Oscar B.
Abbott ’13
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Army Brig. Gen.
San Antonio, TX
Brigadier General Oscar Bergstrom Abbott, Class of 1913, attended Texas A&M to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. He served in both WWI and WWII. From 1942-44, Abbott served at the Headquarters of Services of Supply and from 1944-46, he was commandant of Camp Beale. In 1949, Col. Abbott served as the Executive Officer for the Texas Military District. He retired in 1950. Gen. Abbott passed away October 1, 1969 and is buried in the Anchor Masonic Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.
Herman M.
Ainsworth ’19
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Army Maj. Gen.
Luling, TX
H. Miller Ainsworth's long and distinguished military career began with his attendance at Officer's Training Camp, Leon Springs, Texas, May 8, 1917, where he was commissioned second lieutenant of Infantry, Officer's Reserve Corps, August 14, 1917. He served in World War I with the 159th Infantry, 40th Division. Upon the reorganization of the 36th Division after World War I, Lieutenant General Ainsworth was commissioned captain of infantry, April 27th, 1922 and assigned to Company L, 141st Infantry, Luling, Texas. He entered active federal service November 25, 1940 as lieutenant colonel. He participated in the landing at Salerno Beach in September 1943. He received the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action on September 13, 1943.
He left active service in 1946 as a colonel and was appointed assistant division commander of the 36th Infantry Division. In 1948 he was appointed division commander, a post he was to hold with distinction until his retirement in 1953. He was appointed brigadier general of the line September 27, 1948; promoted to major general of the line October 17, 1949. He performed short tours of active military service over the period May 1949 to August 1951, as a member of the War Department General Staff Committee on National Guard Policy. Upon the establishment of the Fourth Army Civilian Components Advisory Group, General Ainsworth was appointed a member. He was given the rank of brevet lieutenant general upon retirement. He died May 7, 1969.
George H.
Akin ’56
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Army Maj. Gen.
Fort Worth, TX
Maj. Gen. George H. Akin was born March 26, 1934, in Henrietta and graduated from Texas A&M in 1956. Upon commissioning from Texas A&M as a second lieutenant, he served in the U.S. Army for 35 years. His military tours included serving in Germany, Vietnam, Turkey and Korea. He attended the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., and received his MBA from Babson College in Needham, Mass. When he retired from the U.S. Army, he was the commanding general for the U.S. Army Test & Evaluation Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Moving to Fort Worth, he was associated with Freese & Nichols, Inc. He was inducted in the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps Hall of Fame, received an honorary doctorate degree from Babson College and was recognized as an outstanding alumnus from Lowry May College and Graduate School of Business, Texas A&M University. He was the recipient of numerous military awards, including the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters and the Bronze Star. Maj. Gen. George H. Akin retired and resided in Fort Worth, TX. He passed away in 2009.
Roderick R.
Allen ’15
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Army Maj. Gen.
Washington, DC
Maj. Gen. Roderick R. Allen passed away in 1970.
Randolph D.
Alles ’76
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Marine Corps Maj. Gen.
Honolulu, HI
Major General Alles is presently serving as the Director for Strategic Planning and Policy (J5), U.S. Pacific Command.
He hails from San Antonio, Texas and attended Texas A&M University. He was commissioned during August of 1976 and was designated a Naval Aviator at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas in September of 1978.
In June of 1986, Major General Alles was ordered to instructor duty at the Navy Fighter Weapons School, NAS Miramar, CA serving as the Assistant Maintenance Officer, Staff Standardization Officer, and Training Officer while at “Topgun.”
In August 1997, Major General Alles assumed duties as Executive Officer, Marine Aircraft Group 31. In August 1998, he reported as a student at the Naval War College, Newport, R.I. graduating in June 1999 with a Master’s In National Security and Strategic Studies. From June of 1999 until July 2001 he was assigned as Chief of the Strategy and Policy Division, U.S. Pacific Command.
After Assignment to Third Marine Aircraft Wing in June 2007 as the Assistant Wing Commander, Major General Alles served as the Commanding General for Third Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) during Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2008 until February 2009.
His awards include the Defense Superior Service Maj. Gen. Randolph D. Alles currently resides in Honolulu, HI.
Theodore H.
Andrews ’38
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Army Brig. Gen.
Austin, TX
Brig. Gen. Theodore H. Andrews passed away in 2002.
