O. Wayne Crisman ’38
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Year Awarded: 1985

Mansfield, LA

Crisman received a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1938. His 35+ year career with Gulf Oil Corporation began in 1946 and he worked his way to President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. He retired in 1979 after the company merged with Diamond Shamrock.



Crisman also created and endowed the Crisman Institute for Petroleum Management at Texas A&M University in 1984 and endowed a Texas A&M President’s Scholarship. He was also instrumental in founding Crisman Preparatory School for learning disabled children in Longview.

"O. Wayne Crisman brings honor to everyone who knows him and who has been touched by his caring. His life truly reflects the greatness of America and the goodness of the human heart. He is a man of great intellect, quiet, dignity, and genteel spirit – he is, above all, an Aggie."

  - Peggy C. Coghlan, Ed. D. ’76

R. A. "Murray" Fasken ’38
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Year Awarded: 1981

Toronto, Canada

Fasken received a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1938. He served in the United States Army from 1941-1946. Fasken began his career at Midland National Bank in 1950 as a teller and was named president of the bank in 1958, serving in that position until 1964, at which time he was named chairman of the board.



Fasken was a long time civic leader in Midland, Texas serving as president of the Midland Chamber of Commerce and the Midland College Board.



Fasken supported Texas A&M by contributing funds to the Center for Education and Research, the 12th Man Foundation and establishing several President Endowed Scholarships. He also gave his time and talent by serving on the Texas A&M University Development Foundation and assisted in efforts to recruit students and athletes to attend Texas A&M.

"Murray Fasken has quietly done everything possible for Texas A&M. He does it so quietly that most of us don’t even know to say thank you."

  - Joe Hiram Moore '38, classmate

Jack Finney ’38
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Year Awarded: 1992

Commerce, TX

Finney received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Administration in 1938. His endeavors include a wholesale bakery, investment management, commercial/residential development and construction, and managing quarter horses. He was named Director Emeritus of the Texas A&M System Board of Directors and was instrumental in hiring football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.

"My father Jack Finney, truly represents the greatest qualities that make the word ‘Aggie’ so special that only another Aggie would understand. I don’t remember when I first understood all the facets and dimensions such a word would encompass, but I do know it was a part of my life as I observed from my father in action. His love for A&M has been apparent to all who know him."

  - Jean Finney Townsend, daughter

George A. Linskie ’38
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Year Awarded: 1993

Dallas, TX

Linskie studied Mechanical Engineering at A&M College of Texas. His career began in the air conditioning business and he worked for the Frigidaire Air Conditioning Division and then joined the firm of Rollins and Forest Consultuing Engineers as a mechanical design engineer. He later founded Linskie Co., who merged with Sam P. Wallace Co. in 1970. He was served in many leadership positions with his industry’s professional societies and was a founding member and past president of the Engineers Club of Dallas.



Outside his love for flying (he has had an active commercial pilots license for over 40 years) his first love has been, serving on the Board of the Children’s Medical Center for the past 30 years, where he is a past president and chairman of the board.

"I know of no more dedicated person who exhibits and demonstrates the high ideals and spirit of Aggieland."

  - James W. Aston '33, Distinguished Alumnus, 1967

Joe Hiram Moore ’38
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Year Awarded: 1978

Alvin, TX

Moore received a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1939 and a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1940. Starting as a roughneck in the oil fields, he became a noted petroleum engineer, independent producer and operator.



Moore contributed financially, intellectually, and with his time in support of higher education at Texas A&M. He established an endowment for scholarships and actively served as friends and advisors to many A&M support groups, including the Texas A&M University Press, the Texas A&M Foundation, and served as The Association of Former Students President in 1974.

Thomas A. Murrah ’38
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Year Awarded: 1986

Plano, TX

Murrah received a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1938. For 40+ years, he served as a Director and Executive of banks across the state of Texas. Murrah was President of The Association of Former Students, a Class Agent for the Class of 1938, and the first President of the Texas Aggie Band Association.



