Dr. Dionel E.
Avilés ’53
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Year Awarded: 2004
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Dr. Dionel E. Avilés '53 received Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Civil Engineering in 1954, 1961 and 1966, respectively. As a student, Avilés was a member of the 1st Battalion, A Company and Platoon Leader, B Company of the Corps of Cadets, and was active in various student organizations. Avilés served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and later furthered his education at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserve with the rank of Major General in 1993.
In 1981, he founded Avilés Engineering Corp., specializing in geotechnical engineering and exploration. Over the years, AEC has been instrumental in projects such as Houston’s Minute Maid Park, Reliant Stadium, Bush Intercontinental Airport, and the METRO Transit Authority. Avilés has served in many positions of leadership within engineering professional societies, such as the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, the American Society of Professional Engineers and the Society of American Military Engineers.
Avilés has volunteered his time to Texas A&M, serving on the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, Corps of Cadets Development Council, the Texas A&M Hispanic Network and the President’s Board of Visitors. Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Avilés and wife Barbara Ann, have four children, Dionél, Marta, D’Ann ’87, and Rochelle, as well as five grandchildren.
"Dr. Avilés is a great example of someone who has made the most of the opportunities in front of him."
- John Small '92, Director of Development for Engineering with the Texas A&M Foundation
M.L. “Red”
Cashion ’53
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Year Awarded: 2003
College Station, TX
Cashion received a bachelor’s degree in Personnel Administration in 1953. He officiated for junior high, high school, and college football for 20 years and went on to become one of the great NFL referees of all time. Between 1972 and 1997, he became one of the most colorful referees in NFL history for his trademark “FIRST DOWNNNN!” call. In 1999, Cashion was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
He is Chairman Emeritus of ANCO Insurance Managers and is a trainer for National Football League referees. He serves as Chair of the Student Loan Fund Trustees for The Association of Former Students.
Dr. C. M.
Cocanougher ’53
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Year Awarded: 2020
Decatur, TX
When Dr. C. M. Cocanougher ’53 came to A&M in 1949, he was the first in his family to go to college.
“Upon arriving on an overcrowded campus shortly after World War II that fall, he lived with 20 freshmen in barracks located around Easterwood Airport,” Charles Gary Cocanougher ’77 said of his late father.
“The comradeship, rapport and friendships that were established that fall among those young fish was never forgotten by Charles, nor was his love for Texas A&M.”
Cocanougher built a veterinary practice in Wise County with three clinics, and was a longtime civic leader and businessman in Decatur, including serving as a Decatur City Council member.
As a student, he played trumpet in the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and served in the Student Senate, and earned his doctorate of veterinary medicine in ’55.
He was named an Outstanding Alumnus of A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and 1985’s Citizen of the Year in Decatur. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a captain and base veterinarian. He was a president and rodeo secretary of the Wise County Sheriff’s Posse, president of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, officer of the Decatur Rotary Club and charter member and chairman of the Wise County American Heart Association chapter. He also served on the Texas Veterinary Medical Association board of directors.
He and wife Jo Ann endowed A&M scholarships, including 10 veterinary school scholarships, and two annuities; he was a Gold-level member of The Association’s Century Club, with 37 years of giving.
The Cocanoughers have five children, Gary ’77, D’Ann, Beth ’80, Scott ’82 and Mary Kay ’86, and 11 grandchildren, including Chris Anne ’01, Austin ’16 and Gary ’20.
Jack G.
Fritts ’53
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Year Awarded: 1987
Austin, TX
Fritts received a bachelor’s degree in Animal Husbandry in 1953. His 25+ year career included executive positions in insurance and real estate development. He served as Owner and President of Casita Investment Corporation.
Fritts served as the 1982 President of The Association of Former Students and created the Texas Aggie Credit Union in which earnings from benefited Texas A&M through the Association of Former Students and the Development Foundation. Mr. Fritts also has been instrumental in originating many programs to benefit Aggies past and present, including the candlelit service that has become a featured part of Muster ceremonies, and the Weirus Spirit Awards that recognize students for their dedication to student life programs.
"Jack has shown evidence of this strong character in everything he has done all his life—a dedicated family man, devout Christian, active in civic affairs, a successful businessman, and a true Aggie. He has always had high moral values, and has passed these on to his children and to other young people. Jack’s feelings for his Alma Mater run deep. While some Aggies may have given more of their worldly goods, no one has given more of his or her time and efforts to support Texas A&M University."