Talentino
Angelosante ’80
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Air Force Brig. Gen
Camp Smith, Hawaii
Brig. Gen. Talentino C. Angelosante is the Mobilization Assistant to the Director for Resources Assessment, J8, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii.
General Angelosante received his commission through Officer Training School in 1983. He began his Air Force service as an engineer at the Ballistic Missile Office, Norton Air Force Base, Calif. In 1987, he transitioned to the security police career field at Kirtland AFB, N.M. Four years later, he returned to working as an engineer at the Phillips Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M. In 1992, he rejoined the security police, serving as Operations Officer, as Chief, Base Defense, Plans and Antiterrorism at Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and as Squadron Commander three separate times. He transferred to the Air Force Reserve in 2003 serving as a group and air base wing commander as well as on several major command and combatant command staffs. General Angelosante has deployed multiple times on active duty and as a reserve officer to include Panama, Peru, Bosnia, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. Before assuming his present assignment, he was the Mobilization Assistant to the Assistant Chief of Staff, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
Awards and medals that Brig. Gen. Angelosante has received include the Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with eight oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with three 'M' devices, NATO Medal with two bronze stars, Army Combat Action Badge.
Charles K.
Aris ’88
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National Guard Brig. Gen.
Waxahachie, TX
Colonel Charles "Chuck" Aris, the Assistant Division Commander of Support, was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in a ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 4, at Camp Mabry.
Maj. Gen. James K. "Red" Brown, the Deputy Commanding General — Reserve Component, United States Forces, promoted Aris to his one-star rank with his friends, family members and colleagues present.
During the ceremony, Brown, a former commanding general of the 36th Inf. Div., and Aris' wife of 26 years, Amy, pinned the new general's rank to the shoulders of his uniform. His son Matthew and daughter Kate presented him with a one-star general's flag, a traditional general officer's belt, and a desk placard. As per Texas tradition, Aris then gave bouquets of yellow roses to both his wife and his mother, Janice.
"Aris is one of those officers that we always knew was going to rise to the top," said Brown. "He and his family are the ultimate traditional National Guard family. As a civilian, Chuck is a very distinguished and a very successful attorney, who doesn't have to do this; but he chooses to do so as a service to this great state and this great nation."
Because of his dual military and civilian careers, several military dignitaries and civilian colleagues attended the ceremony, including Maj. Gen. John F. Nichols, the Adjutant General of the Texas Military Department, Maj. Gen. Lester Simpson, Commanding General of the 36th Infantry Division Commander, and fellow attorneys from his law firm. Aris, a resident of Waxahachie, Texas, is also a partner with the Dallas-based Byrne, Cardenas and Aris Law Firm, where he handles civil litigation.
"I want to say thank you to every senior leader, every mentor and every person in my life who has supported, trained, and guided me," said Aris. "But I need to say 'thank you' to my family, because without them, their love and their support, I would not be standing where I am today."
Aris will deploy to southern Afghanistan next year as the Commander of the Train, Advise and Assist Command -- South in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
"Its an honor to be selected for this [promotion and deployment]," said Aris. "I pledge to do my very best to make sure that we excel in this mission and continue the great heritage of the Texas Army National Guard."
His most recent assignments include serving as the acting Assistant Division Commander of Maneuver, division Chief of Staff, and Commander of both the 56th and 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Teams. He served as a task force commander during a 2005 rotation to Kosovo, and deployed to Iraq in 2009 as an assistant chief of staff in operations.
In 1998, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and commission from the Texas A&M University and was awarded as a Distinguished Military Graduate in the ROTC program. After serving on Active Duty in the Army, in 1993 he joined the Texas Army National Guard. Aris also holds a Master of Science from the Army War College and a Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law.
Aris’ awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Kosovo Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal (with two service stars), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
The mission of the 36th Infantry Division is to provide ready and responsive forces that can deploy to conduct unified land operations in joint and coalition environments, in support of a geographical combatant commander. On order, the division provides defense support to civil authorities within the United States in support of state and federal agencies.
Joseph W.
Ashy ’62
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Air Force Gen.
Montgomery, TX
General Joe Ashy, USAF (Ret) graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University in 1962. Along with operational fighter and staff assignments in the US, Pacific and Europe, he commanded a fighter squadron, two fighter Wings, the U.S. Air Force Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Air Training Command, and Allied Air Forces Southern Europe/16th Air Force as the combined force air component commander (CFACC) directing combat operations in the Balkans. In his last posting, he was the “triple hatted” commander of: North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD); United States Space Command (USSPACECOM), and Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). A Command pilot with 289 combat missions in Vietnam, he flew more than 3,500 hours in the F-100, A-7, F-4, F-5, and F-16 fighter aircraft.
