Bettye and John D.
Roper ’48
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Pearland, TX
John Roper is a retired Brigadier General in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He also retired from a managerial position in the Industrial Chemical Division of Ethyl Corporation. Roper received his B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M and a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Houston.
Bettye Roper attended Texas A&M graduate school and retired as a Remedial Reading Supervisor for the Pasadena ISD after working as an elementary school teacher.
Leon D.
Ross ’51
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Benicia, CA
After graduating from Texas A&M with a B.S. in Chemistry, Pete Ross worked for Phillips Chemical Company for a short time before joining the U.S. Army Chemical Corps in 1951 where he was awarded the silver star. He then began a 24-year career with Shell Oil Company where he worked in the research department and in the refineries. Ross now works in tax preparation and financial services.
Meredith and Ray A.
Rothrock ’77
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Palo Alto, CA
Ray Rothrock graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering. Following graduation he received his Masters of Science from MIT in Nuclear Engineering, and completed his education at Harvard Business School in 1988 receiving his MBA with Distinction. Ray has had a very successful career serving as an engineer and a marketing manager for many corporations. Currently he is serving as a general partner of Venrock Associates. His Non-Business directorships and trusteeships include great honors serving on the Board of Director for The Association of Former Students’, as a trustee for the Texas A&M Foundation, and as the National Venture Capital Association, Director & Chair Elect 2012. He truly exemplifies the role of an Aggie through his dedication to giving back to those that have impacted his life.
Patricia and David A.
Rubenstein ’77
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Fort Sam Houston, TX
Maj. Gen. David Rubenstein ’77 graduated from Texas A&M University in 1977 with a degree in health education. As a student, he was the commanding officer of Rudder’s Rangers. A graduate of the Army War College, he also earned master’s degrees in health administration from Baylor University and military art and science from the Army’s Command and General Staff College. David is the commanding general for the U.S. Army Medical Department Center & School. In addition, he serves concurrently as the chief of the Army Medical Service Corps. Prior to this appointment, he served as the U.S. Army’s deputy surgeon general as well as the commanding general of Europe Regional Medical Command in Heidelberg, Germany, and command surgeon for United States Army, Europe and 7th Army. His professional credentials include being a board certified healthcare executive who has served as Chairman of the Board of the 37,000-member American College of Healthcare Executives. David has served as Muster Chair in Fort Bragg, N.C.; Seatle-Tacoma, Wash.; and Hurtgen Forest, Germany. He is a member of the Corps of Cadets Association and is a guest lecturer to Texas A&M’s Army ROTC cadets and School of Rural Public Health. He serves on the Board of Directors of The Association of Former Students. David and his wife, Pat, have two children, Sarah ’04 and William.
Stephanie and James B.
Russ ’86
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Houston, TX
Jim Russ graduated from Texas A&M University in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in building construction. Upon graduation, Jim worked as a sales engineer at Stabilized Materials Co. for six years. From 1993 to 1998, he was a project manager for Brazos River Constructors Inc. In 1998, Jim joined the now-75-year-old family civil engineering firm Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ and Associates. As principal, he is responsible for overseeing and assisting with the management of the survey, construction observation, information technology, administrative and accounting departments, and managing all of the offi ce facilities and resources. In addition, he co-manages the fi rm’s other disciplines and the day-to-day overall operations with his business partner.Jim is currently a lifetime member of the 100 Club and the Coastal Conservation Association. He is serving his second year as an associate board member of the Houston Contractors Association and is a board member of the Greater 288 Partnership, a local advocacy group organized to seek out and promote regional mobility solutions in the Brazoria County region.Before joining the family engineering firm, Stephanie Russ worked as a legal consultant for the Houston based law firm of Schwartz, Page and Harding for 12 years. For over 11 years now, Stephanie has worked for Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ and Associates as a bond issue specialist, assisting with the preparation of financial bond issues for real estate developers and municipal utility districts.Jim and Stephanie live in Houston. Their daughter, Alexa, recently finished her first semester of college in Aggieland.
Elfriede and Jim B.
