Dona and Mike
Glynn ’75
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Plano, TX
Mike Glynn ’75 came to Texas A&M in the fall of 1971 at the urging of two of his cousins, Jim ’68 and Tom ’71 Glynn. Older by a few years, they would come home on breaks and entertain him with stories of the Corps of Cadets, tradition and Aggie Spirit. “They were a big influence on me,” Glynn said.
So, when he arrived in Aggieland, he had expectations of what was to come—but, his expectations didn’t come close to the whole impact that would come from being an Aggie.
At Texas A&M, Glynn said, he gained bold servant leadership experience in the Corps, enjoyed the uniting Spirit of Aggieland through traditions, and daily worked out the core values of the university. “In one way or another, each day, I call upon those skills in my everyday life,” he said.
“I wanted to stay in touch and give back to A&M for everything the school gave me,” he said, so, about five years after he graduated, he joined the Century Club. “I just gave the minimum,” he said. Five years later, he decided to increase his donation. Five years later he upped it again. The pattern was established unconsciously at first, “but at some point it dawned on me,” he said. He has increased his donation and donor level every five years all the way to the Endowed Century Club level.
“I’m blessed to be able to give back,” he said. “The thing about it is, when I write a check to A&M, I don’t even think about it. I freely do it. It’s a treat and a joy.”
A&M is the home to many of his most treasured memories. He remembers his first Muster. Held in G. Rollie, he can still hear the sharp tapping of the Ross Volunteers’ shoes. He holds tight to the memories of Corps activities and how it felt to wear his uniform. His son Michael ’97 and stepson Ryan ’01 both graduated from Texas A&M. Gynn even asked his wife, Dona, to marry him at the 2002 football game against Oklahoma by arranging for a plane to fly over Kyle Field fitted with a banner that proposed marriage.
Having the same seats for years next to Doug Otten ’65, Otten snuck confetti into the pockets of all of his seat neighbors.
She said ‘yes.’ The confetti flew.
Life connected to Texas A&M has been sweet. “It is truly special to be able to give back to the school I love,” he said.
Murray W.
Newton ’75
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Southlake, TX
Murray W. Newton ’75 is executive vice president of Koll Development Company, a national commercial real estate development company in Dallas, Texas. Murray graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor of science degree in Engineering Technology. Since graduation, he has held various construction and development management positions in the Dallas area. Murray has been Class Agent for the Class of 1975, since 1985. He has also served as administrator for the Class of 1975 Presidential Endowed Scholarship and the Class of 1975 Sul Ross Scholarship.
I believe the most significant impact from being an Aggie is that I made life-long friends at A&M, whose relationships I will always treasure. I recognize that Texas A&M is one of the most significant blocks in the foundation of who I am. As former students, I believe we are all duty-bound to give back to A&M so that our legacy is maintained and that the university will continue to grow in greatness. Making a commitment like this to Texas A&M was essential for something that I felt so strongly about.
Connie and Robert
Schilhab ’75
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Kingwood, TX
Robert Schilhab wanted to attend Texas A&M because of the engineering school’s outstanding reputation. Schilhab received his bachelor’s in civil engineering in 1975 and worked at Exxon Mobil for his entire 36 year career.
He says that his success is a direct result of the great education he received at Texas A&M and that his giving back will “help to further educate the leaders of tomorrow.”
Schilhab, whose children are Nicole ’03 and Brent ’04, says his favorite Aggie tradition is the honor and prestige of wearing the Aggie Ring each day.
Brian P.
Ehni ’74
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Franklin, TN
Brian P. Ehni served in the U.S. Army Infantry as Captain and Infantry Branch Advisor and member of the Infantry Team and Readiness Group at Fort Sam Houston. During his career as a military officer, he had assignments with the 5th and 61st Infantry Divisions at Fort Polk, 13th Infantry and 8th Infantry Divisions, and U.S. Army Readiness and Mobilization Region VII at Fort Sam Houston.
Hiram
Johnson, III ’74
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Fort Worth, TX
After graduating from Texas A&M with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Hiram Johnson began work with ARCO Oil and Gas Company. He served as ARCO’s Prudhoe Bay Field Manager. His assignments ranged from Engineering Manager to Asset Manager in locations including Dallas, Denver, Midland and Anchorage.
Ronald James
Robinson ’74
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College Station, TX
Ronald Robinson is the Manager of International Applications, Exploration and Production Technology Department at Texaco and President of RBR Investments. He has had extensive experience in reservoir management and recovery technology throughout the world. He initiated the Reservoir Management concept within Texaco and also worked with Grace Petroleum Corp.
