Hon. Bill W.
Clayton ’50
direct link to this listing
Year Awarded: 1979
Olney, TX
Clayton received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics in 1950. His leadership as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives was instrumental in the development and passage of school finance legislation, a highway funding bill, sunset legislation, reorganization of state water agencies, and the Briscoe-Clayton anti-crime package. In 1979, he became the first person to be elected to a third consecutive term as Speaker of the House.
"Words and songs have been written about the Aggie spirit but only an Aggie truly understands and comprehends it's meaning. It's more than an outward saying, its an inward feeling that many times sends cold chills up and down our spine. It stands for courage, togetherness, sincerity, camaraderie, caring and action."
Dr. James H. “Red”
Duke, Jr. ’50
direct link to this listing
Year Awarded: 1988
Ennis, TX
Duke received a bachelor’s degree in Economics at Texas A&M University in 1950, a Bachelor in Divinity from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He received his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Houston where he later was a Professor of Surgery and a Special Assistant to the President.
Duke served in many professorial positions throughout his medical career. He was Founder and Medical Director of Life Flight Operations and Medical Director or Affiliated Hospital Systems and Hermann Hospital in Houston where he developed the Intensive Care Unit into the largest blunt trauma center in the world. He has been featured on several national news reports, health specials and a television series, one of his most noteworthy being the nationally syndicated “Health Reports” where he was a Television Medical Reporter and Host of the “BodyWatch” TV series.
"When asked how an Aggie ended up working for UT in Houston, Duke doesn’t skip a beat: ‘I’m a missionary.’"
- Excerpt from article in the Houston Post
LTG Eivind H.
Johansen ’50
direct link to this listing
Year Awarded: 1985
Charleston, SC
Johansen received a bachelor’s degree in General Business in 1950 and a master’s degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. Upon graduation, Johansen served in the U.S. Army and rose to the position of U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics.
He served as Chairman of the Army Logistics Policy Council, Logistics Center Advisory Board and Military Logistics Council and member of the Board of Directors of the Goodwill Industries and the Army’s Logistic Management Center and School in Virginia.
Herschel G.
Maltz ’50
direct link to this listing
Year Awarded: 1987
Houston, TX
Maltz received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1950. In 1968, he was elected President and Chief Executive Officer of Century Papers, a firm which distributes paper products. Widely recognized as a leader in his field, Mr. Maltz is a past president of the Southwest Paper Merchants Association and a director of the National Paper Trade Association.
A member of various civic and charitable organizations, he received the 1978 Humanitarian Award for Outstanding Philanthropic Service from the National Jewish Hospital, for which he also served as a trustee. Maltz served as a Class Agent for the Class of 1950 and was President of the Houston A&M Club.
Dr. Jarvis E.
Miller ’50
direct link to this listing
Year Awarded: 2016
Bryan, Texas
DR. JARVIS E. MILLER ’50 received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural administration. He was a cadet major on Air Force Battalion Staff and a Ross Volunteer; he and a classmate designed the RV sash. Also as a student, he was Town Hall manager, president of the YMCA, head of the YMCA Cabinet and a Hillel Award recipient.
From 1977 to 1980, he served as president of Texas A&M, the third Aggie to do so. In 1980, Gov. Bill Clements asked him to serve in the Office of Budget and Planning to head up his “Texas 2000” planning effort for the state. In 1982, he was made the office’s director.
In 25 years with A&M, Miller’s significant leadership roles included serving as director of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and leading A&M’s contracts with the U.S. Agency for International Development in both Argentina and the Dominican Republic.
He is an Outstanding Alumnus of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and an inductee into the
Department of Agricultural Economics’ Tyrus R. Timm Honor Registry; he has served as vice president of the Sul Ross Group and was a longtime Class Agent for the Class of ’50. He is a member of The Association’s Endowed Century Club.
He has been a teacher, board chair and building committee chair at the A&M United Methodist Church;
a charter member and president of the Aggieland Rotary Club; and member of the Downtown Austin and Bryan Rotary clubs.
His family includes wife Alma; daughters Susan Miller Hult, Kathleen Miller Gibson ’81, Margaret Miller
Moten ’83 and Carolyn Miller McCully; and grandchildren including Sarah Gibson ’15. His father was Richard Cook Miller ’26, his brother was Richard Wade Miller ’53 and his great-uncle was Demrie B. Miller, Class of 1900.
Joe R.
Straus, Jr. ’50
direct link to this listing
Year Awarded: 2023
Selma, TX
Straus’ love of horses and agribusiness stemmed from his childhood in San Antonio. His family owned L. Frank Saddlery, a manufacturer of saddles and other horse equipment. The company later became Straus-Frank Co. and sold wholesale auto parts, but horses remained an important part of the family’s story. He headed to A&M to study animal husbandry, also serving in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
Returning to San Antonio after graduation, Straus worked at Straus-Frank Co. for 55 years, eventually retiring as president.
He is also a partner in the family-owned Straus Medina Ranch, where he successfully imported the first full-blood Simmental cattle into the United States. The European breed had been notoriously difficult to bring in, due to U.S. regulations meant to prevent disease in livestock. He and his partners were able to quarantine a small herd in Germany and move them through Norway before finally establishing the breed in Texas.
Straus remains best known for the role he played in Texas horse racing. In 1973, he founded the Texas Horse Racing Association, which advocated legalizing pari-mutuel wagering in Texas. After this new legislation passed, he established the Retama Park Association in 1989, eventually co-founding and constructing Retama Park Racetrack.
Straus is a longtime member of the Texas A&M College of Agriculture Development Council. He and his late wife, Jocelyn, gave generously to A&M through The Association of Former Students, the Texas A&M Foundation and the 12th Man Foundation.