Russell III ’51
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Dallas, TX
After working 37 years for Mobil Oil, Jim Russell III retired in 1990 as Worldwide Engineering Training Coordinator. He received a Petroleum Engineering degree from Texas A&M. With Mobil, Jim’s specialty was teaching economics and risk analysis to company engineers and geologists in the U.S., Canada, England, Norway, Germany, Indonesia, and Nigeria.
Mary Ann and Anthony S.
Russo ’54
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Fairfield, CT
Sam Russo retired in 1996 after three years as President and CEO of Coulton Chemical Company, L.P. of Sylvania, Ohio. He had retired in 1991 as President of Rhone-Poulenc Basic Chemicals Company in Shelton, Connecticut after 37 years in various manufacturing, sales, marketing, and general management positions.
San Antonio A&M Club
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The San Antonio A&M Club was chartered in 1921 and with more than 1400 members they support twenty-two $500-per-semester scholarships and have President’s Endowed, 12th Man Endowed, and Sul Ross Scholarships. Bill Shannon, one of the club’s most active and beloved members, died in an airplane crash following an A&M football game. This endowment is made in his memory. He proudly worked to make the Aggie Park a beautiful and effective facility for the club.
Melinda ’77 and R. Scott
Sarine ’77
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Sulfur Springs, TX
After graduating from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology, R. Scott Sarine worked for Day Break Construction as Vice President until 1982. He has had various jobs in construction and is currently Division President of Buster Paving Division of APAC-Texas, Inc. Lindy Sarine graduated from Texas A&M with an Elementary Education degree in 1977.
Deborah A. and Stephen D.
Saroff
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Manhattan, KS
Although they did not attend Texas A&M, Stephen and Deborah Saroff were welcomed into the Aggie Network through the Traveling Aggies program, continuously forming friendships with Aggies on various trips.
“All of our relationships have occurred because of the wonderful Traveling Aggies program and Jennifer Bohac, who goes out of her way to make everyone feel welcome and part of the Aggie team,” they said.
The Saroffs said the Traveling Aggies program has given them “another life of great joy and friendships.” They have also come to appreciate and admire the character of their Aggie friends.
“It is important [to give] because we feel that we have received so much pleasure from the Traveling Aggie trips,” Steve said. “We have also come to appreciate the core values instilled in our Aggie friends.”
Laurie A. ’82 and Thomas J.
Saylak ’82
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Scarsdale, NY
Tom Saylak is Senior Managing Director for Blackstone Real Estate Partners L.P. in New York. He was a Principal with Tramell Crow Ventures in Dallas and a commercial real estate broker with the Horne Co. in Houston. He is on the boards of Interstate Hotel Corp. and Cadillac-Fairview, Inc.
Laurie Saylak is on the board of United Way of Scarsdale-Edgemont. She was been active with the United Way, League of Women Voters and Dallas Museum of Art. She also worked as a Legal Assistant with the law firm of Vinson & Elkins in Houston and Dallas and as a reference assistant for the Harvard School Library.
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.
Kevin E. ’91 and Karen E. (Greenwade) 1992
Schiller in memory of Kathryn J. Greenwade 1988
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College Station, TX
Ralph F.
Schilling, III ’68
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Torrance, CA
After graduating from Rice University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Physics in 1965, Ralph Schilling attended Texas A&M, earning an M.S. and Ph.D. in Physics. He has done Post-Doctoral research in Physics at Standford and in 1990 attended UCLA’s Executive Program. In 1974, he joined TRW Space and Electronics in California and is still currently employed there. Schilling has received a NASA Public Service Medal and two NASA Group Achievement Awards for Management of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory Program.
Donald R.
Schroeter ’63
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Houston, TX
Donald R. Schroeter ’63 graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering. He is now retired after working for 36 years in various engineering and supervisory domestic and foreign assignments in oil and gas field development planning and drilling operations. Donald started his career with Shell Oil Company in domestic service followed by 30 years with ExxonMobil affiliates and joint venture companies in foreign assignments.
TAMU provided me with the opportunity to obtain a quality education in an environment consistent with my values. In addition, my two daughters and both of their husbands are graduates of TAMU. I have been a Double Diamond contributor for many years and have decided to increase my contribution level to show my further appreciation for the benefits that I and my family have realized from the educations received at TAMU.