Samuel "Ray"
Huffines ’74
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Year Awarded: 2019
Plano, TX
Ray Huffines ’74 is the owner and CEO of Huffines Auto Dealerships. Under his leadership, the family business has grown to nine dealerships in the Dallas area and has been recognized by the Dallas Morning News for seven years as one of the “Top 100 Places to Work” in Dallas-Fort Worth based on employee surveys.
Huffines earned a BBA in management from Texas A&M in 1974. As a student, he was a member of Squadron 2, a founding member of the Corps of Cadets’ Parsons Mounted Cavalry and a member of the 1971 national championship Fish Drill Team.
He served on the Texas staff for Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign from 1979 to 1980 and as personal assistant to Texas Gov. William P. Clements from 1981 to 1983.
Huffines is a member of the Board of Trustees for Texas A&M’s 12th Man Foundation and has served on the boards for Dallas Baptist University, Trinity Christian Academy in Addison and the Plano Salvation Army, as well as chaired the Plano Chamber of Commerce and Coaches Outreach ministry. He has been Muster chair for Collin County and is a member of The Association of Former Students’ Century Club, with 37 years of giving. In 2009, he and his wife, Ann, established the Ann and S. Ray Huffines ’74 Military Appreciation Scholarship through the Texas A&M Foundation.
He was honored as the 2018 Ambassador of Hope by Plano’s Hope Center for Christian ministries and in 2008 received the Legends of Service award from the Dallas Life Foundation homeless shelter.
"Ray is a successful business leader with a selfless service to society and is dedicated and loyal to Texas A&M University. He more than exemplifies the core values of Texas A&M through his excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service."
- Steve M. Jones '80
Joseph B.
Swinbank ’74
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Year Awarded: 2018
Houston, TX
He started his first business while still an A&M student, and today is co-founder and co-owner of Sprint Companies in the construction waste and industrial service sectors. He has been a leader and catalyst throughout the formative and ongoing stages of A&M’s Rural Entrepreneurship Program in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; mentoring, serving as a “Prof for a Day,” taking part in a yearly symposium and supporting a seminar series, graduate teaching assistantship and new classroom. In 2014, he led the establishment of the M. Edward Rister ’74 Chair in Rural Entrepreneurship. He has been a member of The Gardens at Texas A&M committee, Chancellor’s Century Council and the Agriculture and Life Sciences development council.
He is a Diamond Century Club member of The Association with 36 years of giving and a member of the A&M Legacy Society.
He has also supported Texas State Technical College and spoken at high schools, educating students about industrial job opportunities. In Fort Bend County, he has served on boards for the Work Force Commission, Habitat for Humanity and Economic Development Board.
“I am proud to be an Aggie. And as an Aggie I find the greatest personal satisfaction encouraging, sharing my experience, successes, struggles and failures with Aggies and others paying forward what has been given to me,” he said.
His family includes wife Shirley; three children, including Will Swinbank ’02 and Reagan Swinbank ’03; eight grandchildren; sister Jill Swinbank Norris ’80 and brother-in-law James F. Connally ’71.
“Challenges in life, school and business only helped to develop personal and professional strengths needed to succeed.”
- Joseph B. Swinbank '74
S. Shariq
Yosufzai ’74
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Year Awarded: 1999
Dacca, East Pakistan
Yosufzai received a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 1974. While at Texas A&M, he served as Vice President of the Student Body and the Chairman Pro Tempore of the Student Senate. He serves as Corporate Vice President of Caltex Petroleum Corp., a joint venture of Texaco and Chevron, and President of Caltex Lubricants. He is the recipient of several awards. In 1995, he was awarded AIChE’s Robert L. Jacks Memorial Award for his contributions to both the management of engineers and the Chemical Process industries. He was appointed Chair of the Council of Societal Impact of AIChE.
Yozufzai was the first former student to be awarded both the Distinguished Alumnus Award and the Outstanding International Alumnus Award.
Craig C.
Brown ’75
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Year Awarded: 2017
Houston, TX
CRAIG BROWN ’75 received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in accounting. As a student, he was a member of I-2 and 6th Battalion staff and a Ross Volunteer; received the Army ROTC Superior Cadet Award; and was the college's Outstanding Senior Engineer and a letterman in track.
After graduation, he worked with Exxon and Keystone International. In 1986, he co-founded Bray International, a global manufacturer of rotary valves and actuators; he is owner, CEO and chairman.
Since 1989, he has been chairman and co-founder of the Craig and Galen Brown Foundation, which recruits National Merit Scholars to A&M. He selects students who are leaders in their schools and communities, are well-rounded and will make a difference in the lives of others. In the past 25 years, over 300 students have come to A&M as Brown Foundation Scholars, including 200 engineers; 40 doctors and veterinarians; and business, liberal arts, and STEM majors. The foundation also selects and presents the Outstanding Senior Engineering Award and scholarships to five students annually.
