Helena G. ’91 and Douglas B.
Reilly ’91
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Houston, TX
Brennan Reilly ’91, president of D.Brennan Reilly, P.C., graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor’s of science degree in economics. In 1994, he received a doctor of jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas School of Law. His wife, Helena ’91 graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor’s of arts degree in political science.
We give back to Texas A&M to repay a small part of what we owe to the school and the scholarship donors who enabled us to attend. We also hope to ensure A&M continues to provide the best undergraduate experience and education in the country.
Kristin M. ’91 and Derek P.
Tatum ’91
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Houston, TX
Derek P. Tatum ’91 is a Senior Pharmaceutical Sales Representative for GlaxoSmithKline. He graduated from Nicholls State University in 1988 with a degree in Finance and also graduated from Texas A&M University in 1991 with a degree in Management. Derek was recently awarded the GSK 2002 Winner’s Circle, which is a top sales award.
His wife, Kristin M. Tatum ’91 is a Divisional Controller for Kinder Morgan Energy Partners. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 1991 with a degree in Accounting.
We attribute our success to the education and experiences we received at Texas A&M and feel it is important to share this success with The Association.
Alison Neely
Brown ’90
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San Antonio, TX
Alison Neely Brown is a Corporate Officer and Director in the Accounting Department for San Antonio Steel Company in San Antonio, Texas. On the side, she is also property manager for Neely Interests. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Business Management and interned in Washington, D.C. for the Conservative Youth Foundation.
Michelle ’89 and Robert
Hickox ’90
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Plano, TX
They’d been looking for a way to get involved, said Robert Hickox ’90. “We want to give because, really, we’re grateful,” said Michelle Hickox ’89. It was a shared affection for Aggieland that brought them together in the first place, she said. “A&M is part of our family culture.” They’ve brought their daughters, Cameron ’17 and Abby (who plans to attend A&M), to Aggieland consistently since they were babies. Football season provides a reoccurring family reunion as Michelle’s parents and brother tailgate before home games. Both girls have attended countless soccer camps with the A&M coaching staff. As a family, many of their memories are wrapped around, woven through and made possible because of the Spirit of Aggieland. “A&M and giving back is important to us,” she said, because they have been the recipient of so much. Robert was the first in his family to graduate from Texas A&M. “My folks worked their tails off to allow me to attend Texas A&M without debt,” he said. Michelle’s parents, too, picked up extra jobs so that she could graduate from A&M debt-free.
When Cameron got her acceptance letter, the Hickox family knew they were fortunate enough to be able to allow her the great opportunity of becoming an A&M student. “But not every family can do that,” Robert said. They are donors through several A&M groups, but chose to give through the Endowed Century Club because “we feel like The Association provides great benefits to students,” Michelle said. Their goal has always been to support students.
As a student herself, Michelle always knew she wanted to go to A&M. The traditions—the Spirit, the Aggie family—“A&M is just such a special place,” she said. Robert was a student elsewhere when he took a road trip down with a friend. He filled out an application to transfer immediately. “We think A&M is great,” said Michelle. “We want to give others the opportunity to love it just as much as we do.”
Melissa ’04 and Benjamin C.
Knox ’90
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College Station, TX
Benjamin started his professional art career in 1988 by capturing the spirit of Texas A&M while he was a sophomore in Squadron 3 in the Corps of Cadets. His art career began to blossom his senior year when he sold his artwork in the MSC while wearing his senior boots. After completing the corps, he took a couple of victory laps, joined the Aggie Men’s Club and ran his art gallery out of his house.
Upon graduation, he opened the first artist owned gallery in College Station. In 2001, he brought back one of the most important historical buildings in the history of Texas A&M and the city of College Station, the ‘College Station’ train depot. He designed the city treasure to be his gallery, with the exterior as an exact replica of the original 1900 Southern Pacific depot that was destroyed in 1966. He added a 1905 caboose and other important train antiques to give the gallery a true historical feel.
Of all of his accomplishments, he is most excited about how he has been able to promote and benefit Texas A&M and communities through his artwork. For over 20 years his artwork has helped to benefit countless charities and establish an immense amount of scholarships. Giving back is integrated into his very core, something that was established while a student at Texas A&M.