Patricia B. and Thomas E.
Trainer ’74
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Grapevine, TX
Tom's family had a tradition of attending Texas A&M with his grandfather, father, older brother, and younger brother all graduating from Texas A&M. After graduating, he spent 4 years in the US Army at the Tank Automotive Command in Warren, MI. After fulfilling his military commitment, he worked as a civilian for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the next 33 years, culminating his career as the Chief of the Engineering Division for the Sacramento, CA District. He married the love of his life, Patricia in 1993 and they enjoyed 30 years together until her passing in 2023.
Tom says Texas A&M has always had a special place in his heart and he wanted to give back in repayment for all the fond memories and lessons that he learned while there.
S. Shariq
Yosufzai ’74
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Oakland, CA
Shariq is serving The Association of Former Students as our 2010 Chair of the Board. Having graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, he was honored as both the Outstanding International Alumnus and a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M University in 1999. Shariq is Vice-President, Global Downstream, Chevron Corporation. In his role he supports Chevron’s CEO & Chairman on the National Petroleum Council (NPC) ‘Future Fuels’ Study as Chair of the Chevron led Supply & Infrastructure Task Group and as Decision Executive on Downstream Portfolio Projects worldwide. He is also the Chevron Executive for Texas A&M, a designated strategic university, in the company’s University Partnership Program. From 2004 to April 2010, Shariq was President of Global Marketing for Chevron Corporation where he was responsible for Chevron's worldwide marketing in 70 countries, under three brands: Chevron, Texaco and Caltex. Prior to this he was Co-President, Chevron Products Company; President, ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants; Corporate Vice-President and President, Lubricants and New Business Development, Caltex Corporation; Corporate Vice-President for Africa and Corporate Business Units for Caltex Petroleum Corporation and President of Texaco Lubricants Company. Shariq has served on the Management Committee of Star Enterprise (then a joint venture company of Texaco Refining & Marketing (East) Inc.) and Saudi Refining Inc., a subsidiary of Saudi Aramco. He was also Chairman of the Board of Caltex Lubricants Lanka Ltd. and a member of the board of directors of Caltex Australia Ltd. A Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Shariq was recently awarded the 2010 Industry Leadership Award by AIChE for his many accomplishments and contributions within the industry. He was also was awarded The Robert L. Jacks Memorial Award by the AIChE Management Division in 1995 and named Lubricants World magazine's 'Person of the Year' in 1996. In 1998, he was elected a charter member of Texas A&M’s Distinguished Chemical Engineering Alumni Association. In March, 2010 he was invited to serve as “Distinguished Executive Professor” in Texas A&M’s Mays School of Business. Shariq currently serves as the First Vice Chair of the California Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and on the Executive Committee of the San Francisco Opera Board of Directors. He has served on various other boards, including the Houston Grand Opera, Jesse H. Jones School of Business at Texas Southern University, the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas Inc., the Greater Houston Area Recycling Council, and Texas A&M's College of Science Advisory Council, and as Chair of the Societal Impact Operating Council of AIChE.
My passion for learning and life is rooted in large part from the values instilled in me at Texas A&M. The university’s deep commitment to academic excellence and creating an atmosphere where fellowship with students is paramount are a vital part in moving forward on life’s journey. The ring I wear with great pride is a reminder of my rich experience as an Aggie. Through our support, we can ensure that future generations will embrace the ideals of Texas A&M and forge remarkable paths as Aggies before them have done.
Denise and Jorge A.
Bermudez ’73
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College Station, TX
Jorge is a Past Board Chair of The Association of Former Students. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and went on to receive a master’s degree in the same field. He is President and CEO of the Byebrook Group, a small firm dedicated to research and advisory work in the financial services industry. Jorge is the former Chief Risk Officer of Citigroup. Prior to this appointment, he served as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Commercial Business Group in North America, as well as Citibank Texas. During his 30-year career with Citibank/Citigroup, he held the following positions: Chief Executive Officer of Citigroup Latin America; Executive Vice President and Head of Global Cash Management and Trade; President of Citibank Argentina and Head of the South America Division; Head of Credit Policy and Risk for International Banking; Head of Risk for the Corporate Banking Division in North America. Jorge currently serves as director on the following boards: The Houston Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas; The Council of the Americas, New York; The Americas Society, New York; and The Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley. A selfless leader to Texas A&M University, Jorge serves on the International Board, the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Development Council, the Mays Business School Development Council. A recipient of the Tyrus R.Timm Honor Registry Award, he was recently recognized as an Outstanding Alumnus of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Jorge and his wife Denise have four children, Jorge II, Andres, Elena and Antonio.