The Strauses have three children, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
“Joe R. Straus, Jr. ’50 has a knack for turning dreams into reality.”
- Phil Adams '70
Dr. Charley V.
Wootan ’50
direct link to this listing
Year Awarded: 2016
College Station, TX
DR. CHARLEY V. WOOTAN ’50 received bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in agricultural economics; he was a member of the Corps of Cadets’ Company E, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, Alpha Zeta Agricultural Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi Collegiate Honor Society.
He was director of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute from 1976 to 1993 and director emeritus from 1993 to 2001, the year he passed away. In 2003, he was inducted into the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor. He received the Luther DeBerry Award from the Texas Department of Transportation, the S.S. Steinberg Award from the American Road and Transportation Builders Association and honors from the Transportation Research Board.
He was the founder and first president of the Council of University Transportation Centers in 1979. He was a Silver level member of The Association’s Century Club, with 32 years of giving.
He served in the Pacific theater 1944-46 in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve 1950-56.
He was the head timer at A&M men’s and women’s track and field meets 1974-1994, a frequent Muster speaker and an A&M economics professor.
He chaired the board of the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation, which in 2001 named the Charley V. Wootan Grant Program for him. In 2012-13, the program awarded $5 million to 1,500 students.
His family includes wife Doxie Wootan; children Richard Charles Wootan ’74 and Debra Alice Wootan Roberson ’75; and Aggie grandchildren are Clint Charles Roberson ’00, Thomas Ross Roberson ’03 and Steven Paul Roberson ’06. His brother was the late A.B. “Pat” Wooten ’42.
Clifton J.
Bolner ’49
direct link to this listing
Year Awarded: 2011
San Antonio, TX
Bolner graduated from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in business. He was a distinguished student for four years, a member of the Corps of Cadets, executive officer of the Texas Aggie Band and a distinguished military graduate.
After graduation, Bolner was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and served during the Korean War. After six years as a partner in the family grocery store, he founded and became president and CEO of Bolner’s Fiesta Products, Inc., a San Antonio company manufacturing and distributing food seasoning products worldwide. In 1979, he was named U.S. Grocery Supplier of the Year.
Bolner was awarded the Archbishop Francis J. Furey Outstanding Award Medal in 1969, and in 1979, was the first recipient of the Central Catholic High School Distinguished Alumni Award. In 1982, he was the recipient of the National Conference of Christians and Jews Award. In 2004, he was named an Outstanding Alumnus of A&M’s Mays Business School. He has endowed four scholarships at A&M and is a life member of Sterling Evans Library and a charter member of Texas A&M’s Chancellor’s Circle and of The Association of Former Students Century Club. He is also a member of the 12th Man Foundation, the Texas A&M Foundation Legacy Society, the San Antonio A&M Club and has served as class agent for the Class of 1949 for several years.
Bolner has served many charitable organizations in the San Antonio area. He served as president of the Witte Museum Board, the San Antonio Museum Association and the San Antonio Symphony Society, and served on the boards of the San Antonio Area Foundation, the Cancer Therapy Research Center, the San Antonio Fiesta Commission and many others. He is active in his church, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, and is a past president of the Parish Council. The 2011 Humanitarian Award given by Catholic Charities was awarded to Mr. Bolner this year.
Four of his seven children and three grandchildren have graduated from Texas A&M and another granddaughter is a current student.
"Texas A&M has a great networking system. When you see another Aggie ring, you know you have another friend you are just waiting to meet."
Edward F.
Kruse ’49
direct link to this listing
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."
Charles A.
Mattei, Jr. ’49
direct link to this listing
Year Awarded: 2014
The Woodlands, TX
Charles A. Mattei, Jr. '49 received a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Texas A&M. A veteran of the U.S. Army and chairman emeritus of United Business Corp., he was chairman and CEO of Cit-Con Oil Co. and a vice president of both Gulf Oil/Chevron and Citgo. He served as president of the Beaumont and Tulsa A&M clubs, Class of 1949 Agent, president of the 12th Man Foundation and the Sul Ross Group, and as a member of the Vision 2020 Task Force, President’s Board of Advisors, and the Corps Development Council. He was inducted into the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor in 2011 and was the Houston A&M Club’s 2009 Outstanding Aggie of the Year. He and his wife, Bettie, are Endowed Century Club donors to The Association of Former Students, and their generous gifts to the Texas A&M Foundation and the 12th Man Foundation earned them recognition as Eppright Distinguished Donors and members of the Legacy Society. Their gifts to Texas A&M included a President’s Endowed Scholarship, a 12th Man Endowed Scholarship and a Sul Ross Scholarship. The Matteis also supported The Association’s Building Enhancement Campaign, and the Mattei Conference Room at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center is named in honor of Charlie and Bettie Mattie and Joe ’53 and Eddie Mattei (Charlie’s brother and sister-in-law). In addition to his service to Texas A&M, Mattei also filled leadership roles with his local Rotary Club, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and his local United Way. Mattei, who passed away April 18, and Bettie are parents to four children—Gail Lowell, Jim Mattei, Bob Mattei and the late Charles Mattei—and seven grandchildren.
You don’t have to know Charlie long to understand that few things were more important to him than Texas A&M. He believed Texas A&M gave him the knowledge and training that enabled him to build a successful career. Charlie is, was, and always comported himself as an Aggie. He felt the need to satisfy his obligation and love for Texas A&M by loyal and generous gifts of time, financial support and dedicated service to A&M Clubs, The Association of Former Students, and the 12th Man Foundation. His loyalty and actions always represented Texas A&M well.
- Melvin S. Maltz ’47, friend and Distinguished Alumnus