Hazel
Risch
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Dallas, TX
Hazel Hearn Risch never graduated from Texas A&M, but she has been an Aggie her entire life. Her great-grandfather was Harvey Mitchell, who helped get A&M established in the Brazos Valley. Since then, her family has been forever tied to the College. As a little girl, Hazel often remembers going out to the College to “watch the boys march in to supper,” a favorite Bryan pastime.
As she got older, Hazel was one of the “Bryan 400,” as her mother before her had been – the young women who were dates for the all-male student body. Her father worked in the Fiscal Office, and other family members were also employed at the College. Although her brother graduated from A&M in 1940, at the time Hazel graduated from high school in 1941 women were not allowed to attend A&M. She went to the University of Texas instead. She did attend summer school at A&M and also worked there part time in the summers before graduating in Austin in 1944 with a business degree.
She then got a job at A&M full-time, working as a secretary for the business manager. During World War II , she met a young Army pilot who was stationed at Bryan Field, now the Riverside campus. Hazel and Gail Risch were married in 1946. Gail attended A&M on the G.I. Bill, graduating in 1949 in mechanical engineering. Hazel continued to work for the College as Gail would ride the train to Houston one week, then to Dallas the next, looking for work. Finally he found a job in Dallas. In 1950, they moved there, where she has lived ever since.
In 1975, Hazel’s younger daughter enrolled at A&M. As the two walked around the campus, her daughter remarked that Hazel seemed to know everyone for whom the buildings and the streets were named. Her stories of old time A&M continue to entertain the later generations of Aggies in the family. After Gail passed away in 1986, Hazel established a President’s Endowed Scholarship in his name. She also continued their tradition of giving to A&M, renewing their membership in the Century Club in her own name as an Associate Member each year since that time.
Although she never earned a degree from Texas A&M, Hazel Hearn Risch has Texas A&M in her blood as much as the most rabid A&M graduate. Her daughters, Rebecca Risch Masse and Jennifer “JJ” Risch ’79, are honored to establish a membership in the Endowed Century Club in her name.
Freddy
Rodriguez '12
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College Station, TX
Like bookends on a shelf, Freddy Rodriguez’s favorite memories at Texas A&M mark the beginning and end of his time as a student. Earning his Corps Brass and donning his Aggie Ring for the first time were two impactful moments that symbolized his hard work and dedication in school. “I still tear up thinking about it to this day,” he said.
Rodriguez earned a bachelor’s degree in university studies with a concentration in leadership and minors in religious studies and philosophy. He was a member of the Corps of Cadets in Squadron “Hellcat” 21, served as director of the MSC Spencer Leadership Conference and rector for Aggie Awakening 96. He was actively involved in the Catholic Students Association through various ministries and the Aggie Muster Committee by serving as a Muster Host. “Nothing encompasses the Aggie Spirit quite like Muster,” he said. “It is a celebration of our time as students, friendships new and old and the strengthening of camaraderie that is second to none.”
He gained a lifelong love and appreciation for the university, which led him back to Aggieland in 2017 to join The Association of Former Students as coordinator of former student programs. He spends every day interacting with Aggies near and far, organizing Class Reunions and planning Class events with the sole purpose of keeping former students connected to the university.
As an Endowed Century Club Donor, Rodriguez hopes his gift will give other students the opportunity to gain as much from Texas A&M as he did. “This school has done so much for me and has helped to shape and develop me into the man I am today,” he said. “I want future Aggies to be able to experience the same and become the men and women our world so desperately needs.”
Mary Jane and Richard J.
Roeder '61
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Houston, TX
Mary Jane and Richard J. Roeder '61 Endowed Century Club Fund
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.
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.”
Kevin E. ’91 and Karen E. (Greenwade) 1992
Schiller in memory of Kathryn J. Greenwade 1988
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College Station, TX
Dr. M. Katherine Banks and Dr. Arthur Paul Schwab
Schwab
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College Station, TX
Dr. M. Katherine Banks and Dr. Arthur Paul Schwab Endowed Century Club Fund
Melinda and Robert J.
Sebesta '81
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Lago Vista, TX
Melinda and Robert J. Sebesta, Jr. '81 Endowed Century Club Fund
Jamie C. '01 and Landry E. '01
Seedig
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Nashville, TN
Jamie C. '01 and Landry E. '01 Seedig Endowed Century Club Fund
Dr. William
Serrata '91
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El Paso, TX
Dr. William Serrata '91 Endowed Century Club Fund
John S.
Sheffield, Jr. '56
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Longview, TX
John S. Sheffield, Jr. '56 Endowed Century Club Fund
Susan R. '06 and Westin E. '08
Skinner
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Richmond, TX
Westin Skinner graduated from Texas A&M in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in ocean engineering. He was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the source of some of his favorite memories as a student.
He met his wife, Susan ’06, at A&M, and the Skinners have many happy memories of their time in school. They also attribute much of their success to the university. For Westin, experiencing the values of A&M as a student instilled a code of conduct that he says he still lives by today. Among these is the Aggie code of honor: “An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do so.”
The Skinners chose to become members of the Endowed Century Club because they recognized it was important to “pay it forward for the next generation [and] to make sure A&M remains a world-class university.”
Chris Mark Merle
Smith Foundation
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Chris M. Smith ’85 is Chief Operating Officer of Prism Enterprises, a San Antonio medical and consumer products firm. He was with Abbott Laboratories and Kinetic Concepts before joining Prism in 1992 as VP-Sales and Marketing. Mark S. Smith ’83 is Chief Financial Officer for NASCO and had previously worked for Mbank, Citizens & Southern National Bank and Norrell Corp. Their father, Merle M. Smith, graduated from the University of Califorinia-Berkley. He serves as President and CEO of Prism Enterprises and was president of Kinetic Concepts, Shoreline Companies, Inc., and Covey Corp.
James C. ’74 and Debra Parchman
Swaim
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Fort Worth, TX
Jim graduated from Texas A&M in 1974 with a BBA in Accounting. He has been the Chief Financial Officer of several multi-national public and private companies and has also served on the Board of Directors of several public companies. He has held leadership positions in a number of charitable and professional organizations, including Hospice of El Paso, Community Hospice of Texas and Financial Executives International. Even though Debra received her MBA from SMU she is more Aggie than most Aggies!