Edward C. "Pete"
Aldridge, Jr. ’60
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Year Awarded: 2009
Arlington, VA
Aldridge earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from Texas A&M and a master’s degree in the same field from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1962. As a student, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Institute of Aerospace Sciences, Sigma Gamma Tau Aerospace Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and the Shreveport Hometown Club.
Aldridge’s distinguished 42-year career in the aeronautics field included 18 years of service in the Pentagon under three separate presidential administrations. He served as the director of Planning and Evaluation, as Under Secretary and then Secretary of the Air Force, and finally as the under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. He also served as president of McDonnell Douglas Electronic Systems Company from 1988-1992 and as president and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation from 1992-2001.
Aldridge was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, presented the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy by the National Aeronautic Association and has been a volunteer and contributor to dozens of educational and non-profit organizations. He is an Honorary Fellow and Past President of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Active in his support to Texas A&M, Aldridge has donated generously to the Department of Aerospace Engineering and is an Endowed Century Club member with The Association of Former Students.
He is a native of Shreveport, La., and currently lives in Arlington, VA with his wife, Jody. They have three sons; Michael, David, and Mark; a daughter, Lori Aldridge-Boyd; and six grandchildren.
"The academic education I received at Texas A&M is clearly at the top, since it gave me the background and skills to continue my education and to prepare me to enter my professional career. But almost as important, are the leadership skills I obtained from my years at Texas A&M in the Corps of Cadets. The Corps not only taught me how to follow, but also how to lead. These academic and leadership skills have benefited my career and my life."
Robert H.
Allen ’50
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Year Awarded: 1979
Houston, TX
Allen received a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting in 1951 and did postgraduate studies at the University of Houston and studied law at the South Texas School of Law. As a student, he was a member of the 1950 Southwest Conference championship basketball team. Allen was named President of Gulf Resources and Chemical Corp. in 1960.
After his position as Senior Accountant at J.L. Block & Company in Houston, he joined Gulf Sulfur Corporation and served as Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer before being elected President in 1959. He served on governing boards of the American Mining Congress, First City National Bank of Houston, St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, Colorado Outward Bound School, and SMC Industries, Inc. of Dallas.
"As a young man, I was impressed with the unanimity of spirit which was the hallmark of A&M. Having long since joined the ranks of the alumni, I am pleased that this spirit still prevails."
Gabe D.
Anderson, Jr. ’41
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Year Awarded: 1995
Bovina, TX
Anderson received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Administration in 1941. He established the Sherley, Anderson Pitman Grain Co. in 1947. The firm ran five Panhandle elevator operations with a total capacity of 22 million bushels.
Over the years, he became a significant agricultural producer, and in the 1960’s expanded his interests in banking and was the Director of the North American Bankshares of Denison, American Bank & Trust of Denison, American Bank of Sherman, and First Bank Southwest of Amarillo. He served as President of the 12th Man Foundation and was named to the Texas A&M Lettermen’s Hall of Honor. Anderson and his wife, Anita, have one son, Gabe, III, and four grandchildren.
"Through the years after graduation, his moral fiber has been a distinguishing mark of his character. In subsequent years, I have been repeatedly impressed with the fact that Gabe has not drifted away from his high ideals and that he still invariably takes a position on the side of honesty and fairness. As do many others, Gabe Anderson loves Texas A&M. This is evidenced by his gifts, his presence, and his personal efforts."
- Andrew W. Rodgers ’39, former First Sergeant Battery C
Leslie L.
Appelt ’41
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Year Awarded: 1977
Hallettsville, TX
Appelt received a bachelor’s degree in Engineering in 1941. He was a Major in the 371st Army Engineers Construction Battalion during World War II. He served as General Partner, with full asset management responsibility, in five real estate investment development properties and was the Consultant to Jancintoport Corporation and served as Director and Vice President of Service Tool & Supply Company.
He was President of The Association of Former Students in 1971 and Chairman of the Texas A&M Development Foundation Board of Trustees. His ideas and initial funding resulted in creation of the Appelt Aggieland Visitor Center and the Private Enterprise Research Center at Texas A&M.
General Joe
Ashy ’62
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Year Awarded: 2022
College Station, TX
ccording to General Joe Ashy ’62, the saying, “We are the Aggies, The Aggies are we,” “highlights the imperative that Aggie excellence demands ‘us’ (rather than ‘me’) to selflessly serve for the greater good. Our unity and collective spirit are what make us transcendent and distinctive!”
Ashy is one of only 10 Aggies to rise to the rank of four-star general in the U.S. military. He began his 35-year military career as a fighter pilot in the Air Force after four years of ROTC with the Corps of Cadets. By the end of his service, Ashy was concurrently serving as the commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Space Command and Air Force Space Command. Included in his many military decorations are the Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and the U.S. Defense Distinguished Service Medal with cluster. General Ashy’s command touched the lives of countless U.S. and global coalition partner members.
After retirement from the military, Ashy founded aerospace consulting company Ashy and Associates LLC, where he served as president and CEO. He was appointed to the Independent Strategic Assessment Group, which advises the Air Force in the areas of air, space, cyber, and command and control. Appointed as a senior fellow by the Department of Defense, Ashy mentored up-and-coming U.S. flag officers through the Capstone and Pinnacle programs. During his 18 years of involvement with these programs, Ashy also led U.S. delegations to over 120 countries.
Ashy has been closely involved in Texas A&M’s Sul Ross Group, which includes Aggie former students of 55 or more years from graduation. Ashy served as the group’s president during the 2021-22 term. Ashy has been married to his wife, Sue, for 61 years. They have a daughter, Karen, and a granddaughter, Lt. Col. Kristin Clinger ’09.
