Dr. Charles H. Bowman ’59
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Year Awarded: 2015

College Station, TX

Dr. Charles H. Bowman, Class of 1959, received a Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University and received both a master’s degree and doctorate in petroleum engineering at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.



Dr. Bowman rose to the top of the international oil industry, working with Gulf Oil Corp. for 24 years in all aspects of the business, concluding in 1982 with his appointment as president of Gulf Refining and Marketing Co. He then joined BP, where he spent 12 years, initially in the U.S. and Europe, then as managing director of BP Australia, and finally in 1993 becoming chairman and CEO of BP America. Following retirement from BP in 1997, he joined Texas A&M as a professor and head of the Department of Petroleum Engineering. He later led the negotiating team that created a new Texas A&M campus in Qatar, eventually serving as its interim dean and a member of its joint advisory board. He is dean emeritus of Texas A&M University at Qatar and professor emeritus of petroleum engineering.



Dr. Bowman and wife Lynn Holleran are Endowed Diamond Century Club members of The Association of Former Students and members of the Texas A&M Foundation Legacy Society. Their gifts to A&M include endowments for International Programs, the Department of Petroleum Engineering’s Resource Center and the College of Liberal Arts’ Cervantes Project, as well as a College of Engineering faculty fellowship.



He has served as a director of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, a trustee of Case Western Reserve University, a director of National City Corporation, a director and treasurer of the American Petroleum Institute, chairman of the Cleveland Ballet board, a director of both the Cleveland Orchestra and the Cleveland Opera, and an advisory board member at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington, D.C., think-tank.



With first wife Ethel Kenah Bowman, he has five children, including Lisa Bowman Villalobos ’90.

"Dr. Bowman's four-decade career in the oil and gas industry helped the world meet its energy needs. He is an exceptional individual with outstanding professional achievements, extraordinary contributions to society and dedicated service to Texas A&M."

  - Dr. Mark Weichold '78, Dean and CEO, Texas A&M University at Qatar

David G. Eller ’59
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Year Awarded: 2016

Houston, TX

DAVID G. ELLER ’59 received bachelor’s degrees in business administration and geological engineering; as a student, he was a Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band commanding officer, Limestone County A&M Club president and on the Fish Football Team.

He is co-founder, chairman and CEO of Celltex Therapeutics Corp.; previous positions include president of DuPont Pharmaceuticals-Europe; CEO and president of Virbac Corp.; and founder, chairman and CEO of Granada BioSciences.

The youngest chair ever selected to lead The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, he was a member of the board 1983-89, served as chairman 1985-89, and for a time was simultaneously System chancellor. He was the first in A&M’s history to be awarded the title of chairman emeritus. During his time as chair, the Texas A&M Health Science Center Institute of Biosciences & Technology in Houston and the Texas Institute of Oceanography in Galveston were created and A&M’s Research Park were established, and the university launched its first capital campaign.

For many accomplishments such as these, the David G. Eller Oceanography & Meteorology Building on A&M’s campus was named in his honor.

He is a member of The Association’s Endowed Century Club and has established several A&M scholarships.

Eller has served on boards including the Texas Chamber of Commerce, Greater Houston Partnership, Baylor College of Medicine, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Allied Bancshares, First Interstate Bank, the Houston Ballet and the Rice University Energy and Environmental Systems Institute. He is a lifetime director of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and has supported 4-H programs in several counties.

He served eight years as an officer on active duty and reserves in the U.S. Army.

His family includes wife Candy and sons David Erik Eller ’93 and Dirk Gustaf Eller ’94, as well as brother James M. Eller ’53.

Raul B. Fernandez ’59
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Year Awarded: 2007

Laredo, TX

Raul B. Fernandez, class of 1959, received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University. During his time as a student, Fernandez was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Student Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and was President of the Laredo A&M Hometown Club.



Fernandez began his career in 1960 with H. B. Zachry Co. in San Antonio. In 1961 he reported for a two year tour of duty in Germany, U. S. Army Artillery, where he attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant.



Upon his return to San Antonio in 1963, he was associated with H. B. Zachry Properties and J. H. Uptmore & Associates, where he was promoted to senior vice president in 1985. In 1990, Fernandez started his own building, development, and real estate investment company.



