Glenwood W.
Specht ’55
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Littleton, CO
After a 39-year career with Exxon Company USA, Glen Specht retired in 1944. He was assigned to the Property Management Group as a geological scientist, served on the committees for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and was a visiting petroleum geologist in the West Texas Geological Society of Petroleum Engineers.
James P.
Staehs ’55
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San Jose, CA
James Staehs served as the President and Owner of Jasta, Inc., a producer of industrial electromechanical linear actuators, antenna drive pedestals and custom items. He formed Jasta in 1974 after working as general manager and owner of Engineering Corporation of America.
Mary Ann and Dale
Stice ’55
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Midland, TX
After graduating in 1955 from Texas A&M with a bachelors in marketing, Dale Stice joined the United Stated Air Force and served for three years. In 1958, Dale went to work in the family grocery business until 1963 when he decided to go to the University of Houston Law School. Upon graduation from law school, Dale held various positions with numerous companies in Midland.
Texas A&M gave me a good foundation on which to build my life on and establish many lifelong friendships. This gift allows me to show my appreciation by returning a small portion of what TAMU did for me. May the old Aggie Spirit continue to burn in our lives – Gig‘Em!
Richard A.
Williford ’55
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Richard Williford served as the Board Chairman and Owner of Williford Energy Company as well as Williford, Inc. and Safety Training Systems, Inc. He was the President of The Association of Former Students and on the 12th Man Foundation Board of Directors.
Joy and Glen D.
Churchill ’56
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Fountain Hills, AZ
Glen Churchill retired in 1992 after 13 years as the President and CEO of West Texas Utilities Company in Abilene. He served as Executive VP and CFO for Central Power and Light Co. in Corpus Christi. He serves on the board of Phoenix Investment Partners. He has been on the boards of numerous industrial foundations and civic organizations. He was president of the Abilene A&M Club and served as a campaign chairman and president of the United Way of Abilene.
Harriet and Fred B.
Cox, Jr. ’56
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Henderson, NV
Fred Cox, Jr. graduated from Texas A&M as co-valedictorian in 1956 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He then attended MIT and became a Professional Electrical Engineer and founded numerous corporations including Emulex Corporation and Continuus Software Corporation, which he served as president and chairman.
Harriet and Joe B.
Foster ’56
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Houston, TX
Joe Foster is a Texas businessman, oilman, and philanthropist. From 1989 to 2005, Foster was Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Newfield Exploration Company, headquartered in Houston. Previously, Mr. Foster was Chairman of Tenneco Oil Company and Executive Vice President and director of its parent, Tenneco Inc. He was with Tenneco for 31 years and also served as Chairman of the Tenneco Gas Pipeline Group.[4]
Mr. Foster was born in Arp, Texas and attended Texas A&M University. He graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree in petroleum engineering and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in general business. He served in the U.S. Army in 1958. In May, 1997, he was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M University. Mr. Foster served as Chairman of the National Petroleum Council, an industry advisory body to the U.S. Secretary of Energy in 1997, and in 1995-1996 served as Chairman of the Offshore Committee of the Independent Petroleum Association of America. He was a Director of Memorial Hermann Hospital System in Houston and has served as Chairman of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Greater Houston YMCA, and the Texas A&M Development Foundation.[1] He also served on the Boards of Baker Hughes Incorporated, and New Jersey Resources Corporation, Currently, Foster is chairman of a private equity fund, and a senior advisor at Tudor, Pickering, and Holt in Houston..
Ray L.
Howdeshell ’56
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Dallas, TX
Ray Howdeshell served as the Executive Vice President of the Tonkawa Gas Processing Company and the Texas Oil & Gas Corporation. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Texas and served on the Board of Directors of the Gas Processors Association. This endowment is made in honor of his mother, the late Anna Kathryn Howdeshell, and his three children, Paul Ray, Amy Lynn and Davis Scott Howdeshell.
Rose and Harold G.
Jacobson ’56
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Houston, TX
Following his brother, Arch ’49, Harold Jacobson graduated from Texas A&M in 1956 with a degree in chemistry and was commissioned as second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in 1957. While serving in the Air Force, Jacobson spent a year at Thule Air Base in Greenland, about 650 miles south of the North Pole. It was his first trip north of Dallas. Jacobson went to work for Shell Chemical Co. prior to entering the service in 1956 and returned to Shell in 1960. While working for Shell, Jacobson worked in Texas, Manhattan, and New Jersey until his retirement in 1995. Jacobson has served as a Director of the Shell Alumni Association and maintained his interest in aviation. He pursued pilot training in general aviation and became a single-engine, multi-engine and instrument instructor pilot, teaching flying as a weekend activity.
