library.

He serves on the operating committee of the Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education and the board of Industry Bancshares community bank holding company. Through his pro bono activities, he helped establish hometown organizations including the Shelby Area Historical Society.

His family includes wife Barbara, daughter Kirsten Krebs Calder ’89, stepson Bret L. Dark ’89 and four grandchildren. His father was Arno W. Krebs, Sr. ’37.

Carl C. “Polly” Krueger ’12
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Year Awarded: 1968

Twin Sisters, TX

Krueger received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1912. He was President of San Antonio Machine and Supply Co. from 1923 until his retirement in 1961. The company developed from annual sales of $1 million to $18 million under his 38 years of leadership.



Krueger served on the Board of Directors of the A&M College of Texas System, was the fourth President of The Association of Former Students, and the founding President of the San Antonio A&M Club. Very active in civic affairs, he has served the Chamber of Commerce and the Manufacturers Association as officer and director.

"For many years, I have wanted to do something of lasting benefit for A&M, its students and staff. As a 1912 graduate, I am grateful for all the college did for me in preparing me for what I hope has been and will continue to be a useful life."

Weldon D. Kruger ’53
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Year Awarded: 1996

Hutto, TX

Kruger received bachelor and master’s degrees in Petroleum Engineering. After 20 years of management experience, Kruger retired from Exxon as Corporate Vice President overseeing worldwide gas operations. He served as President of The Association of Former Students in 1994 and was a Trustee of the Texas A&M Development Foundation.

Edward F. Kruse ’49
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Year Awarded: 2005

Brenham, TX

Edward F. Kruse received a bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science from Texas A&M University in 1949. While a student, he was a varsity letterman in swimming, a member of the Corps of Cadets and honored as a Distinguished Military Student.



Shortly after graduation, Kruse joined family-owned Blue Bell Creameries, Inc. Kruse’s 50 plus years of service have included positions of General Manager, President, and Chief Executive Officer, and since 1993, Chairman of the Board. His oversight and management of the sales division was instrumental in building Blue Bell into the number three ice cream brand in the country. Kruse’s professional accomplishments were recognized by his induction into the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Dairy Products Institute Hall of Fame in 1995. He served in leadership positions for the Dairy Products Institute of Texas, the Dixie Dairy Products Association, the International Dairy Foods Association, and the International Ice Cream Association. For 10 years, Kruse served on the Texas Lutheran University Board of Regents.



Texas A&M recognized Kruse with the College of Agriculture and Life Science Outstanding Alumni Award in 2002 and induction into the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor in 2003. Kruse has provided students the valuable resources of Blue Bell to enhance their educational opportunities. He is an ardent supporter of the College of Agriculture and Life Science, the Corps of Cadets, and the George Bush School of Government and Public Service.



Born in Brenham, Texas, Kruse and his wife, Evelyn, have four children, Karen ’73, Ken ’75 (deceased), Paul ’77, and Neil ’80 (deceased).

"A&M has been very special to me; the camaraderie I shared with others in school lasts even until today when I see former members. Many of the things I learned at A&M stay with me even today."

Howard W. Kruse ’52
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Year Awarded: 2002

Brenham, TX

Kruse received a bachelor’s degree in Dairy Manufacturing in 1952. In 1954, he joined Blue Bell Creameries as Assistant General Manager and later served as President until his retirement in 2004. He is the creator of the most noted flavor, Homemade Vanilla.

Edwin J. Kyle ’99
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Year Awarded: 2007

Kyle, TX

Kyle graduated from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas in 1899 with a degree in horticulture. As a senior, Kyle served as senior captain (now known as Corps commander), class president, president of the YMCA and valedictorian. Kyle brought national recognition to Texas A&M through his contributions to agriculture, education and athletics, but his most lasting impression would be the naming of Kyle Field in his honor.



Kyle began his professional career at Texas A&M in 1902 as an instructor, the head of the Department of Horticulture and Mycology and horticulturist to the Experiment Station. He became the first dean of the School of Agriculture in 1911. Kyle retired from A&M in 1944 and served as director of the Farm Credit Administration in Houston until the late 1950s. In 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him United States Ambassador to Guatemala. After his resignation in 1947, Kyle was called back to Guatemala to receive that nation’s highest decoration, The Order of the Quetzal. Kyle served as executive secretary of The Alumni Association from 1905 until 1906 and was president of the General Athletic Association, a precursor to the Texas A&M Athletic Council, and a member for 24 years. Born in Kyle, Texas, Kyle lived in Bryan until his death in 1963.