Throughout his career, Fernandez has been committed to public and higher education in the state of Texas, having served eighteen years as a public school district trustee and on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. In 1990, he was honored with the naming of the Raul B. Fernandez Elementary School in San Antonio’s Northside Independent School District.



Fernandez has been actively involved with Texas A&M, having served as president of the Association of Former Students and the San Antonio A&M Club. He also served as Chairman of the Corps of Cadets Development Council and as Vice Chairman of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.



Fernandez has been sought after as an Aggie Muster speaker and has made over twenty Muster presentations in Texas, the Air Force Academy in Colorado, and in 2005 he spoke at Muster in San Salvador, El Salvador.



Born in Laredo, Raul and his wife Sylvia, class of 1988, have three children, William, Monica, class of 1984, and Michael, class of 1988, three grandchildren and one great grandchild.

"You could not find a more outstanding graduate to serve as a role model of what an old Ag can mean to this university, but he has the vision to inspire and promote others to follow in his footsteps and become more than they know they can be, future leaders in their communities, university and state. As well as honor him, we would do well to clone him!"

  - Tommie Lohman ’59, Distinguished Alumnus, 2012

Dr. Davis L. Ford ’59
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Year Awarded: 1990

Lubbock, TX

Ford received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, and master’s and Doctorate degrees from the University of Texas. In 1985, he established Davis L. Ford and Associates, a consulting firm specializing in environmental engineering. Prior to founding Davis L. Ford & Associates, Dr. Ford was affiliated with several other engineering companies, including Hasie and Green & Associates and engineering Science Inc., for which he served as a consultant to more than 150 industries and agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency. He is a registered professional engineer and has written more than 150 articles and 5 books in the environmental field in which he is a recognized expert.



He served as President of both the Capital City A&M Club and The Association of Former Students.

"During the time I have known him, his dedication to Texas A&M University has been unbelievably strong. However, not only his loyalty to Texas A&M has been exceptional, in my opinion his dedicated leadership has helped Texas A&M move toward academic greatness."

  - Earnest F. Gloyna, P.E., Dean, College of Engineering, Retired, University of Texas

Melbern G. Glasscock ’59
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Year Awarded: 2005

Mercedes, TX

Melbern G. Glasscock earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1959 and a master’s degree from Rice University in 1961. As a student, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets Fish Drill Team, commander of the Ross Volunteers and honored as a Distinguished Military Student. Upon completion of his master’s degree, Glasscock entered active duty with the U.S. Air Force as a Second Lieutenant and was later promoted to First Lieutenant. During his service from 1961-1964, Glasscock also served as a Project Officer in the Rocket Propulsion Laboratory at Edwards Air Force Base.



Upon leaving the military, Glasscock began his career at Mobil Chemical Co. and later Texas Olefins Co. In 1980 Glasscock and his wife, Susie, founded Texas Aromatics, Inc., where he serves as President and Chief Executive Officer. His company is primarily involved in the marketing of aromatics and aromatic containing by-products from refineries and petrochemical operations.



Glasscock’s love of his university is evident by his establishment of the Melbern G. Glasscock Center for Humanities Research whose dedication is to foster and celebrate the humanities and its research among Texas A&M scholars and all academia. He is also member of the Visual Arts Development Council, Vice Chair of the One Spirit One Vision Campaign, and an ardent supporter of the College of Liberal Arts. Glasscock was recently elected to the Texas A&M Foundation Board of Trustees.



Born in Mercedes, Texas, Glasscock and his wife have two children, David and Anne Elizabeth ’86.

"Follow your dreams and do what excites you. Ignore the lure of money. If you are good at what you do and like what you do, monetary reward usually follows, but it shouldn’t be your primary goal. Finally, always remember to give back, particularly to Texas A&M. A lot of people have worked hard to make Texas A&M what it is today. Your turn is coming."

