M.L. “Red”
Cashion ’53
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Year Awarded: 2003
College Station, TX
Cashion received a bachelor’s degree in Personnel Administration in 1953. He officiated for junior high, high school, and college football for 20 years and went on to become one of the great NFL referees of all time. Between 1972 and 1997, he became one of the most colorful referees in NFL history for his trademark “FIRST DOWNNNN!” call. In 1999, Cashion was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
He is Chairman Emeritus of ANCO Insurance Managers and is a trainer for National Football League referees. He serves as Chair of the Student Loan Fund Trustees for The Association of Former Students.
Henry G.
Cisneros ’68
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Year Awarded: 2019
San Antonio, TX
Henry Cisneros ’68 served as mayor of San Antonio from 1981 to 1989 and was nominated to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by President Bill Clinton, a post he held from 1993 to 1997.
Cisneros earned a bachelor of arts in English from Texas A&M in 1968 and a master’s in urban and regional planning in 1970. He continued his education at Harvard University, earning a master’s degree in public administration in 1974. He went on to earn a doctorate of public administration at George Washington University in 1976.
While at Texas A&M, he was a combined band commander in the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, a member of the Ross Volunteers and treasurer of SCONA.
Cisneros was a member of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents from 1985 to 1986 and was named an Outstanding Alumnus of Texas A&M’s College of Architecture in 1998.
In 2018, Texas A&M University-San Antonio outlined plans for its Henry G. Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders, established with support from Cisneros, who is also chair¬man of the Texas A&M-San Antonio President’s Advisory Committee.
From 1997 to 2000, he was president of Univision Com¬munications. Cisneros is also founder and chairman of CityView, a Los Angeles-based urban development organization working to revitalize inner-city neighborhoods in major metropolitan areas. He also served as chairman of American Triple I, an infrastructure investment firm. Cisneros is a trustee of the American Assembly, based in New York and a board member of the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C.
His service to his community includes chairing the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation.
He is a member of The Association of Former Students’ Century Club, with 14 years of giving, and funded a Gen. Rudder Corps Scholarship through the Texas A&M Foundation.
"If one is measured by the demonstrable imprint they have made, the impact they have made on others and for others, the doors they have opened for generations that follow, then Henry stands at great heights."
- Elaine Mendoza '87
Hon. Bill W.
Clayton ’50
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Year Awarded: 1979
Olney, TX
Clayton received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics in 1950. His leadership as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives was instrumental in the development and passage of school finance legislation, a highway funding bill, sunset legislation, reorganization of state water agencies, and the Briscoe-Clayton anti-crime package. In 1979, he became the first person to be elected to a third consecutive term as Speaker of the House.
"Words and songs have been written about the Aggie spirit but only an Aggie truly understands and comprehends it's meaning. It's more than an outward saying, its an inward feeling that many times sends cold chills up and down our spine. It stands for courage, togetherness, sincerity, camaraderie, caring and action."
Daniel D.
Clinton, Jr. ’52
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Year Awarded: 1995
Marlin, TX
Clinton received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1952 and a master’s degree from Stanford University. His 39-year career began at the Houston firm of Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc., with much of his work done in the Houston area. He was president of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, which named him Engineer of the Year in 1993, and was president of the National Society of Professional Engineers. Clinton served on The Association of Former Students Board of Directors and was a Class of 1952 Class Agent.
Dr. C. M.
Cocanougher ’53
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Year Awarded: 2020
Decatur, TX
When Dr. C. M. Cocanougher ’53 came to A&M in 1949, he was the first in his family to go to college.
“Upon arriving on an overcrowded campus shortly after World War II that fall, he lived with 20 freshmen in barracks located around Easterwood Airport,” Charles Gary Cocanougher ’77 said of his late father.
“The comradeship, rapport and friendships that were established that fall among those young fish was never forgotten by Charles, nor was his love for Texas A&M.”
Cocanougher built a veterinary practice in Wise County with three clinics, and was a longtime civic leader and businessman in Decatur, including serving as a Decatur City Council member.
As a student, he played trumpet in the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and served in the Student Senate, and earned his doctorate of veterinary medicine in ’55.
He was named an Outstanding Alumnus of A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and 1985’s Citizen of the Year in Decatur. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a captain and base veterinarian. He was a president and rodeo secretary of the Wise County Sheriff’s Posse, president of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, officer of the Decatur Rotary Club and charter member and chairman of the Wise County American Heart Association chapter. He also served on the Texas Veterinary Medical Association board of directors.
He and wife Jo Ann endowed A&M scholarships, including 10 veterinary school scholarships, and two annuities; he was a Gold-level member of The Association’s Century Club, with 37 years of giving.
The Cocanoughers have five children, Gary ’77, D’Ann, Beth ’80, Scott ’82 and Mary Kay ’86, and 11 grandchildren, including Chris Anne ’01, Austin ’16 and Gary ’20.
Aaron
Cohen ’52
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Year Awarded: 1989
Corsicana, TX
Cohen received a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1952 and later a master’s degree in Mathematical Physics from Stevens Institute of Technology.