John R.
Carmichael III ’73
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Plano, TX
John Carmichael is a Regional Partner for Trammell Crow Residential Company, Palo Alto, California and serves on the Policy Advisory Board for the U.C. Berkley Center for R/E and Urban Economics. After receiving an M.B.A. from the University of North Texas, he was regional manager for Brentwood Properties, then a partner in Chasewood Company and a regional partner for Crow-Western Company in Houston and Palo Alto.
Vassar Bailey and Jim
Ivey ’73
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Houston, TX
Colonel Jim Ivey ’73 received a bachelor’s in building construction from Texas A&M University in 1973. Jim later received his MBA in finance from the University of Houston in 1978, and in 1981 graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He also completed the Advanced Management Program at Duke University in 2001. Upon graduation from Texas A&M University, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve. From 1974 to 2004, Jim served in a variety of Reserve units and roles, including command of the 4013th USAG, HQ, 3rd Brigade of the 95th Division and G8 of the 90th RSC. Jim’s military awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal and the DeFluery Medal for distinguished service to the Corps of Engineers.In his civilian career, Jim has served in a variety of executive positions with several energy companies, including Arkla, Tenneco, Williams and MarkWest. Currently he is the president and chief executive officer of Milagro Exploration in Houston. Jim is also a current board member of MachGen, NEGT, Milagro Exploration, Tulsa Boys Home and the Ole Miss College of Engineering Advisory Board. In addition to these responsibilities, he is also a founding sponsor of the National Museum of the U.S. Army, as well as a member of Army Historical Foundation, Reserve Officers Association, Association of the U.S. Army, Independent Producers Association of America, and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Jim has three children, Adriane Jaynes ’02, Michael Ivey ’04, and Brian Ivey. Jim and his wife, Vasser Bailey, live in Houston.
Jan and David A.
Kinison ’73
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Kingwood, TX
In Memory of parents, L. Wayne and Eleanore Kinison
David Alan Kinison ’73 is a retired registered petroleum engineer having served 36 years with ExxonMobil Production Company. His specialty was completion design and hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells. Kinison graduated cum laude from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering.
My wife and I wanted to make this gift in memory of my parents who were married for 57 years. Although neither was a college graduate, they encouraged all their children to get a college education, which we did. Texas A&M University continues to stand out as a distinctively great university, guided by tradition but practical in adapting to fulfill its mission as Texas’ premier university. The type of people that are drawn to Texas A&M year after year make it so outstanding and continue to make me proud that I am associated with it. To the extent that our gift can help to perpetuate the excellence that is Aggieland, we are happy to give.
Sue and Larry R.
Kohler ’73
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Cypress, TX
Larry Kohler has been a Project Manager with Brown & Root, Inc. in Houston since 1973. His experience includes work on power plants, petrochemical plants, gas plants, and manufacturing and process plants. He served as an enlisted man in the U.S. Army Reserve for six years.
Beverly and John F.
Landgraf ’73
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Odessa, TX
John F. Landgraf ’73 studied civil engineering at Texas A&M, where his fondest memories are of the lifelong friendships formed with his fellow cadets. Landgraf was a Ross Volunteer and a member of Parsons Mounted Cavalry. He was also in the Student Government Association. Landgraf described his time at A&M as a rewarding experience that has helped him to be a better person.
His children are all A&M graduates: Mary Landgraf Krebs ’00, Brooks Landgraf ’03 and Elizabeth Landgraf Cliborn ’06.
He said he believes in giving back to his university and to his community, and he believes in what The Association of Former Students does for the good of Texas A&M. Those beliefs inspired him to become an Endowed Century Club member.
Ronald G.
Spies ’73
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College Station, TX
Ron Spies earned a BBA in accounting from Texas A&M in 1973 and has been a licensed CPA since 1976. After a long affiliation with the organization through his audit practice, he joined The Association of Former Students’ staff in 1987 as controller. Today, as vice president and CFO, he is responsible for the fiscal well-being of the organization. He led the 2008 building enhancement project for the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center. In 2006 Ron was honored as a Fish Camp namesake in recognition of his service to Texas A&M. Ron and his wife, Debbie ’76, reside in College Station and are parents to Jeremy, Tim and Nick, and have two granddaughters, Ainsley and Lucy.