Murrah was a member of the Century Council Executive Committee, Target 2000 Project Executive Committee, and a sponsor of a President’s Endowed Scholarship. He is also is responsible for establishing the YMCA branch in Northwest San Antonio and served as President of the San Antonio Sports Association in 1969.

Dr. Ogbourne D. Butler, Jr. ’39
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Year Awarded: 1989

Orange, TX

Butler received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Animal Husbandry. After serving in the U.S. Army Reserve, he gained stature as a specialist in meat research. In 1986, he retired as Texas A&M Associate Deputy Chancellor for Agriculture after 50 years of service to Texas A&M University.

"Dr. Butler’s long record of service and support of Texas A&M is well known and presents a rather unique picture of a man who not only succeeded in his chosen profession in a grand way but who has promoted and served Texas A&M virtually all of his adult life."

  - Dr. Perry L. Adkisson, Chancellor Emeritus, Texas A&M University System

J. Wayne Stark ’39
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Year Awarded: 2011

College Station, TX

Stark, Class of 1939, graduated from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in history. He later attended the University of Texas Law School but was unable to complete the program because he was drafted into service in World War II. While at A&M, he was associate editor of the student newspaper, club editor of the student yearbook, president of the Glee Club and the Biology Club and secretary for the Little Theatre. He was also a Ross Volunteer and a captain in the Corps of Cadets.



He served as an Army officer in World War II and then worked for Anderson Clayton Corp. before returning to A&M in 1947 as director of the Memorial Student Center. He conceived the mission of the MSC and oversaw construction of the MSC building, which serves as the campus’ “living room” and is dedicated to all Aggies who have died in all wars.



He served as the MSC director until 1980, when he retired and was named director emeritus.



Stark mentored thousands of young Aggies, encouraging both overseas travel and involvement in student organizations. He solicited millions of dollars in gifts and endowments for A&M and the MSC, increased the number of pieces in the University Art Collections and created numerous student organizations, including the Student Conference on National Affairs, the Opera and Performing Arts Society, the Black Awareness Committee and the Committee for the Awareness of Mexican American Culture. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Award from The Association of Former Students, and the J. Wayne Stark Galleries were named in his honor.



Stark and his wife, Jean, had two children. He passed away on Jan. 18, 1993.

“It was a very short step from the camaraderie of cadets and soldiers to the importance of helping Aggies, both graduates and students. He realized that by helping students, he would create relationships with people that would later help other students.”

  - Sallie McGehee, daughter of J. Wayne Stark, Class of 1939

Royce E. Wisenbaker ’39
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Year Awarded: 1973

Mineola, TX

Wisenbaker received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1939 and a master’s degree in Municipal and Sanitary Engineering in 1940. Following service in WWII, Wisenbaker and Robert E. Fix ’38 formed the engineering firm Wisenbaker Fix and Associates. The company has been responsible for well over $100 million worth of construction projects.



Wisenbaker is considered to be the “father” of the Century Club and is credited with establishing the President’s Endowed Scholarship program. As president of The Association of Former Students in 1966, Wisenbaker clearly exhibited his devotion to his alma mater by initiating the study which resulted in a new organizational structure to more effectively serve Texas A&M University.

"Mr. Wisenbaker’s commitment to higher education was exemplary. He impacted a lot of young Texans’ lives by assisting them in their efforts to get a college education."

  - Governor Rick Perry ’72

LTG James F. Hollingsworth ’40
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Year Awarded: 1980

Sanger, TX

Hollingsworth received a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture in 1940. Hollingsworth’s 36-year military career touched the sands of North Africa, spanned the length of Europe, and contributed to the stability of a volatile situation in the Far East.



Hollingsworth was assigned to Korea in 1973 and served as Commanding General of the I Corps which is the largest field army command in the world. He also directed 13 divisions of Republic of Korea and United States Troops. He changed the strategy of defense for Korea and developed the now famous short-war concept which has become the example for the United States forward defense concepts. His decorations include Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star and Purple Heart with five Oakleaf Clusters.

"He is truly a legend—truly an American Aggie Hero."

  - Frank M. Muller, Jr. '55, Distinguished Alumnus, 1992