Ashy’s Aggie family includes his late father, Joe Ashy ’29, his brother, Dr. Thomas Ashy ’64.
“General Ashy’s reputation for integrity and selfless dedication to supporting America’s warfighters combined to set the highest possible standards for military and industry interactions.”
- Lt. Gen. Bruce "Orville" Wright
James W.
Aston ’33
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Year Awarded: 1967
Dallas, TX
Aston received his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering in 1933. He served in World War II, rising to the rank of colonel and received the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Service Medal. He joined the Republic National Bank where he served as Executive Vice President, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Aston also served as the Director of the National Boy Scouts of America, the Cotton Bowl Council and its Athletic Association, and the Dallas Citizen’s Council. In 1957, Sports Illustrated named the former A&M fullback to its Silver Anniversary All-American Football Team. Aston served as President of The Association of Former Students in 1961. Aston and his wife, Sarah, have a son, James.
"A man of selfless generosity, Jimmie Aston’s involvement in the well being and betterment of his fellow man is active and real."
- Excerpt from the Humanitarian Award Dinner invitation honoring James W. Aston '33
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
W. Mike
Baggett ’68
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Year Awarded: 1998
Waco, TX
Baggett received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting in 1968 from Texas A&M. Following graduation, Baggett spent two years as a U.S. Army First Lieutenant, earning a Bronze Star in Vietnam. After his service, he earned a degree at Baylor University School of Law and was a briefing attorney for Texas Supreme Court Justice Price Daniel, Sr. In 1974, he joined Winstead, Sechrest & Minick. Named to his current position of Chairman and CEO with the firm in 1992, he directs more than 200 attorneys with offices in Dallas, Houston, Austin, and Mexico City.
Mr. Baggett has served his profession in a number of ways, including terms on the Dallas Bar Association and on various committees of the State Bar of Texas. His legal publications have been cited as authority by 10 appellate courts and he has tried more than 50 commercial trial court cases, recovering almost $600 million for his clients. He has been on the boards of the Dallas Citizen’s Council, The Central Dallas Association and the North Texas Commission. He was Chairman and CEO of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association and is a former member of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
His contributions to Texas A&M include service as a Texas A&M yell leader, class agent, President of both the Dallas A&M Club and The Association of Former Students, Chairman of the Texas A&M Foundation, and President of the Texas Aggie Bar Association. He serves on the Lowry Mays College and Graduate School of Business Development Council and is on the board of the 12th Man Foundation.
Dr. Sue Rudd
Bailey ’78
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Year Awarded: 2016
Fort Worth, TX
DR. SUSAN RUDD BAILEY ’78 received a bachelor’s degree in medicine and was one of seven women in the A&M College of Medicine’s charter class. As a student, she was the Student Government Association’s vice president for rules and regulations, participated in SCONA (Student Conference on National Affairs) and was a piano accompanist for the Century Singers and Aggie Players.
She is speaker of the American Medical Association’s House of Delegates and served as 2010-11 president of the Texas Medical Association, the largest state medical society in the U.S. She has been in private practice of allergy and clinical immunology at Fort Worth Allergy and Asthma Associates since 1988.
The first female former student to become a regent for The Texas A&M University System, she served on the Board of Regents from 1999 to 2005. She has served on the Board of Directors of The Association of Former Students, supported the enhancement of the Clayton W. Williams Jr., Alumni Center and has been a Muster speaker on numerous occasions, including for the Kentuckiana A&M Club, Central
Arkansas A&M Club, Bell County A&M Club, Rockwall County A&M Club, Parker County A&M Club and Ellis A&M Club. She is a Diamond level member of The Association’s Century Club, with 30 years of giving.
She is an elder and a member of the Chancel Choir at University Christian Church Fort Worth, served on the Board of Directors of Casa Manana Theatre and is involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Her husband is Doug Bailey ’67; their children are Deborah Bailey Michell ’88, Gregory Allen Bailey ’90,
Michael O’Hagan Wynn ’06 and Stephen Rudd Wynn ’10.
Her grandchildren include Bailey Nicole Michell ’15 and Mason Michell ’19.
Robert W.
Baker ’44
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Year Awarded: 1975
Millican, TX
Robert Wayne Baker has distinguished himself as an attorney, banker, member of the Coordinating Board, Texas College and University System, and former member of both houses of the Texas Legislature.
Baker’s business interests include partnerships in insurance, investment and development companies. He was chairman of the boards of Guaranty National Bank and Mercantile Bank of Houston and served on the boards of four companies. His professional affiliations include the American, Texas and Houston Bar Associations.
After practicing law in Houston for three years following completion of his formal education, he served in the Legislature for a decade. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1952, was twice reelected and then won election for a four-year term in the State Senate. He authored bills which allowed the University of Houston to become a state supported institution, created the Psychiatry Research institution of Houston, authorized the medical examiner system for the State of Texas and created a Savings and Loan section for the State Finance Commission.
His service to the people of the State of Texas includes leadership and guidance which he has provided as a member of the Coordinating Board, Texas College and University System, since 1971.
Baker initially enrolled at Texas A&M in 1940, but he interrupted his studies to enter the Air Force in 1943. He returned in 1945 and was awarded the Bachelor of Science degree in economics one year later. He earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from The University of Texas School of Law in 1949.
Baker has been an avid supporter of higher education. He and his wife have provided two President’s Endowed Scholarships at his alma mater.