Melissa’s roots in Aggie history also run deep. She is the daughter of Corps Commander Mike Gentry’78 and granddaughter of Band Commander Paul Gentry’55. Benjamin and Melissa were married March 15, 2008.
She is the executive director of the Benjamin Knox Gallery, Framing, and Events, and helps to keep Benjamin in the art studio as much as possible!
Fran Beazley ’87 and Tom
Phillips ’90
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Dallas, TX
Tom Philips graduated from Texas A&M University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering. Tom has been a systems engineer for Johnson Controls and Lone Star Gas. He is currently the managing sales director of Markit WSO.
Fran Phillips graduated from Texas A&M University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural ecconomics. After graduation, Fran worked in group travel sales, predominately with church and Young Life groups on ski and mission trips. Her current focus is volunteer work in the church and community and raising kids.
Fran and Tom reside in Dallas and have two daughters, Sarah and Mary Lea.
We chose to make this gift to The Association simply because we are at a place in life where we are able to give back. Texas A&M helped mold us into the people we are, and it is important to us to help preserve the future of our University for generations to come.
Ashli and Matthew C.
Poling ’90
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College Station, TX
Matt Poling received his bachelor’s degree in biomedical science from Texas A&M University in 1991. During his time at A&M, Matt was the commander of the Corps of Cadets and was awarded the Brown-Earl Rudder Outstanding Graduate Award for the 1990-91 graduating class. Upon graduation, Matt attended the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, where he was class president from 1991 to 1992. He then completed the Waco Family Practice Residency Program, where he was chief resident from 1997 to 1998. Matt is a family practice physician at the Scott and White Clinic in College Station, as well as an assistant professor at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.Matt was a physician in the U.S. Air Force from 1998 to 2003, with assignments to Colorado Springs and San Antonio as well as a deployment to Saudi Arabia. From 2009 to 2010, Matt and his family lived in Heidelberg, Germany, where Matt was a civilian family practice physician for the U.S. Army.Matt and his wife, Ashli Poling, met while working at a Kanakuk Camp in the Ozarks during the summer of 1991 and were married in 1995. Ashli, from Arkansas, graduated from Baylor in 1993. Upon graduation, Ashli became a high school math teacher. Ashli now stays at home with their three children, Meredith, Duncan and Elise.Matt is on the Board of Directors for the Corps of Cadets Association. He and his family are members of Grace Bible Church in College Station.
As a former Class Agent, I know the vital role The Association of Former Students plays in maintaining the Aggie Network. I decided to make an endowed gift more than 20 years ago, but that is something easily put off. While working overseas in 2009, our dog escaped during a thunderstorm and wandered over to The Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Building. They brought that wet stinky dog inside and helped him fi nd his way home. That clinched it.
Alicia I. ’89 and Michael A.
Bowen ’89
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Kingwood, TX
From their first encounter in a political science class to their engagement under the Century Tree, Michael and Alicia fell in love with Texas A&M through the unbreakable bonds and impactful connections the institution has allowed them to create over the years.
Through learning opportunities with professors and with companies in the private sector, Michael attributes his success in his professional career to his education at A&M. He graduated from A&M with a degree in mechanical engineering and is an asset manager for ExxonMobil.
He said that connections to A&M, coupled with its excellence in education and developing people, make it natural for him to give back to the university. “My wife and I have always been interested in giving, and we believe it is one of the responsibilities of being good and contributing part of the greater community,” Michael said.
The Bowens continue to share their love for A&M with their extended family, including children Rachel Bowen ’17 and Samuel Bowen ’21.
Thomas Elliot
Brown ’89
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San Antonio, TX
T. Elliot Brown is the Vice President of Operations for San Antonio Steel Company in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Architecture and completed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Officer Basic Course in 1990.
Melissa and Raymond P.
Padden, Jr. ’89
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Houston, TX
Perry Padden is the Global Supply and Global Manufacturing Planning Manager for ExxonMobil Chemical Company in Houston, Texas. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas A&M University in 1989 with a B.S. degree in chemical engineering.
Anjana N. ’92 and Nayneshkumar S.
