E. M. “Manny” Rosenthal ’42
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Year Awarded: 1987

Fort Worth, TX

Rosenthal received a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture in 1942. While a student he was editor of the Battalion, the university newspaper, and the Battalion Magazine. Rosenthal was President of Standard Meat Co. who later merged with the Sara Lee Corp., making it the largest meat purveyor in the world. He also worked to make changes in the USDA grading standards and lessen the federal regulatory control over the industry. Rosenthal served as Chairman of the Board of Standard Meat Company.



He has continued his service to his alma mater by being instrumental in establishing two endowed chairs in the College of Agriculture, providing funds to support meats and judging teams and other student programs, and making state-of-the-art processing plants accessible to Aggies studying agriculture and veterinary medicine.

"He is a kind, generous man; really the cream of our community. I wish there were more people like him."

  - Ron Stocker, District VP of B’nai B’rith

Ray A. Rothrock ’77
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Year Awarded: 2016

Portola Valley, California

RAY A. ROTHROCK ’77 received a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering; he was a founding charter member of the Texas A&M Symphonic Band, chair of the MSC Radio Committee and a member of the MSC Directorate and Student Engineers Council.

He was a partner for 25 years (10 as managing partner) of Venrock, a diversified early stage venture capital firm, and lead investor for 53 startup companies. He is a past chair of the National Venture Capital Association, and his investment track record has earned him multiple listings on the Forbes Midas List.

He was chairman and CEO of RedSeal, a $25-million cyber-security analytics company. In his early career, after working as a nuclear engineer at Yankee Atomic, Exxon Minerals and Sagus Software, he worked at Silicon Valley startups including Sun Microsystems.

He has been a board member of The Association of Former Students and a trustee of the Texas A&M Foundation, served on development councils for the College of Liberal Arts and Dwight Look College of Engineering, and was named a Distinguished Engineer in 2013 and Distinguished Nuclear Engineer in 2011. He is a member of The Association’s Endowed Century Club and supported the enhancement of the Clayton W. Williams Jr., Alumni Center. He has created a faculty research fellowship, a chair and an Endowment for Excellence in liberal arts.

He earned a master’s degree from MIT and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He has been a member of the MIT Corporation, and MIT’s Nuclear Engineering and Science Department named him a Distinguished Alumnus in 2012.

He led efforts that raised $25 million for Woodside Priory School in Portola Valley, Calif., and has met with U.S. leaders on the advanced nuclear industry’s potential.

His family includes wife Meredith and son Nathaniel.

MG J. Earl Rudder ’32
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Year Awarded: 1970

Eden, TX

Rudder received a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University in Industrial Engineering in 1932. During WWII, Rudder organized and trained the 2nd Ranger Battalion that scaled the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc during the D-Day invasion and commanded the 109th Infantry Regiment during the Battle of the Bulge.



He served as the 16th President of Texas A&M from 1959 until his death in 1970. During Rudder's administration, the university doubled its enrollment, expanded its research program, improved academic and faculty standards, and transformed the university by making the military requirement optional and opening admission to women. Rudder's monumental decision put Texas A&M on a road to growth and national prominence. His commitment to excellence in education, leadership development and selfless service to others is a hallmark of the university today and is forever captured in the statue bearing his likeness on Texas A&M’s campus.

"Rudder was a man of incalculable strength, determination and leadership. As president of the university he was, I can say without reservation or restraint, the best friend the students ever had. He was always straightforward, honest and personable in his dealings with us as students. President Rudder was many things to many people: a war hero, a holder of public office, a general, a president. But to most of us, he was first and foremost and Aggie. He wore the same ring I wear and countless others have worn."

  - Gerry Geistweidt '70, Past Student Body President

Marvin T. Runyon, Jr. ’45
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Year Awarded: 1996

Fort Worth, TX

Runyon received a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering in 1948. After a 37-year career with Ford Motor Co., he was chosen to serve as President and CEO of Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corp. In 1992, he accepted appointment as Postmaster General of the United States. Under his leadership, the Postal Service delivered three straight years of record breaking success.

"At A&M, we lived in companies. I lived a very military life there, and I liked that life. It really puts the teamwork mentality into you. The spirit was just outstanding."

Dr. Sam H. Sanders ’22
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Year Awarded: 1970

Holly Springs, MS

Sanders studied Pre-Medicine at A&M College of Texas and later received a Doctorate of Medicine at the University of Tennessee in 1927. Sanders was a foremost expert in the field of ear, nose and throat medicine and held many positions in higher education and medicine.



He served as Chairman of the Instruction Course Staffs, American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology at Memphis Hospital Complex. Sanders also established Sam Houston Sanders Medical Foundation in honor of his father which promotes the study and advancement of diagnosis and treatment of sinus and allergic diseases.

