Donna and James R.
Thompson ’68
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Kaufman, TX
Jim graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Construction. As a student, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and Ross Volunteers and was named a Distinguished Military Graduate. Following graduation, Jim joined the United States Air Force and served as an instructor pilot until 1973. After gaining ten years of construction experience, he founded James R. Thompson, Inc., with offices now located in Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. JRT prides itself as an award-winning company, focusing on the construction of low-rise buildings, interior finish-out and renovation. James R. Thompson, Inc. celebrated 27 years in January 2010 and has been awarded the Associated General Contractors (AGC) Summit Award 18 times and the AGC State Award seven times. Jim is a member of Texas A&M’s Construction Industry Advisory Council, the Legacy Society, the President’s Board of Visitors for the Corps of Cadets, the Corps of Cadets Association and the 12th Man Foundation’s Advisory Board. In 2000, he received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the College of Architecture. Jim has funded a President’s Endowed Scholarship, two Sul Ross Endowed Scholarships and a Construction Science Endowed Scholarship. In addition to serving Texas A&M, Jim served on the Kaufman ISD School Board for 15 years and helped found the Kaufman ISD Scholarship Foundation. He is a former trustee of the Texas Association of School Boards as well as the Kaufman County Appraisal District. Jim is a member of the Kaufman County A&M Club and has served as a Class Agent for the Class of ’68. He and his wife, Donna Beth, have three sons, Lance, Ryan ’95 and Cody ’01.
Patricia J. and Richard P.
Buonauito ’69
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West Greenwich, R.I.
Richard P. Buonauito ’69 graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in entomology. During his time at A&M, Buonauito was consistently overtaken by the camaraderie and spirit shown by those around him. Through the friendships he forged and the guidance he sought out, Buonauito was able to delve deeper into his field of entomology and acquire invaluable knowledge that would further his professional career.
An appreciation of his time at Texas A&M as well as a calling to give back through philanthropic efforts prompted Richard and his wife, Patricia, to become Endowed Century Club members. Buonauito says, “As an Aggie, the A&M tradition is engrained in your spirit for life,” and thus he feels great pride in contributing back to a university that gave and taught him so much.
"By perseverance the snail reached the ark."
- Charles Spurgeon
Bill E.
Carter ’69
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Dallas, TX
Carter received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics in 1969 and was a distinguished military graduate as well as Student Body President. A Certified Financial Planner, he currently serves as President of Carter Advisory Services and Carter Financial Management. Carter is a Past President of The Association of Former Students and a Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Texas A&M University Foundation. Worth Magazine has named Carter numerous times as one of the Top 250 Financial Planners and he has also been named “Rising Star” of Texas by Texas Business Magazine.
Stephen A.
Holditch ’69
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Bryan, TX
After working as an engineer and an independent consultant, Dr. Stephen Holditch joined the Petroleum Engineering faculty at Texas A&M in 1976, where he taught Graduate level courses. He formed S.A. Holditch & Associates, Inc. in 1977 which had grown to more than 80 employees when it became part of the Schlumberger Technology Corporation in 1997. Holditch was elected to the Petroleum Engineering Academy of Distinguished Graduates at Texas A&M in 1998.
Kathy and David M.
Howard ’69
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Klein, TX
After receiving his BA in Political Science from Texas A&M, David Howard attended the University of Texas Law School, obtaining his J.D., then went on to receive his M.B.A. from the UT Graduate School of Business. He was a tax partner in Arthur Anderson’s Houston office, with over 30 years of experience in advising clients on tax issues and preparing tax returns.
Pam and Gary R.
Mayes ’69
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Houston, TX
After graduating with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering, Gary Mayes worked for Dow Chemical Co. and then as a design engineer for the Texas Highway Department in Houston. He currently holds a Professional Engineers License as Project Civil Engineer for Brown and Root, Inc. This contribution to The Association is in loving memory of his parents, John H. and Mary E. Mayes, for supporting his attendance to Texas A&M, as well as a token of appreciation to Texas A&M.
Nalga and Paul M.
Mebane III ’69
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Boerne, TX
Paul M. Mebane ’69 graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering, followed by a Masters in 1970. After graduation, Mebane was assigned to the Air Force Weapons Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he served for four years. In 1974, Mebane went to work for ExxonMobil and spent a 32 year career in upstream project management and development planning with assignments in Houston, New Jersey, Norway, Malaysia and Qatar.