Desai ’88
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Doha, Qatar
Naynesh S. Desai ’88 is a facilities adviser in the Venture Planning & Development group of an ExxonMobil co-venture in Qatar. He graduated from Regional Engineering College in India with a bachelor’s of science degree and received a master’s degree from Wright State University in Ohio. He later received two master’s degrees from Texas A&M University in chemical and industrial engineering. Naynesh has contributed to a variety of studies and projects worldwide.
His wife, Anjana ’92, is a science and math faculty member in Qatar. She graduated from the University of Bombay in India with a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in science. She later received a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. Anjana has taught a variety of subjects over the years in India, USA, and Qatar.
We have been a century club member for some time and couldn’t think of a better way of contributing back to the University that has provided the foundation to our professional life. Our daughter was born while we were attending Texas A&M and hence it will always have a special feeling. The University gave us the opportunity to develop lifelong friendships and attachments.
Natalie and Gary L.
Doucette ’88
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Bryan, TX
Gary Doucette ’88 graduated from Texas A&M University with two degrees, a bachelor of business administration in accounting and a bachelor of science in construction science. Upon graduation, Gary went to work for Bill Marcoma ’78 with The Cadence Group and from there; he went to work for Tim Kelly with MRMC. Gary said he learned a lot from both companies and while Tim Kelly did not graduate from Texas a&M, you would not have known it because of his high regard for this institution. Gary also said, “Both gentlemen hired me because I was a graduate of Texas A&M. The experience I received from those two jobs and God’s direction in my life afforded me the knowledge and ability to form my own business, All Phase Contracting, Inc. in 1991.” Gary and his wife Natalie reside in Bryan. They have four children, Chase, Parker, Jake and Brooke Marguerite.
Kathryn J.
Greenwade ’88
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Bryan, TX
Kathryn, a third-generation Aggie, joined The Association of Former Students team as Director of Human Resources in 1999 after leading the Former Student Career Services program in the Texas A&M Career Center. Since 2008, she has served as vice president, leading the teams responsible for communications on behalf of the organization and the production of Texas Aggie magazine, the AggieNews electronic newsletter, and AggieNetwork.com, in addition to the organization’s Human Resources team. She has held the Professional in Human Resources Certification from the Human Resource Certification Institute since 2000. Kathryn earned a BS in Journalism in 1988 and since returning to Aggieland in 1997 has given of her time to Texas A&M in many ways. She has served as a Corps of Cadets Academic Mentor to Company C-2 since April of 1998 and has twice been named Outstanding Academic Mentor. In 2000 she was named a Fish Camp Namesake.
Lori S. ’87 and Mikal S.
Harn ’88
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Alamo Heights, TX
Michael Harn serves as Vice President of Sales and Service with SBC/Ameritech Consumer Services. He graduated from Texas A&M with a BBA in Marketing and then earned his MBA from Incarnate Word University in San Antonio. At Texas A&M, he was Commander of the 2nd Battalion in the Corps of Cadets, a Ross Volunteer and Fish Camp Counselor.
Lori Harn (Gardner) graduated from Texas A&M with a BBA in Marketing and began the began the Executive Master’s Program in September 2000 at Northwestern University. She has worked for Kraft Foods throughout her career and is a National Sales Manager. At Texas A&M, Lori was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority and an Aggie Hostess.
Jennifer S.
Lindsay ’88
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San Francisco, CA
Jennifer graduated from Texas A&M University with bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Aerospace Engineering and went on to earn a master’s degree in Economics from Stanford University in 1992. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority while at Texas A&M. Jennifer leads the forensic practice for KPMG’s Silicon Valley office, advising clients in the electronics and software industries. Prior to her appointment to The Association of Former Students’ Board of Directors, she served as a National Representative from 2001-2007.
Patrick Scott
Mendell ’88
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Houston, TX
Growing up in a Longhorn family, Scott Mendell was destined to be a University of Texas graduate. That was until his parents took him to a UT-vs.-A&M football game when he was 11. After seeing the Aggie Band and the student pride at that game, he never questioned where he would go to school. Mendell received his Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M in 1988 and his Master of Business Administration, also from A&M, in 1995.
For Scott Mendell, being an Aggie has opened the door to several meetings and friendships. He is proud to be an A&M graduate and wants to help current students enjoy their time at Texas A&M as much as he enjoyed his.