He has served on the College of Engineering Advisory Council for more than 25 years, and has been on the Corps of Cadets Board of Visitors and an executive cabinet member for the Lead By Example capital campaign. He has supported the Chancellor’s Century Council, the MSC renovation and other projects, and is an Endowed Century Club member with 38 years of giving.
He was named 1984 Outstanding Young Houstonian by the Houston Junior Chamber of Commerce, a 2006 Outstanding Alumnus of the College of Engineering and a 2012 Outstanding Alumnus of Mays Business School and was inducted in 2017 into the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor.
His family includes wife Sue; seven children, including Zachry G. Brown ’05 and Carter R. Brown ’10; and two grandchildren.
Charles A. "Chuck"
Ellison ’76
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Year Awarded: 2014
College Station, TX
Charles A. "Chuck" Ellison '76, a veteran of the U.S. Army’s JAG Corps, is the founding shareholder of The Ellison Firm in Brazos County. He was named the 2013 Texas Aggie Bar Association Aggie Lawyer of the Year, is Past Chair of The Association of Former Students Board of Directors and a founding trustee of the Texas A&M University System Political Action Committee. A company commander and Ross Volunteer, he received a bachelor’s degree in finance from Texas A&M, graduating cum laude. He earned his law degree from Texas Tech in 1979. He and his wife, Tedi ’90, are Endowed Century Club donors to The Association of Former Students and, together with Barbara and Arno ’64 Krebs, made possible the Memories exhibit on the Neely Mezzanine. Ellison served on the Vision 2020 Mid-Term Review Committee and has been an active volunteer in the Bryan-College Station community, including serving as a board member of St. Joseph Health System, chair of the Hospice Brazos Valley Ethics Committee, Campaign Chair of United Way, Chair of the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley and a member of the Charter Review Committee for the City of College Station. He is a founding member of the Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education and a member of A&M United Methodist Church. He has served on the board of directors of several area businesses, including The Bank & Trust of Bryan/College Station. Ellison has two daughters, Kim Russell ’02 and Courtney Harvell ’05, and two granddaughters. He and Tedi live in College Station.
"It is a true blessing in any life to have lifelong friends who are present with you in the good time and the tough times. That is what my Aggie buddies have been and still are to me."
William H. "Bill"
Flores ’76
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Year Awarded: 2010
Bryan, TX
Flores received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and received a Master of Business Administration from Houston Baptist University in 1985. As a student at Texas A&M, Flores was a member of the Corps of Cadets and the Ross Volunteers. He was vice president of the Memorial Student Center and the student body’s vice president of finance.
Flores pursued a career managing the finances of several businesses and was chosen as chief financial officer for a string of successful energy companies, ultimately becoming the CEO and president of Phoenix Exploration Co., from which he recently retired to pursue public service.
Flores was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the Mays Business School in 2003, and he and his wife, Gina, were honored as Fish Camp namesakes in 2008. They are among Texas A&M’s most generous benefactors, having funded many scholarships programs and endowments to the College of Education, the Mays Business School and the Corps of Cadets. Due to Flores’ generous support of the project to enhance the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Center, the Great Hall was renamed Flores Hall in their honor.
Flores served as chair of The Association of Former Students in 2007 and is a member of the 12th Man Foundation Athletic Ambassadors Council, the Mays Business School Development Council, and the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Development Council. He is an Endowed Century Club member and an active participant in the Brazos County A&M Club.
"The Aggie Network that I formed at Texas A&M is still the deepest and most important group of relationships that I have outside of the relationships that I have with my wife, Gina, and my family. The members of that core group of friends serve as my advisors, mentors, and accountability partners. Without their friendship and support, I would certainly not be as fulfilled as I am today."
- William H. "Bill" Flores '76, Distinguished Alumnus, 2010
Mike
Havel ’76
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Year Awarded: 2023
Dallas, TX
Mike Havel ’76 is known for his simple, optimistic motto: “Life is terrific!” Of all the terrific projects he is known for at Texas A&M, he said, “The most fulfilling engineering project I have ever had was to manage the design and construction of the Aggie Ring replica [on] the Haynes Ring Plaza.”
However, this wasn’t the first time Havel was involved in constructing a campus monument. As an upperclassman, he served as treasurer for the Class of 1976, where he was heavily involved with fundraising for the ’76 Class Gift of the Centennial Eagle Statue. The Class of 1976 was the first class to select and fully fund a Class Gift prior to graduation.
Havel started out as a salesman, and his extraordinary people skills, warm attitude and ambitious vision quickly allowed him to manage his own business. He is president and owner of Metro Custom Plastics Inc., where he has worked since 1982, as well as three additional associated distribution companies. Havel’s companies have been honored with the Aggie 100 award a total of eight times for their impressive growth.