It is as if the overall Aggie “journey” is a tradition: from the first days of fish camp, to walking across the graduation stage on campus, and then continuing beyond with wearing the ring and attending Muster to bond us to one another and the university. The traditions even influence non-attending family to become close “friends of A&M” - my son, a Duke grad, is an avid Aggie sports fan. The A&M years are probably what molded me into the type of person I am today and created a bond with all other Aggies. I continue to be amazed that Aggies can walk into a crowded room anywhere in the world and spot another Aggie ring across the room.
Dr. William "Bill"
Shughart ’69
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Logan, UT
William F. Shughart II is a widely published professor of economics. He received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in economics from Texas A&M.
From 1971 to 1973, Shughart served on active duty in the U.S. Navy as a courier for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. From 1973 to 1974, he worked as a systems analyst at the Center for Naval Analyses. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1975 to 1976.
Shughart is a member of the Western, Southern, and American Economic Associations, Public Choice Society, and Academy of Political Science. He has taught at the University of Arizona, Clemson University, George Mason University, and the University of Mississippi. Since 2011, he has been a professor in public choice at Utah State University in the Department of Economics.
As of 2017, Shughart held six editorial positions and had written or co-written a dozen books in the economics and public choice fields and made contributions to more than 60. He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Times, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the New York Post, and the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
Gloria and Thomas M.
Woodbury ’69
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College Station, TX
Thomas Woodbury receiving a BS degree in Architectural Construction from Texas A&M in 1969. He then received a MS degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Woodbury has been employed with Exxon Mobil since 1970, most recently working with global services.
Shirley and Donald F.
Birkelbach ’70
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College Station, TX
Don received both his bachelors and masters degrees in chemistry from Texas A&M University in 1970 and 1971 respectively. After serving three years as an officer in the US Navy, Don joined The Dow Chemical Company in 1974. Don and Shirley both attended the University of Houston-Clear Lake and Shirley graduated with a bachelors degree in marketing and Don received his masters of business administration in personnel management both in 1979. During a successful career with Dow that spanned 27 years, Don held several positions in plastics research and development, manufacturing and human resources. Don was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Former Students for the College of Science in 2000.
In 2001, after retiring from Dow, Don joined the Texas A&M Foundation. He served as the Senior Director of Development for the College of Science until 2010 and as the Assistant Vice President for Development leading the development efforts for the Look College of Engineering until 2012. He currently serves as the Senior Regional Director of Major Gifts for the Gulf Coast area. Don and Shirley reside in College Station and have 2 daughters and two son-in laws, all Aggies. Sandra ‘ 04 and Justin ’05 Bruce reside in Angleton and Candace ’07 and Christopher Suchma ’03 reside in Austin. They have one grandson Zachariah Bruce ’35 (hopefully).
Dennis A.
Blagrave ’70
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Iola, TX
This gift was given in honor of his parents, R.A. and Beth Blagrave.
R.A. (Ashley) and Beth Blagrave grew up in Madison County, Texas, where they met as teenagers. Shortly after they married and moved to Houston, Beth worked in a furniture store while Ashley, who had since joined the Navy, was away at the war. In 1945, when he returned, Ashley went to work for Ms. Baird’s for eleven years and then went to work for Able Supply and Huber Construction for 29 years. Ashley retired as Executive Vice President from Able and was a consultant for General Refractories for four years. Their numerous children and grandchildren have been blessed by the education, fellowship and traditions of Texas A&M University.
We hope that the lives of other aspiring students will be enhanced as have the lives of our descendants who attended and/or graduated from TAMU.
Lynda and Thomas L.
Curl ’70
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Brookfield, WI
Thomas L. “Tom” Curl graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M in 1970. Tom has had a successful career working for outstanding magazines such as Southern Living, and Progressive Farmer. Tom and his wife Lynda currently live in Brookfield, Wisconsin. He realizes the great importance to give back to an outstanding institution that has impacted his life to be the person he is today.
June and Nathan O.