Tommie E. Lohman ’59
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Year Awarded: 2012

Tommie E. Lohman, Class of 1959, earned a bachelor of science degree in petroleum engineering from the Agricultural & Mechanical College of Texas and worked toward a doctor of jurisprudence degree at South Texas School. While at A&M, he was first lieutenant “B”-AAA in the Corps of Cadets and a Ross Volunteer. He was a member of Tau Beta Phi, the engineering honor society, as well as AIME Petroleum Engineering Club and Shreveport Hometown Club.



Lohman began his career as a petroleum engineer at Amoco Production Corporation in 1958. In 1962, he moved to Texas Oil & Gas Corporation, where he worked his way up from a district engineer to manager of Gas Gathering & Processing, while concurrently serving on the Board of Directors and president of the Delhi Gas Pipeline until 1988. The same year, he founded Taurus Energy Corporation, and a year later founded TELCO Investments.



He received the Outstanding Alumni Award from the Texas A&M College of Engineering in 2004 and the honor of Distinguished Graduate from the Department of Petroleum Engineering in 2002. He was a member of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, served as vice president and director of the Gas Processors Association, and was an inducted into the Hall of Honor by A&M Lettermen’s Association in 2010.



Lohman endowed the Tommie E. Lohman Laboratory for Gas Engineering, established the Carolyn S. and Tommie E. Lohman ’59 Professorship in Engineering Education and an Engineering Graduate Fellowship, funded the “Shaping the Future” statue at the College of Education, and was instrumental in establishing the Lohman Learning Community in the College of Education. He was involved in several organizations, including the Engineering Advisory Council, Chancellor’s Advisory Council, College of Engineering External Advisory and Development Council, A&M Legacy Society and Texas Aggie Bar Association. A long-time Endowed Century Club member, he served as past president of the 12th Man Foundation, as well as the executive committee.



He was active in his church, serving as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Richardson Baptist Church and Fallswood Baptist Church for twenty years combined. Lohman and his wife, Carolyn, had two daughters and lived in College Station. He passed away on February 4, 2012.

"Tommie wanted to go to OU with his best buddy, but his Dad nixed that idea saying 'Jack will go there, pledge a fraternity, and flunk out the first semester, and you will be all by yourself. I want you to go to Texas A&M.' Sure enough, that is exactly what happened to Jack, but not Tommie because he was in the Corps at A&M!"

  - -Mrs. Carolyn Lohman, Tommie Lohman's wife

A. Dwain Mayfield ’59
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Year Awarded: 2018

Dublin, TX

Mayfield was a lead design engineer of the F-16 fighter jet at General Dynamics Corp., now Lockheed Martin; became Lockheed’s vice president of program development for F-16 worldwide marketing and, after 44 years in aerospace, retired as vice president of marketing initiatives.

As a student, he was active in dorm council and the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, worked in the civil engineering surveying lab and was active in intramural sports. As he pursued his A&M master’s degree in civil engineering, he worked for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute as a graduate assistant, learning by gaining experience in both management and transportation research.

Throughout his career, he remained active with Texas A&M, serving on many boards and advisory councils. Mayfield has been Chair of the Board for The Association of Former Students and is a friend and supporter of the students in its Aggie Network Student Ambassadors group. He has served as a member of the President’s Advisory Council, College of Engineering Advisory Council and Chancellor’s Century Council. He, wife Lynda and their son have been longtime ranchers in Dublin. They also support Tarleton State University, where Mayfield was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2017; he is an adviser to the aeronautical team, serves on the Tarleton Foundation’s board of directors and was presented with an honorary doctorate in 2017 for his support and his work with students.

Mayfield is an Endowed Century Club member of The Association with 41 years of giving; he is a member of the A&M Legacy Society, has supported The Association of Former Students CEO Excellence Fund and Chancellor’s Century Council, and with Lynda has created several scholarships and sponsors many Century Club memberships for current students.

His family includes wife Lynda; a son; one grandchild; and brothers Durwood Mayfield and Gilbert Mayfield ’65.

Samuel Loyd Neal, Jr. ’59
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Year Awarded: 1992

Henderson, TX

Neal received a bachelor’s degree in Marketing in 1959 and later a master’s degree from the University of Texas. In 1966, Neal joined W.L. Dinn and Co., the oldest and largest independent insurance agency in south Texas, where he was named President in 1978. He served on the Board of Directors for The Association of Former Students and was President of the Corpus Christi A&M Club.