Among his awards and decorations are: the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters and other awards and decorations.
After retirement from the USAF in 1996, he was President and CEO of Ashy and Associates, LLC. He and his wife Sue live in College Station, Texas.
Dionel E.
Aviles ’53
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Army Maj. Gen.
Houston, TX
Dr. Dionel E. Avilés '53 received bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in Civil Engineering in 1954, 1961 and 1966, respectively. Avilés served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and later furthered his education at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. In 1981, he founded Avilés Engineering Corp. which has been instrumental in projects such as Houston’s Minute Maid Park, Reliant Stadium, and Bush Intercontinental Airport. Avilés has volunteered his time to Texas A&M, serving on the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, Corps of Cadets Development Council, the Texas A&M Hispanic Network and the President’s Board of Visitors. He was awarded with The Association of Former Students Distinguished Alumni Award.
Walter O.
Bachus ’50
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Army Brig. Gen.
Alexandria, VA
At Texas A&M: Corps of Cadets Regimental Headquarters Sixth Veterans operations officer and Company C Veterans.
U.S. Army Air Corps enlisted communications specialist in France in World War II. Civil service employee in Germany until he returned to Tyler. Was 3rd Platoon Leader, A Company, 13th Engineer Combat Battalion of the 7th Infantry Division during Korean War; landings included Inchon. Retired in 1978 as brigadier general and director of facilities engineering in the office of the Chief of Engineers in Washington, D.C., with more than 30 years of service.
Registered professional engineer. Was executive director of Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) for 15 years (October 1978-June 1993), then retired fully.
Two time recipient of SAME Gold Medal (1974, 1992) for leadership skills in support of SAME mission. Medal renamed Walter O. Bachus Gold Medal in 2005 in his honor.
Survivors: wife of 67 years, Helen; two children.
For more information, visit tx.ag/WOBachus50.
Thomas S.
Bailey, Jr. ’69
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Air Force Brig. Gen.
Dayton, OH
Brigadier General Thomas S. Bailey Jr. was Command Surgeon of the Air Force Materiel Command at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. In this capacity he is responsible for advising the AFMC Commander on all medicinal matters, including the health and physical well being of personnel. General Bailey also oversees the environmental and occupational health support for the AFMC’s industrial, research, development and testing and evaluation missions. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Zoology at Texas A&M and his Doctor of Dental Surgery at Baylor University.
Some of Thomas S. Bailey, Jr. major awards and decorations are the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with silver oak leaf clusters.
Brig. Gen. Thomas S. Bailey, Jr. retired on January 1, 2006 and currently resides in Dayton, OH.
Darrel P.
Baker ’62
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Army Maj. Gen.
Breckenridge, CO
Brigadier General Baker graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Agriculture Education and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon completion of the ROTC program at Fort Sill. Later, he was assigned to the 1/81st Armored Battalion, 1st Armored Division at Fort Hood as Battalion Communication Officer.
After being discharged from active duty, he served the local Austin high schools as a biology teacher, assistant principal and principal of Anderson High School and later Crockett High School.
Some of his awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf cluster, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the National Defense Service medal with a star.
Maj. Gen. Darrel P. Baker retired on July 31, 2000 and currently resides in Breckenridge, CO.
Wilman D.
Barnes ’51
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Army Brig. Gen.
Falls Church, VA
General Wilman D. Barnes was born in Goodman, Texas, and grew up in Abilene, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1951 and received a master's degree in personnel management from George Washington University in 1972.
He served in the Army from 1951 to 1981 and was employed by Computer Sciences Corporation from 1981 to 1993. As a career infantry officer, General Barnes commanded units from platoon to brigade size and served as assistant division commander of the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea.He also was commanding general of the First ROTC Region at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; deputy director of operations in the office of the joint chiefs of staff; and, in his final assignment, deputy commanding general of the Army Military Personnel Center.
His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star. He served in Europe, South Korea, South Vietnam and the Dominican Republic.
Brig. Gen. Wilman D. Barnes resided in Falls Church, VA and passed away in 2004.
Victor A.