Harold Jacobson and his wife, Rose, live in Houston, and their children, Laura ’81, Gregg ’83 and Amy ’92, attended Texas A&M. They believe it is their obligation to give back to A&M and to other charitable organizations to help make the world a better place. Jacobson says A&M provided him with an everlasting pool of contacts, friendships, and preparation for life.
Jo and Donald F.
Keprta ’56
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Plano, TX
Upon graduating from Texas A&M with a B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering, Don Keprta went to work for Sinclair Oil & Gas Company. He continued with ARCO when the companies merged, serving in various Operations and Engineering Management assignments. Don is also a seven year veteran of the Aggie Kickoff Team.
Lynn D.
Monical ’56
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Lake Jackson, TX
Following graduation, Lynn Monical served as the U.S. Army Captain until 1967. He was Vice President of Monical & Powell, Inc. and President of U.S. Contractors, LLD. Monical also served on the Board of Directors for the 12th Man Foundation.
The Family of John H.
Moser ’56
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Jan Moser earned a degree in Civil Engineering, attended graduate school and worked as an Environmental Engineer. At A&M, Jan was active in the Catholic Student Assn., intramural sports, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and served on the Student Government Election Commission, and the MSC Conference on National Affairs.
Linda and George E.
Bahlmann ’57
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Lytle, TX
George Balhmann was a member of the Fightin Texas Aggie Band and the Town Hall staff during his undergraduate years at Texas A&M. He was employed by several major chemical companies, including Union Carbide Corporation, Shell Oil and Amoco Chemicals Corporation over his 38-year career. Mr. & Mrs. Bahlmann honor his brother and his daughter with this endowment.
LaGrace and Don
Barkman ’57
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Longview, TX
Don earned a Bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University in Petroleum Engineering in 1957. While attending Texas A&M, Don was an active member of the Corps of Cadets, which provided some of his greatest memories, and life long friendships. Don worked for Texas Railroad Commission, Mobil Oil Corporation, Mobley Company, Inc, and Mobley Oilfield Services, LP. Don and his wife LaGrace give to a number of organizations and are active members within the Longview community.
James L.
Burkhart ’57
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Lubbock, TX
James Burkhart is Chairman of the Board of BRG Petroleum Corporation of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and previously served as president and CEO. He also held executive positions with Amoco Production Company, Cotton Petroleum Corporation, Santa Fe Natural Resources Corporation and Burkhart Petroleum Corporation.
Vera and Hayden O.
Grona ’57
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San Antonio, TX
Hayden Grona founded Bexar Savings of San Antonio in 1966 and served as its chairman and CEO. He has served Texas A&M as the Past President of the San Antonio Club and Foundation, a part of the Executive Committee of The Aggie Club, and as a member of the Advisory Board of the Texas A&M College of Business Administration.
Ann and Joseph T.
Janica, Sr. ’57
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Hobbs, TX
Joseph graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Geological Engineering. He began to work for Humble Oil & Refining Company for Houston, West Texas, & New Mexico. Joseph then served as President of Natural Resources Engineering, Inc. before taking on his current role as President of Tierra Exploration, Inc. Joseph credits the individuals that gave him the aid needed to develop into the person that he is today and would like to give fellow Aggies the chance to do the same.
Kim and Kenneth R.
LeSuer ’57
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Montgomery, TX
Ken LeSuer retired in 1999 from the Halliburton Company, where he was serving as vice chairman. He was named to Texas A&M’s Petroleum Engineering Academy of Distinguished Graduates and served on A&M’s Vision 2020 Task Force. He is an endowed member of the 12th Man Foundation and served on the Dwight Look College of Engineering External Advisory and Development Council.
Mary and Albert M.
Loudon ’57
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Austin, TX
A.M. “Bert” Loudon graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Electrical Engineering. After 38 years in various positions, Bert is now retired from Square D Company.