Neal was also the first Board Chairman of the Corpus Christi Area Economic Development Corporation, Corpus Christi Co-Citizen of the Year, Corpus Christi Caller-Times Co-News Maker of the Year, and the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Man of the Year in 1985. Corpus Christi City Council designated April 3, 1986 as “Loyd Neal Day”.

"Loyd Neal has attained extraordinary stature in his community. What counts most for me, however is his love for Texas A&M University and his vision of greatness if the university in the future."

  - Dr. Daniel Fallon, Former Dean of College of Liberal Arts, Texas A&M University

Erle A. Nye ’59
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Year Awarded: 2006

Fort Worth, TX

Erle A. Nye received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University in 1959, a juris doctorate from Southern Methodist University in 1965 and a doctorate of science honoris causa from the Baylor College of Dentistry in 1996. During his time as a Texas A&M student, Nye was a member of the Corps of Cadets and was a Distinguished Military Graduate.



Nye began his career in 1960 with Dallas Power & Light Company, a subsidiary of Texas Utilities Company. In 1980, he was named Vice President of the parent company where his career would span 45 years and he would lead seven companies under TXU Corp., Texas’ largest publicly-held utility company. In 2004, he retired as Chief Executive Officer and now serves as Chairman Emeritus of TXU Corp. During his long and distinguished career, Nye chaired many industry organizations, including the Edison Electric Institute, the Electric Power Research Institute, the North American Electric Reliability Council and the Nuclear Energy Institute. He has served on numerous state and federal boards and committees and currently serves as Chairman of the President’s Critical Infrastructure Advisory Council. He has been recognized with numerous honors, including The Nasher Award from the Dallas Business Committee for the Arts, the Robert H. Dedman Award for Ethics and Law from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and Texas General Counsel Forum, and the Corporate Social Responsibility Award from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.



As a former student, Nye has generously served Texas A&M with his time and talent. He has been a member of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents since 1997 and previously served as its chairman. Nye is also a member of the Chancellor’s Century Council, the Dwight Look College of Engineering Development Council, the One Spirit One Vision Campaign Executive Committee and the Texas A&M Foundation Development Advisory Committee. In 1993, he received the Outstanding Alumni Honor Award from the Dwight Look College of Engineering and was inducted into the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor in 2004. Born in Fort Worth, Nye and his wife, Alice, have five children: Kathy, Class of 1984; Allen, Class of 1989; Ann, Kyle and Scott.

"Just mention the name ‘Erle Nye’ and people talk about his integrity and how much they like and respect him."

  - Congressman Joe Barton '72

Dr. Fred A. Palmer ’59
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Year Awarded: 2010

Godley, TX

Dr. Palmer graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife science. As a student, he was vice president of the Tyler/Smith County Hometown Club.



Palmer began his career as a wildlife biologist and assistant project leader for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. After serving on active duty with the U.S. Army, he returned to Texas A&M, where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in veterinary science in 1968 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1969. After practicing veterinary medicine for more than 25 years, Palmer sold his small-animal clinic in Bedford, Texas, in 1994.



Palmer has expressed his generosity to Texas A&M by endowing several scholarships, including the Dr. Fred A. ’59 and Vola N. Palmer Endowed Scholarship in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, and by establishing the Dr. Fred A. and Vola N. Palmer Chair in Comparative Oncology at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.



Palmer was named an Outstanding Alumnus by the College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 and has been actively involved with Texas A&M. He is a past chair of The Association of Former Students and is an Endowed Century Club member. He has also served as president of the Fort Worth/Tarrant County A&M Club and is currently a member of the 12th Man Foundation Athletic Ambassadors Council.

"It seems that our time at A&M taught us a lot about devotion, dedication, loyalty, and respect for other Aggies, our family, God, and our country. I think that Aggies are great patriots because of that devotion. The qualities that we learned at A&M are invaluable, not only for our careers, but for life in general."

  - Dr. Fred A. Palmer '59, Distinguished Alumnus, 2010