Havel enjoys mentoring and supporting others. He and his wife, Kathy, have ministered to engaged couples through their church for over 30 years. He was also highly involved with the Boy Scouts of America, serving as a scout leader for 13 years. At Texas A&M, he has served as a Class Agent and sat on several advisory boards. It was during his tenure on the board of The Association of Former Students that he had the idea to construct a “Kodak moment” to draw people to the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center — an idea that became the Haynes Ring, a 3-ton Aggie Ring replica on the Haynes Ring Plaza. He applied his professional skills in manufacturing and sourcing to direct the project from beginning to end.
The Havels have two children, Christy ’03 and Andy ’05, and three grandchildren.
“Mike Havel’s enthusiastic service to Texas A&M and his local community continues to be extraordinary.”
- Keith H. Merrick ’76
David A.
Heath ’76
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Year Awarded: 2019
Bryan, TX
A 35-year veteran of the sporting goods, footwear and apparel industry, David Heath ’76 has provided strategic sales leadership to brands including Adidas, Fossil, Nike and Under Armour.
He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health and physical education from Texas A&M in 1976 and 1979. As a student, he was a trainer for the football and basketball teams, a resident advisor in Cain Hall and a member of the Phi Epsilon Kappa honor society.
Heath was Texas A&M’s first full-time assistant athletic trainer and, at age 25, was named head athletic trainer for all men’s and women’s sports.
His work at Nike included directing U.S. territory sales, managing the U.S. equipment division, directing commerce in the Americas and serving as vice president for U.S. sales. He retired from Nike in 2009 but returned to the industry briefly as senior vice president of sales for Under Armour.
Heath served as Chair of The Association of Former Students’ Board of Directors in 2013 and is a past member and past chair of the Texas A&M Lettermen’s Association board of directors. He is an Endowed Century Club member of The Association of Former Students, with 34 years of giving, and has supported the Class of 1976 Gift Fund and Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center building enhancement campaign. Heath has also been an executive professor at Texas A&M’s Mays Business School.
In 2018, he was honored by the Texas A&M Lettermen’s Association with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
He volunteered for 14 years with the Boy Scouts of America, worked with Habitat for Humanity in Portland, Oregon, and served on the National Sporting Goods Association Hall of Fame Committee.
"David is the consummate leader; a confident, calm visionary and consensus builder. In sum, he has always been the kind of person whom people respect and just want to follow."
- Jess C. "Rick" Rickman III '70
Frederick D.
McClure ’76
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Year Awarded: 1991
San Augustine, TX
McClure received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics in 1976 and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence degree from Baylor University School of Law. McClure’s career led him to serve as Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs under President George H. Bush.
McClure worked in the Office of Senator John G. Tower for two years. After earning his law degree, he served as a trial attorney in Houston, and then returned to Senator Tower’s office as Legislative Director and Legal Counsel. He served as an Associate Deputy Attorney General in the U.S. Department of justice for a year before joining the staff of President Ronald Reagan as Special Assistant for Legislative Affairs and later became Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs.
He graduated summa cum laude from Texas A&M and received the Brown Foundation J. Earl Rudder Outstanding Student Award. He was Speaker of the Student Senate, a Rhodes Scholarship Finalist, and Student Body President. McClure is the youngest former student to be named a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M.
"Part of our American birthright is to change things. You have been given an edge here at Texas A&M. People will expect more of you, and rightly so."
P. William "Bill"
Toler ’76
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Year Awarded: 2023
Bryan, TX
A member of the Corps of Cadets and ROTC, Toler studied accounting at A&M before commissioning as a U.S. Army field artillery officer with airborne and ranger qualifications. He served in Germany for four years on active duty. Returning to the U.S., he joined Procter & Gamble, where he would remain for nearly 30 years.
Toler began at P&G in sales and marketing roles. He rose in customer business development and was named a vice president in 1994. His next roles took him across the globe, first to Europe and then to Asia, Australia and Latin America. In 2007, he was promoted to global vice president for professional oral care. In each of his roles, he increased market share and held fast to vision and values above all. His leadership style emphasizes developing those he manages and keeping the promises he makes.
In 2009, Toler was made CEO of Swift Communications, a privately held publisher of over 30 newspapers. While he didn’t have experience with journalism, his past roles had equipped him with skills in strategic growth. Within a year, he stabilized revenues and increased profits by 70%. He finally retired from industry in 2018.
Although Toler lived far from Texas for many years, he has stayed closely involved with Texas A&M. Toler held leadership positions in both the Vision 2020 and Lead By Example campaigns. He served on the boards of The Association of Former Students and the Texas A&M Foundation, including one year as chair of the Foundation’s board. He currently serves on the Mays Business School Dean’s Advisory Board and co-chairs the Division of Student Affairs Development Council with his wife, Melanie ’76.
The Tolers have two children, Courtney ’17 and Mark ’19.
“People have always been able to sense Bill’s respect for other people and his utmost integrity.”
- John E. Pepper