He joined NASA in 1962 and managed development and guidance programs for Apollo Moon Landings and Skylab. Cohen was also the Director of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Project and in 1983 he served as Director of Research and Engineering where he was responsible for all engineering as well as space and life science research and development in support of major manned spaceflight programs. Named Director of the Johnson Space Center in 1986, Cohen oversaw medical, life science and physical science activites as well as astronaut training and flight operations.
"His leadership and engineering genius have been evident throughout…"
- Christopher C. Kraft, Jr., Director of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
BG Mike P.
Cokinos ’43
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Year Awarded: 1996
Beaumont, TX
Cokinos received a bachelor’s degree in Science in 1943. He served in the U.S. Army, retiring with the rank of Brigadier General in 1980. In 1951 he established the Cokinos Insurance Agency in Beaumont and served as an insurance consultant. He was President of the Texas A&M Lettermen’s Association, was a Vice President of The Association of Former Students, and is the 2004 Sul Ross Group President.
"As a former student, I believe that General Cokinos exemplifies the traits and characteristics that have made Texas A&M University the respected institution that it is today. His integrity and stature in the community is a benchmark for any American. His loyalty to Texas A&M is demonstrated by his uninterrupted active involvement with the school since he entered in 1939. As his son, I can personally attest to the same characteristics inasmuch as he has tirelessly made attempts to instill them in all his children."
- Gregory Cokinos ’79
Gregory
Cokinos ’79
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Year Awarded: 2022
Houston, TX
“The core values embraced by the student body and stressed in the Aggie culture have built and guided me to a more virtuous and fulfilled life, which is essential to maintaining the traditions of this great country,” said Gregory Cokinos ’79.
Cokinos earned his bachelor of business administration degree from A&M, quickly followed in 1982 by his Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law. In 1989, he cofounded Cokinos Young law firm, specializing in construction, engineering and real estate law. Cokinos is the firm’s president and CEO. Under his leadership, the firm has grown from three lawyers to over 85 across three states.
Cokinos has been repeatedly recognized for his contributions to his field. He was the first Houston lawyer to be inducted into the American College of Construction Lawyers, a group considered the top 1% of U.S. construction lawyers. Thomson Reuters has named Cokinos a Texas Super Lawyer every year since 2005 and one of The Top 100 Super Lawyers in Texas every year since 2007. He was awarded 2018 Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers and is the 2022 chair-elect to the Texas State Bar Construction Law section. In 2021, Cokinos was named Houston Business Journal’s most admired CEO.
Never far from his beloved alma mater, Cokinos is an avid fan of all things Aggie. In 2017, Mays Business School named him an Outstanding Alumnus. Cokinos has served on the board of The Association of Former Students and was chair of the board of the 12th Man Foundation. Since 2019, Cokinos has returned to campus as a professor of construction law.
Cokinos comes from a large Aggie family — more than 30 Cokinoses have graduated from A&M since 1939. He and his wife, Page, have six children, four of whom have attended A&M: Kyle ’16, Katherine ’17, Carter ’19 and Mary Kristen ’24.
“I’ve never seen him back down, even in the face of long odds and tremendous adversity. He will not be outworked. He will not be outmaneuvered. He will not be discouraged.”
- Russell W. Smith '03
Carri Baker
Coleman ’84
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Year Awarded: 2015
San Antonio, TX
Carri Baker Coleman, Class of 1984, received a bachelor’s degree in marketing at Texas A&M, where as a student she served as tennis team manager, Diamond Darling and football recruiting hostess and was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority and Student Aggie Club (now the Student 12th Man Foundation).
She is Chief Operating Officer for the San Antonio office of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP, a firm she has helped lead to national recognition in serving governments at all levels in collecting receivables. She was the first woman chairman of the 12th Man Foundation and led projects such as Kyle Field’s successful Zone Club, a critical asset to raising funds for expansion. She chaired the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women and has been inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame. She co-founded and chaired the San Antonio ISD Foundation, which invests more than $1 million annually to ignite innovation and excellence in inner city schools. She received the highest honor given by a Girl Scout Council, the Trefoil Award, and was recognized as a Girl Scout Great during the 100-year anniversary of Girl Scouts. She received the Women’s Legacy Award from the Women’s Former Student Network.
She served on the board of the San Antonio A&M Club, is a co-founder and board member of the A&M PAC and serves on the development council of A&M’s Mays College of Business.
Her Aggie family includes her late father, Bill Baker ’62, her brother, Will Baker ’92, and her uncle, Robert Baker ’64. She and husband Tullos Wells have a daughter.
"Carri Baker Coleman is selfless in her willingness to serve. I am not aware of her ever declining to participate when she has been asked to contribute her talents in a variety of ways to Texas A&M."
- Fred Palmer '59, Distinguished Alumnus
LTG Robert W.
Colglazier ’25
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Year Awarded: 1971
St. Louis, MO
Colglazier received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1925. Upon his retirement from the U.S. Army after 40 years, he was considered one of the world’s foremost authorities in the field of logistics. He made special studies of logistical situations in Europe for NATO and logistical studies of world oil reserves.
"His career has been an inspiration to everyone, and certainly reflects great credit on Texas A&M."
- Richard Weirus ’42, Past Executive Director of The Association of Former Students