Barraco ’15
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Marine Corps BGEN
Sulpher, LA
Victor A. Barraco organized the April 1945 Muster. He had also been Head Yell Leader in 1914-1915.
BGEN Victor A. Barraco resided in Sulpher, LA and passed away in 1990.
Walter H.
Baxter, III ’47
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Air Force Maj. Gen
Boerne, TX
Retired August 01, 1982
Died May 10, 2004
Maj. Gen. Walter H. Baxter III is commander, 3rd Air Force, United States Air Forces in Europe, with headquarters at Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall, Suffolk, England.
General Baxter was born in southern Texas in 1926 and graduated from high school in his hometown of Weslaco, Texas, in 1943. He then attended what is now the University of Texas at Arlington and in 1944 enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces. In 1946 he received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., and upon graduation in 1950 was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. General Baxter is also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
He entered flying training at James Connally Air Force Base, Texas, and received his wings at Craig Air Force Base, Ala., in 1951. He went through gunnery school at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., and went on to South Korea where he flew F-51s with the 12th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 18th Fighter-Bomber Group. As a lieutenant he became a squadron operations officer and led group strikes deep into North Korea.
The general returned to the United States in August 1952 and was assigned to Clovis Air Force Base, N.M., where he served with the 10th Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing. A year later General Baxter transferred to Langley Air Force Base, Va., with the 509th Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the 405th Fighter-Bomber Wing. While there he wrote many of the plans and procedures for tactical mobility that continue today in the Tactical Air Command.
In June 1955 he joined the 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Royal Air Force Station Wethersfield, England, where he served as both flight commander, and wing gunnery and bombing officer until May 1958. He was then assigned to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., as course director and executive officer in the department of military studies.
General Baxter became director of officer training and an instructor pilot in August 1961, flying T-33s and T-38s at Webb Air Force Base, Texas. In September 1963 he entered the Air Command and Staff College. Upon graduation in June 1964, he was assigned to Williams Air Force Base, Ariz.; where he served at various times as wing executive, director of plans and T-38 operations officer.
In early 1966 General Baxter went through F-4 training at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., and in June transferred to the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing, Bitburg Air Base, Germany, where he served as operations officer of the 22nd Tactical Fighter Squadron for one year and as commander of the squadron for two years.
General Baxter returned to the United States to enter the Army War College. Following graduation in June 1970, he went to Southeast Asia with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. He flew 125 combat missions in F-4s while serving as deputy commander for operations and later as vice commander of the wing.
In September 1971 General Baxter transferred to Reese Air Force Base, Texas, as deputy commander for operations. In January 1972 he took command of the 64th Flying Training Wing at Reese. He became vice commander of Keesler Technical Training Center, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., in July 1974. In March 1975 he was selected to command the 13th Air Force advance echelon at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, which in July 1975 was renamed the 17th Air Division. It was during this assignment that these forces played a significant role in the evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon, the reclaiming of American equipment in Southeast Asia and the rescue of the "Mayaguez."
General Baxter served as vice commander of 13th Air Force with duty at U-Tapoo Royal Thai Naval Airfield, Thailand, from January to June 1976. He then became commander of the 313th Air Division and the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing on Okinawa.
From September 1978 to August 1979, he was commander of the 24th North American Air Defense Command and 24th Aerospace Defense Command Region at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. He then served with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as air deputy, Northern European Command, at Kolsas, Norway. The general assumed his present command in July 1981.
He is a command pilot and has more than 4,700 hours flying time in 24 types of aircraft - primarily fighters. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon and Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. For his service on Okinawa, he was awarded the 3rd Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese government.
He was promoted to major general June 1, 1978, with date of rank Sept. 1, 1974.
William A.
Becker ’41
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Army Maj. Gen.
