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.

Robert E. Bolen ’47
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Year Awarded: 1998

Fort Worth, TX

Bob Bolen received a bachelor’s degree in General Business in 1948. Bolen is a partner in Cornerstone Investment Group in Fort Worth. His undergraduate years at Texas A&M were interrupted by two and a half years as a U.S. Navy Gunnery Officer abroad the USS Iowa during World War II. After returning and completing his business degree, he worked at McCrory’s Five and Dime stores for several years at various locations across the country. In 1951, he founded Bolen Enterprises, opening a Fort Worth toy store and then a bicycle shop. The firm now operates 20 Hallmark Card shops around the city.



His interest in civic affairs led to his election to the Fort Worth City Council in 1979. He served as Mayor of Fort Worth from 1982 to 1991 and has been President of the National League of Cities and the Texas Municipal League. He was instrumental in establishing Forth Worth’s international sister cities program, bringing a U.S. Treasury Currency Plant, the Texas Robotics Center and the American Airlines Maintenance Facility to the Fort Worth-Arlington area, and acquiring the Rock Island Railroad right-of-way between Fort Worth and Dallas.



His work to create a spirit of cooperation between Dallas and Fort Worth resulted in the establishment of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board, the Metroplex High Technology Education Task Force, and the Dallas/Fort Worth International Trade Resource Center. Mr. Bolen served on Texas A&M’s College of Business Administration Development Council.



He has been recognized by the B’nai B’rith Jewish Anti-Defamation League, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and the International Good Neighbor Council.

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

Ronald L. Skaggs ’65
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Year Awarded: 1998

Dallas, TX

Skaggs received a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Design in 1966 and later earned a master’s degree. He serves as Chairman and CEO of HKS Architects where he has assisted in creating buildings and sports venues in the Dallas area The Ballpark in Arlington and Dallas’ Reunion Area.



His firm designed Texas A&M’s Architecture Building, Richardson Petroleum Engineering Building, Large Animal Hospital and Research Facility, and the Texas A&M Foundation Building. He serves on The Association of Former Students Board of Directors. Skaggs and his wife have established the Skaggs Professorship in Health Facilities Design and have endowed five scholarships at Texas A&M.

"Ron Skaggs is a humble man, fun and non-pretentious, a nice fellow; as we would hope all of our former students would be. He represents the very best of us, in a league of his own, an example and an inspiration."

  - John Only Greer ’55

Joe B. Foster ’56
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Year Awarded: 1997

Arp, TX

Foster received bachelor degrees in General Business and Petroleum Engineering. Foster joined Tenneco Oil Co. and served as Executive Vice President. In 1989, he established Newfield Exploration Co. which he served as Chairman and President. He served as Trustee of the Texas A&M Foundation and on the Board of Directors of The Association of Former Students.

"Joe is a superb role model for future generations of Aggies, and represents the finest example of what Texas A&M has to offer."

  - Eddie J. Davis ’67, President, Texas A&M Development Foundation

L. Lowry Mays ’57
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Year Awarded: 1997

Houston, TX

Mays received a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1957 and later a master’s of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School. In 1970 he established Mays and Company, an investment banking firm which he continues to serve as president. He has served a President, Chairman, and CEO of Clear Channel Communications, Inc. since 1974 as well as President of San Antonio Broadcasting, Inc. and Prime Time, Inc.



He served a term on the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, was on the Nucleus Fund Committee of Texas A&M’s Capturing the Spirit campaign and the Bush Presidential Library Major Gifts Committee. He also served on A&M’s Visual Arts Development Council, the Dwight Look College of Engineering Council and the Memorial Student Center Council. Texas A&M’s College of Business was named in his honor.

"Lowry is a superb model for future generations of Aggies, and represents the finest example of what Texas A&M has to offer."

  - Dr. Eddie J. Davis '67, President, Texas A&M Foundation

James S. Moore ’52
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Year Awarded: 1997

Omaha, NE

Moore received a bachelor’s degree in Business in 1952. In 1954 he became the youngest State Representative ever to serve in the Texas Legislature. He was President of The Association of Former Students in 1981 and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Texas A&M Foundation.

"Jim is a wonderful person who has always contributed to his community and alma mater. I believe that one quality that sets Jim apart is his nurturing influence on young people. He has mentored many of them through the years, myself included."

  - Dr. H. Andrew Hansen II '71, Cardiovascular Surgeon

Henry Bartell Zachry, Jr. ’54
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Year Awarded: 1997

Laredo, TX

Zachry received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1954 and completed the Management Development Program at Harvard Business School. He serves as President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Zachry, Inc. Mr. Zachry’s interest and involvement in Associated General Contractors of America have extended over a number of years. He is a national life director, having served in a number of positions and on the board of directors since 1974.



At Texas A&M University, Mr. Zachry has been a member of the President’s Advisory Council, the Civil Engineering Department’s Advisory Committee, the Board of Advisors for the Texas Engineering Extension Service and has actively supported a variety of TAMU activities through the A&M Development Foundation. He and his father H.B. Zachry ’22 are the only father-son recipients of the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

BG Mike P. Cokinos ’43
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Year Awarded: 1996

Beaumont, TX

Cokinos received a bachelor’s degree in Science in 1943. He served in the U.S. Army, retiring with the rank of Brigadier General in 1980. In 1951 he established the Cokinos Insurance Agency in Beaumont and served as an insurance consultant. He was President of the Texas A&M Lettermen’s Association, was a Vice President of The Association of Former Students, and is the 2004 Sul Ross Group President.

"As a former student, I believe that General Cokinos exemplifies the traits and characteristics that have made Texas A&M University the respected institution that it is today. His integrity and stature in the community is a benchmark for any American. His loyalty to Texas A&M is demonstrated by his uninterrupted active involvement with the school since he entered in 1939. As his son, I can personally attest to the same characteristics inasmuch as he has tirelessly made attempts to instill them in all his children."

  - Gregory Cokinos ’79

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.