Helen Ann and Charles Dewey
McMullan ’57
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College Station, TX
Charles Dewey McMullan had a lifelong affiliation with Texas A&M. Interested in architectural construction and in military services, he chose to enter the Air Force ROTC program at A&M. Through scholarships and working summer jobs, McMullan paid his way through school.
While at Texas A&M, McMullan was a Ross Volunteer. He was a distinguished student eight of his 10 semesters at A&M and was initiated into Tau Beta Pi engineering honorary society and Phi Kappa Phi national honorary society. During his senior year, he met and married the love of his life, Ann. In May 1958, he was named ROTC Distinguished Graduate and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.
McMullan’s education in architectural construction prepared him for his 21-year career in the Air Force as a civil engineer. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal.
In 1980 McMullan returned to Texas A&M as an assistant professor and then an associate professor in the Department of Construction Science. He received the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1997 from The Association of Former Students and in his honor, the Charles Dewey McMullan Endowed Scholarship for construction science students was established. In December 1999, the Board of Regents bestowed the title “Associate Professor Emeritus of Construction Science.”
McMullan considered himself the luckiest guy he knew. Both McMullan and his wife retired from A&M in 1998 and McMullan said that they were richly blessed through their association with Texas A&M. They felt very fortunate to be able to return some of the resources A&M gave to them.
Charles McMullan passed away in May 2012.
Ann and I have been richly blessed through our association with Texas A&M. If asked to sum up my life in two words it would be, “Lucky me!” Seldom does a day go by that we don’t comment on how great it is to live in this area where we can take in Aggie sports, especially volleyball, football, and baseball. We also enjoy programs offered through the Bush Presidential Library. Again, we thank our lucky stars for bringing us full circle back to A&M.
Patricia and Glendale B.
Rand ’57
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Houston, TX
After a successful 28-year career, Glendale Rand retired in 1986 as District Sales Manager for Exxon Co. USA in Houston. He also served as the State Marketing Manager for T.I.H. Rand has funded an endowment for A&M’s Management Department, endowed a Sul Ross Scholarship for the Corp of Cadets and quarterbacked the 1953 Aggie Freshman football team.
Joan and S. Wayne
Adamik ’58
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Plano, TX
S. Wayne received his BBA in Building Projects Marketing in 1959 from Texas A&M. He began his career as an insurance agent in 1960 and founded Third Party Administrators, Inc. in 1974. Wayne is on the Board of Directors for the Garland Chamber of Commerce, a Lakeside Rotary member and in the Knights of Columbus.
H. Grady
Ash, Jr. ’58
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Tulsa, OK
It’s my bottom-line policy,” said Grady Ash’58. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” That’s what Ash said he was thinking when he made the decision to join the Endowed Century Club. “Besides, I like A&M,” he said. “I like Aggies.” There’s something special about Aggies, he said. It’s in the way they shake your hand—“Aggies shake hard,” he said. They say what they mean and mean what they say, and they have a solid military past, present and future. “Here’s the main thing,” he said. “Everyone has a hero. For me, my heroes have always been of the military type.” Because of A&M’s strong patriotic and military tradition, “I’ve always seen A&M as something special.”
So when high school graduation came, and college was the next step, “I wanted to be an Aggie in Aggieland,” he said. So, that’s what he did, and—in the process of earning degrees in mechanical engineering and business administration—picked up a series of skill sets that would help him successfully grow his own company. He is the owner of AG Equipment Co. However, before starting that endeavor, Ash served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1954. “Got to respond to the flag,” he said. “I was born a Texas Aggie and derive a lot of satisfaction on helping others,” he said, especially when he can help students “go for the gusto,” and join the Aggie family. He has an arsenal of memories from his time at A&M, but his favorite is when his hard work paid off and he graduated. He was the first from his family to attend and graduate from Texas A&M, and he’s dedicated to making sure others who have a love for his school, get the chance to experience it.
George W.
Doering ’58
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Greeley, CO
George Doering served as President and CEO of ConAgra, Inc. After starting out as a self employed consulting entomologist, he spent several years with Monsanto Chemical Co. Doerling is Founder and President of Balcom Chemicals, Inc. and President of United Agri Products.
J. Louis
Frank ’58
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Sugarland, TX
J. Louis Frank served as President of Marathon Petroleum Company and has held nearly every field and drilling position in his 30-year career with the company. He supervised operations in Alaska, Indonesia and Ireland and is an expert in the supply, transportation, refining and marketing of petroleum products.