Field Scovell ’30
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Year Awarded: 1982

Wichita Falls, TX

Scovell studied Liberal Arts while at A&M College of Texas. He spent 20 years in sporting goods sales as store owner and as regional sales director for Rawlings Sporting Goods. He joined Southland Life Insurance Company and later served as Vice President. Throughout his career in the sports and insurance industries, he was a Director of the Dallas Cowboys Football Club, received the Distinguished American Award from the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, and served on the Texas Sports Hall of Fame Committee.

"There’s no bigger Texas Aggie than Field Scovell. Aggie jokes really hurt him. He can get fighting mad!"

  - Felix McKnight '32, Editor, Times Herald

Charles G. Scruggs ’45
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Year Awarded: 1982

McGregor, TX

Scruggs received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Administration in 1947. His career began at Progressive Farmer magazine, where he advanced to Editor in 1978. Scruggs was Founder and President of the Southwest Animal Health Research Foundation and was instrumental in establishing the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.



He was a recipient of many awards for his outstanding contributions to agriculture from the American Society of Animal Science, American Agricultural Editors Association, Agricultural Communicators in Education and Federal Land bank Association of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Scruggs was recognized as “Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture.”

"Texas A&M has always been a labor of love for me. I shall try doubly hard to serve more in the future."

Charlie W. Seely ’55
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Year Awarded: 2014

Fort Worth, TX

Charlie W. Seely '55, received a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and a Distinguished Military Graduate. He was also vice president of his senior Class and president of the Petroleum Engineering Club. Seely, a U.S. Army veteran, is an independent oil and gas producer, president of Seely Oil Co. and chairman of three companies that manufacture plastic products. One of his companies has been honored as part of the Aggie 100, which spotlights the fastest-growing Aggie-owned or Aggie-led companies. He is a Past Chair of The Association of Former Students Board of Directors and of the Fort Worth Tarrant County A&M Club. He also is a former Class of 1955 Agent and a former board member for the 12th Man Foundation. He serves on the President’s Council of Advisors and on the development councils for the College of Science, the Corps of Cadets and Texas A&M University Press. He is an Endowed Century Club donor to The Association of Former Students, and his many gifts to the 12th Man Foundation and Texas A&M Foundation have earned him recognition as an Eppright Distinguished Donor and member of the Legacy Society. Seely also provided a gift to The Association’s Building Enhancement Campaign, and a Tribute Pillar in the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center is named in his honor. He has given of his time and resources to organizations beyond Texas A&M, including tangible support provided to an orphanage in Russia. Seely lives in Fort Worth with his wife, JoAnn. Between them, they have five children: Lea Ann Seely ’80, Sheri Van Sickle, Charles, Jr., Keith Rayburn ’96, and Kevin Rayburn, plus nine grandchildren.

"As an oilman and business owner, Charlie has seen good times and bad times. I have always admired how he has managed to keep his priorities straight: God, family and Texas A&M."

  - Mike Havel ’76, friend and business partner

James L. Sewell ’27
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Year Awarded: 1978

Coleman, TX

Sewell received a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1927. After a more than 30-year career in the oil and gas industry, Sewell served as President of Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Delhi International Oil Corporation, Aztec Oil and Gas Company, and Citizens National Bank of Dallas.



Sewell was president of Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association. He also served as President of The Association of Former Students in 1970 and as a Trustee of the Texas A&M Development Foundation.

John S. Sharp ’72
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Year Awarded: 2018

College Station, TX

Prior to being appointed chancellor, Sharp served Texas for more than three decades in public offices.

As a student at A&M, Sharp was student body president, on Corps staff, served as Class president and played rugby. He was a member of Squadron 6 and after graduation served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves. In 1976, he earned a master’s degree in public administration from Southwest Texas State University while working at the state Legislative Budget Board, then opened a one-man real estate firm in Victoria.

He represented Victoria in the state House of Representatives 1979-83 and was a state senator 1983-87. Serving next in statewide offices, he was Texas’ railroad commissioner 1987-91, then state comptroller 1991-99. After working as a principal at tax-consulting firm Ryan LLC, he was appointed head of the state Tax Reform Commission in 2005.

As System chancellor, he leads one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, a statewide network of 11 universities and seven state agencies, with a budget of $4.7 billion.

Speaking in 2016, he said, “There is no place, and there is no university, where love and respect for each other and loyalty and commitment to each other is stronger than Texas A&M University.”

