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.
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
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.
John E.
Bethancourt ’74
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Year Awarded: 2011
Bryan, Texas
Bethancourt graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering and later received his executive M.B.A. from Duke University. While at A&M, he was a student senator, vice president of the Student Engineering Council, and president of the Hughes Hall Student Council.
He went to work after graduation for Getty Oil Co., rising to area manager in the company’s Bryan office by 1982. He then spent more than 15 years with Texaco, beginning as area manager in the Victoria, Texas, office and culminating as Texaco Corporation vice president and president of worldwide productions operations. He joined Chevron Corp. in 2001 as vice president of human resources. Since 2003, he has been an executive vice president at Chevron. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and a former member of its Board of Directors.
Bethancourt is a member of The Association of Former Students Endowed Century Club and is the chairman-elect of the Texas A&M Foundation Board of Trustees. He and his wife, Debbie, Class of 1976, have endowed several scholarships and a professorship. John has been a consistent supporter of the university’s Department of Petroleum Engineering. He also supports the football and baseball programs and has been a major force behind planned renovations to Olsen Field. In 2007, he was named an Outstanding Alumnus of A&M’s Dwight Look College of Engineering.
He has been a volunteer Little League coach in Victoria, Wharton and Midland, is a former director of Midland Junior Achievement, and is a member of the Board of Governors of Miramont Country Club in Bryan.
Bethancourt and his wife have four children, all of whom graduated from Texas A&M, and ten grandchildren. All four children have spouses who also graduated from Texas A&M.
“I gained a strong sense of the A&M values, which have stuck with me. I learned leadership skills that have served me well over the last 37 years.”
William M. "Will"
Fraser III ’74
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Year Awarded: 2017
Garden Ridge, TX
GENERAL (RET.) WILLIAM M. FRASER III ’74 received a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology. As a student, he was first sergeant and commander of Squadron 10 in the Corps of Cadets and was on the 1971 national champion Fish Drill Team, then served as an FDT instructor 1971-73.
He served as the commander of U.S. Transportation Command, the single manager responsible for global air, land, and maritime transport for the Department of Defense, from October 2011 to May 2014; commander of Air Combat Command from September 2009 to September 2011; vice chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force from October 2008 to September 2009; and assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from May 2006 to October 2008.
His experience in wartime, contingency and humanitarian relief operations includes Operation Southern and Northern Watch, Operation Desert Thunder, Operation Allied Force, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.
He serves on the Corps of Cadets Board of Visitors and the Texas A&M-Galveston Board of Visitors, as well as the board of directors of the Corps of Cadets Association. He is an at-large representative on the Leadership Council of The Association of Former Students and is a Diamond level member of The Association’s Century Club, with 35 years of giving.
He was inducted into the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor in 2013.
He chairs the board of the Military Child Education Coalition, serving all military-connected children, and is a member of Mission Readiness - Council for a Strong America, also serving U.S. youth.
His family includes wife Beverly; two children, including daughter Ashlee Fraser Cain ’01; and seven grandchildren.