- Rowland W. Persons ’40
Raymond E.
Galvin ’53
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Year Awarded: 1998
Cisco, TX
Galvin received a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1953. He was elected to the Chevron Corp. Board of Directors in 1996 where he had been employed since graduation. The oil tanker “Chevron Pacific” was renamed in his honor when he retired in 1997. He has served as Chairman of the Natural Gas Council and the Natural Gas Supply Association and has served on the Executive Committees of Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association and the National Ocean Industries Association.
His contributions to Texas A&M include service on the External Advisory Committee of the University’s Dwight Look College of Engineering and as a liaison between Chevron and the Texas A&M Foundation.
"He is a dedicated and civic minded Aggie who brings full credit to Texas A&M."
- Joe B. Mattei ’53
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.
William M. "Bill"
Huffman ’53
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Year Awarded: 2017
College Station, TX
WILLIAM M. “BILL” HUFFMAN ’53 received a bachelor’s degree in poultry science. As a student, he was a battalion staff captain in the Corps, received the College of Agriculture’s Distinguished Service Award and Faculty Achievement Award and graduated with the highest grade point average in the College of Agriculture.
He was on active duty in the U.S. Army 1954-56. After making the highest grade on the March 1959 Texas bar exam, he was in full-time private legal practice in Marshall from 1959 to 1998. He was president of the Harrison County Bar Association.
He is a 2016 inductee into the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor, and since 2013 has served as a Class Agent for the Class of ’53; in 2014, he compiled a directory of his classmates. Since 1986, he and his wife, Barbara, have been members of the A&M Legacy Society and A&M Heritage Society and have made gifts including support for the College of Medicine, Corps of Cadets, MSC, Kyle Field, Fish Camp, the new band hall/music activities center, and numerous scholarships, including a President’s Endowed Scholarship and and two Corps 21 Scholarships. They have also given more than 600 individual students their first-year active memberships in The Association of Former Students. He is a Diamond level member of The Association’s Century Club, with 52 years of giving.
He served on the board of Good Shepherd Health System from January 2009 to February 2017 and has chaired the board since October 2015. He was chair of the city commission of Marshall 1971-78. He has also served in the Marshall Lions Club and on boards for the Harrison County Hospital Association and Harrison County Airport.
His family includes wife Barbara, son William Marion Huffman, Jr. ’88, daughter Gay Lynn Huffman ’92, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
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.
Joe B.
Mattei ’53
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Year Awarded: 2004
San Antonio, TX
Joe B. Mattei '53 received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1953. As a student, he was a Ross Volunteer, served as Deputy Corps Commander of the Corps of Cadets, was a member of the Student Senate, and was Senior Class President. Upon graduation, he served as First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956.
Mattei worked 39 years with Exxon Corp. in key engineering, advisory and management positions. Currently President of EEM Enterprises, Inc. and Vice President of Carter Financial Management, he is a Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor, and Registered Investment Advisor.
Mattei is a member of numerous financial planning societies, including the Financial Planning Association, the International Association of Financial Planners, the American Association of Individual Investors and the Houston Estate and Financial Forum.
Since graduation from Texas A&M, he has volunteered his time serving the Class of 1953 as a Class Agent, the Board of Directors of The Association of Former Students and the 12th Man Foundation, the Corps of Cadets Development Council, the President’s Board of Visitors, and the International Programs Advisory Committee. He is also a past president of the Houston A&M Club, the world’s largest A&M club.
Raised in San Antonio, Mattei and wife Eddie have two children, Braden and Karyn, as well as three grandchildren.
Wayne A.
Showers ’53
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Year Awarded: 1994
Vernon, TX
Showers received a bachelor’s degree in Horticulture and bachelor and master’s degrees in Entomology. His expertise in the fruit and vegetable industry were critical to the development and marketing of these commodities. He joined Griffin & Brand, Inc. as an entomologist and production supervisor in 1963 and quickly moved up to general manager and executive vice president. Showers served as president from 1977 to 1993 when he became a consultant/investor with Elmore & Stahl Produce.
Showers served on the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents and was a Vice President for The Association of Former Students.
"He was a man of principle and conviction. He was always someone people young and old and of all social status could come and talk to for advice and guidance. When you go through life, there’s always at least one or two people that stick out in your memory, Wayne Showers was one of those."
- Hollis Rutledge