In 2017, the State of Texas tapped him to lead the Governor’s Commission to Rebuild Texas post-Hurricane Harvey.

Sharp is a Diamond Century Club member of The Association with 12 years of giving and has supported A&M’s Student Government Association Endowment Fund.

His family includes wife Charlotte; two children; and one grandchild.

“Everything I ever will be is because of Texas A&M University"

  - John S. Sharp '72

J. Howard Shelton ’41
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Year Awarded: 2003

Osceola, TX

Shelton received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1941. As a student, he was a member of the 1939 National Championship Aggie football team. Shelton held numerous positions at banks across Texas and is currently a Senior Associate at Kasper and Associates.



He is a Director Emeritus of the Lettermen’s Association and inductee of the Texas A&M Hall of Honor and the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame.

"Over the years I have learned that Howard is a man that you can count on for forthright, sage advice. I am so fortunate to have known him."

  - James B. Peterson ’72

Dr. Sallie V. Sheppard ’65
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Year Awarded: 2014

Austin, TX

Dr. Sallie V. Sheppard '65 was one of the first women to graduate from Texas A&M, receiving both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics from the university. She earned her doctorate in computer science from the University of Pittsburgh. Sheppard worked at NASA on simulations of the onboard Apollo computer for the lunar landing expeditions. After receiving her doctorate in computer science, she returned to A&M and rose through the ranks to professor of computer science and associate provost. She received two Distinguished Achievement Awards from The Association of Former Students, one in 1985 for teaching and one in 1998 for administration. She was the founding director of the computer science department’s first laboratory, the Laboratory for Software Research. In 1995 she was appointed interim executive vice president and provost, making her the first female top-ranking administrator at Texas A&M, a milestone she would also achieve at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Sheppard is a charter and organizing member of the Women Former Students’ Network, a constituent network of The Association. She is also a charter member of the Brazos County Advisory Committee for Blinn College, past branch president of the American Association of University Women, and a member and deacon at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Austin. She and her husband, Leland Blank, have funded a President’s Endowed Scholarship at Texas A&M. She is the recipient of an IEEE Third Millennium Award for Outstanding Achievements and Contributions. Sheppard and her husband have two daughters, Christina Blank and Allison McKay ’95, and three grandchildren.

"Being at Texas A&M in the early 1960s was very exciting – so much was happening as the institution was transforming from a college into a university. But the most exciting and enjoyable part of being an Aggie was the people that I met – faculty dedicated to helping students succeed and students intent on making the most of the experience. It was very special to be a part of it."

Owen W. Sherrill ’10
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Year Awarded: 1974

Kerens, TX

Sherrill received a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture in 1910. Much of his life was devoted to the development of the city of Georgetown, serving as Mayor and as President of numerous local banks. He was past president of the National Association of Farm and Land Brokers and served as director of the National Association of Real Estate Boards for 18 years. He was named Texas Realtor of the Year and the Texas Association of Realtors named Sherrill “Texas All Time Farm and Land Broker”.



Sherrill was President of The Association of Former Students from 1928-1929 and organizer of the Williamson County A&M Club.

Wayne A. Showers ’53
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Year Awarded: 1994

Vernon, TX

Showers received a bachelor’s degree in Horticulture and bachelor and master’s degrees in Entomology. His expertise in the fruit and vegetable industry were critical to the development and marketing of these commodities. He joined Griffin & Brand, Inc. as an entomologist and production supervisor in 1963 and quickly moved up to general manager and executive vice president. Showers served as president from 1977 to 1993 when he became a consultant/investor with Elmore & Stahl Produce.



Showers served on the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents and was a Vice President for The Association of Former Students.

"He was a man of principle and conviction. He was always someone people young and old and of all social status could come and talk to for advice and guidance. When you go through life, there’s always at least one or two people that stick out in your memory, Wayne Showers was one of those."

  - Hollis Rutledge

LTG Ormond R. Simpson ’36
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Year Awarded: 1988

Corpus Christi, TX

Simpson received a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1936 and was commissioned in the U.S. Marines. He served for 37 years, serving in WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, while working his way up to the rank of Lieutenant General before retiring from active duty in 1973. In 1974, he became the Assistant Vice President for Student Services at Texas A&M University.

"The man is humble, trustworthy, honorable. He’s extremely interested in his community and his school. He’s a leader."

  - Travis Bryan, Jr.