Finke ’70
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Dallas, TX
Nathan O Finke ’70 attended Texas A&M University on a tennis scholarship and graduated with a BBA in Finance in 1970. He was employed by First National Bank, Bank One and U.S. Trust Company (all Dallas area offices) during his career in institutional marketing of investment management services to pension funds and foundations. June Kirkpatrick Finke attended East Texas State University (now Texas A&M Commerce) and graduated in 1969 with a BS in English and History/Secondary Education. She was employed by First National Bank as a government bond trader for ten years. Married in 1971, Nathan and June have a large extended family with nine nieces/nephews, their spouses and 19 great-nieces/nephews with another one due in April. Many of their activities are family oriented.
Sandra and Bryan Nelson
Mitchell ’70
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Fort Worth, TX
Bryan Mitchell earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M in 1969 and received his D.V.M. degree in 1971. Following thirteen years of practicing veterinary medicine at Fort Worth’s Richland Animal Hospital, he entered full-time into the home building business by establishing History Maker Homes in 1985.
Theresa and E. Michael
Williams ’70
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Plano, TX
Mike Williams graduated with a B.S. degree in Nuclear Engineering. In April of 1972 he began his professional career in the Power Generation Department of Southwestern Electric Power Company, a subsidiary of Central South West Corporation, in Shreveport, Louisiana. During his 28-year career with Central and South West, Mike held numerous management positions in three states, and ended his CSW career as Vice Prresident of Fossil Generation in Dallas, Texas. In June 2000 he became the Senior Vice President of Power Operations for Carolina Power and Light in Raleigh, North Carolina. Over the years, he has served on several school boards in support of Catholic education, and has been co-chair of the Bishop Lynch Catholic High School ‘Hearts and Hammers” project in Dallas, Texas. Mike enjoys reading, traveling, and golf. He and his wife Theresa are the parents of Chris ’96, a former MSC President and recent graduate of the University of Texas Law School; and Kyle ’02.
Becky and Jerry L.
Boles ’71
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San Antonio, TX
Jerry L. Boles ’71 is President of Grona Boles & Martin Insurance & Financial Services. He has been in the insurance business since he graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Business Administration. In 1972 he attended the US Army Field Artillery School, in Fort Still, Oklahoma. Jerry was President of the San Antonio A&M Club in1991, President of The Association of Former Students in 1999, as well as an Auction Committee Member for the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo.
It is important that The Association continue to grow, remain strong and independent. Legacy is the foundation of A&M. Legacy built the Aggie family and developed the Aggie Network. The Association needs the support of all former students in order to be in a position to insure that the traditions and values that are our cornerstone remain so.
Bonnie and Otway B.
Denny, Jr. ’71
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Houston, TX
Otway earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Texas A&M University in 1971 and a Juris Doctorate, cum laude, in 1973 from Baylor Law School. In addition to being a member of the Corps of Cadets and the Ross Volunteers while at Texas A&M, Otway served as Chairman of the Fish Camp Committee and MSC Leadership Committee. In 1973, he was admitted to practice law in Texas. He has been a Partner in the Houston office of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. since 1981 and has litigated numerous cases in state and federal courts. Included in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law and The International Who’s Who of Product Liability Defense Lawyers, Otway has been selected for ‘The Best Lawyers in America’ and ‘Texas Super Lawyers.’ He has also been ranked among the top attorneys in Litigation: General Commercial Practice Field in Texas according to Chambers & Partners, USA. Otway is a past president of both the Houston Bar Association and the Houston Young Lawyers Association. He is Past Chair of the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas, Past Chair of the Board of the Houston Bar Foundation and Past Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Texas Bar Foundation. Otway is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a Sustaining Life Fellow of the Houston and Texas Bar Foundations. Otway served as a Class Agent from 1971–1991 and currently serves Texas A&M University in a number of volunteer capacities, including the Corps of Cadets Development Council, the College of Liberal Arts Development Council and the 12th Man Foundation’s Advisory Board. He was named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ by the Texas Aggie Bar Association in 2001. Otway and his wife, Bonnie, have three daughters, Amy Denny Stuber ’97, Lisa ’98 and Stacey.
J. Rick
Dornhoefer ’71
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Houston, TX
In honor of his father, W.A. Dornhoefer
Dornhoefer is the President and Co-Founder of The MergePros Group investment banking consulting firm specializing in merger/acquisition transactions. He also served as Managing principal of Oak Ridge Investment Co., an investment and advisory firm for emerging companies. Dornhoefer served Texas A&M was The Association of Former Students Councilman-at-Large and a member of the Houston A&M Club and The Aggie Club.