Clarence E. Sasser ’73
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Year Awarded: 2014

Rosharon, TX

Clarence E. Sasser ’73, who served as an Army medic in Vietnam, was the eighth Aggie to be awarded the Medal of Honor. In 1968, while helping evacuate wounded soldiers under heavy enemy fire, he carried one to cover and returned to help carry others to safety, despite sustaining wounds in both his legs. Sasser’s Medal of Honor citation reads, in part, “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. ... Although in agonizing pain and faint from loss of blood, Sp5c. Sasser ... proceeded on to encourage another group of soldiers to crawl 200 meters to relative safety. There he attended their wounds for 5 hours until they were evacuated. ... Sasser’s extraordinary heroism is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.” Gen. Earl Rudder ’32, then university president, offered Sasser a scholarship to Texas A&M, where he studied chemistry. After receiving an honorable discharge from the Army, he worked briefly in an oil refinery, then established a lengthy career in service to veterans with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. A scholarship at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center has been established in his honor. At Texas A&M’s commencement in May 2014, Sasser was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Letters. He joins Texas A&M’s Medal of Honor recipients from World War II who were named Distinguished Alumni in 2012.

"I often see people proclaim their patriotism on their sleeve. I believe it thrives best when nurtured in their hearts and minds."

Horace A. Sawyer ’16
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Year Awarded: 1967

Fate, TX

Sawyer received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1916. At Texas A&M he was editor of The Longhorn, a member of Ross Volunteers and a Cadet 2nd Lt. of Company “E”. Sawyer joined Lone Star Cement Corporation, the largest producer of Portland cement in the Western Hemisphere, in 1925 as a service engineer. Within six years he became Vice President and in 1952 he was elected President while simultaneously serving as president of Cuban Portland Cement Company, president of Argentine Portland Cement Company, president, Uruguayan Portland Cement Company, chairman, Pioneer Sand and Gravel Company, and chairman of Southern Materials Company.



When Sawyer became president of Lone Star, it had 12 domestic plants and annual sales of about $74 million. When he retired the firm had 12 U.S. and five foreign plants producing sales of $154 million. In revitalizing his company’s South American operations, he is credited with important contributions to development of good living standards and education there.

Thomas J. Saylak ’82
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Year Awarded: 2020

Scarsdale, NY

Saylak co-founded and for more than nine years served as co-head of Blackstone Real Estate Advisors, now the world’s largest and most successful real estate investment firm. He then served as president of Merrill Lynch Global Commercial Real Estate, which conducted the firm's real estate investment banking, financing and principal investment activities worldwide.

As a student, Saylak belonged to the Singing Cadets, Century Singers and College of Business Honors Program.

He is an Endowed Century Club member of The Association, with 30 years of giving, and donated a President's Endowed Scholarship in honor of his parents. He was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the Mays Business School in 2001.

Saylak is a trustee and past chairman of the Texas A&M Foundation, a board member and vice chairman of the Grand Teton National Park Foundation and a trustee of Washington, D.C., public TV station WETA, which produces The PBS NewsHour.

His Aggie family includes his father, Dr. Donald Saylak ’72, and his late brother, Dan Saylak ’79. He and wife Laurie Stanford Saylak ’82 have a daughter and son-in-law.

“A&M has been a presence through virtually every important passage in my life."

  - Thomas J. Saylak '82

Edward M. Schiwetz ’21
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Year Awarded: 1972

Cuero, TX

Schiwetz received a bachelor’s degree in Architecture in 1921. He was a noted landscape artist with more than 40 years of experience in the field. Schiwetz was a Partner and Art Director in the advertising firm of Franke, Wilkinson & Schiwetz.



His works have been exhibited in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Michigan, California, Washington, and many places in Texas including Texas A&M University. Schiwetz has received numerous artistic awards and has taught art in Mexico and at the University of Houston.

"I hope to leave behind me a collection of indigenous paintings which will faithfully portray Texas as it is. I don’t care how desolate, how threadbare, any part of Texas is, it’s beautiful to me."

GEN Bernard A. Schriever ’31
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Year Awarded: 1962

San Antonio, TX

Schriever received a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering in 1931 and received his master’s from Stanford University. He was Commander of the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division and established and implemented techniques for the development of the ATLAS, TITAN, and MINUTEMAN ICBM weapon systems and the THOR IRBM.



His awards include the Distinguished Service Medals and Oakleaf Cluster, Legion of Merit, Air Medal, Purple Heart, and two Unit Citations. Schriever served as a Councilman at Large for The Association of Former Students.