Kaufman, TX
A Kaufman County native, Bill Becker was born on his family homestead April 2,1919. He graduated from Kaufman High School in 1936. He later attended Texas A&M College, where he was a member of the 1939 ROTC national championship pistol team, and also a member of the four-man horse show team. He was junior editor of the yearbook and was elected senior editor but resigned to serve as cadet corps commander during his senior year. Upon graduation in 1941, he was given a diploma, a commission as 2nd Lieutenant of field artillery, and orders to report within eight days to the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Bliss, Texas. Maj. Gen. Becker was sent to fight in the Southwest Pacific Theater during WWII, and in four years, he advanced from the rank of 2nd Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel. Upon return from WWII he was assigned to the military staff at Texas A&M during which time he met the love of his life and wife of over 55 years, Frances Carlyle. He also served in Vietnam as Assistant Division Commander of the 1st Cavalry Division (AIRMOBILE). What began as a military career on horseback concluded in a helicopter as a rated pilot. Over his 30-year career he had a variety of other commands and assignments. His last active duty assignment was to the Pentagon with the Office of the Secretary of the Army, as Chief of Legislative Liaison, working with the United States Congress from 1968-1971. During his years of service he was twice awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters. Upon retirement from the Army, Bill returned to his home community with his wife, Fran, and their four children where he established a real estate brokerage and enjoyed cattle ranching on his beloved Becker farm. He continued his dedication to service to his community, county and country through numerous civic organizations and appointments. Above all else, he valued his role as husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend. Bill is preceded in death by his wife Frances Becker. He is survived by his children William Becker of Terrell and wife Jennifer, daughter Anne Becker Tolbert and husband Jerry of Woodville, son Christopher Becker of Becker and wife Gay, daughter Kimberly Becker Barnett of Rowlett and husband Keith, and sister Ellen Dodson of Texarkana and husband Ed, Arkansas. He was blessed with eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. During a special ceremony in Kemp, Texas US Congressman Jeb Hensarling presented General Becker with remarks from the Congressional Record honoring him for his service. "President Calvin Coolidge once said the Nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten. As a veteran, Gen. Becker understands that better than most Americans. It is because of his service that we are able to enjoy the many blessings that God has bestowed upon this great land, the United States of America."
Ion M.
Bethel ’25
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Marine Corps Lt. Gen.
Palos Verde Estates, CA
After retiring Lt. Gen. Ion M. Bethel resided in Palos Verde Estates, CA and passed away in 1985.
Gerald "Jake"
Betty ’73
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Texas State Guard - Army Maj. Gen.
Austin, Texas
On Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014, Maj. Gen. Gerald “Jake” Betty took command of the Texas State Guard from Maj. Gen. Manuel “Tony” Rodriguez at a change of command ceremony at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas.
Governor Rick Perry announced last month that Betty would assume command upon the retirement of Rodriguez, who has commanded the TXSG since August 2012.
Betty joined the TXSG in January 2006, after a distinguished career in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve. Betty received his bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry in 1973. Upon entering active duty he was assigned to the 1st 501st Infantry Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY. Upon leaving active duty in 1977, he was assigned as Company Commander C-Company, 1st 143 Infantry, 36th Airborne Brigade, Texas National Guard. Additionally, in 1979 Betty transferred to the U.S. Army Reserves and held various leadership positions. In February 2003, he was mobilized to the Defense Intelligence Agency as Chief, Iraq Survey Group, Fusion Center - CONUS, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserve in 2003 after serving a total of 30 years.
During his time in the TXSG, Betty has held a number of leadership positions to include serving as the Director of Personnel and Administration for the organization headquarters. While commander of the 8th Regiment, Betty served on several State Active Duty missions for Hurricanes Dean, Gustav, Dolly, Edouard, and Ike. In March of 2013, Betty was selected to serve as Commanding General of the Army Component Command.
As commander, Betty will be responsible for the organization, training and administration of the Texas State Guard, reporting directly to the Texas Adjutant General. Currently, more than 2,200 men and women actively service in the TXSG, divided into four operational components: Army, Air, Maritime and Medical. The mission of the Texas State Guard is to provide mission-ready military forces to assist state and local authorities in times of state emergencies; to conduct homeland security and community service activities under the umbrella of Defense Support to Civil Authorities; and to augment the Texas Army and Air National Guard as required.
Betty and wife, Juli, have been married for 40 years and have two children, Josh and Alison. Their son and son-in-law proudly serve in the U.S. Army as a Major and Sgt. 1st Class.
Betty was honored to take command from Rodriguez and is ready for the next chapter of his military career.
Prior to the change of command ceremony, Betty was promoted to Major General.
George H.
Beverley ’19
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Air Force Brig. Gen.
Saint Petersburg, FL
Brigadier General George H. Beverley was born in Amarillo, Texas, in 1897, attended high school at Carlsbad, N.M., and graduated from high school at Dalhart, Texas. In 1915, he entered Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College, which he left two years later to become a flying cadet in the Air Service.
After attending ground school at the University of Texas at Austin and training at Kelly Field, Texas, he received his wings and a commission as a temporary second lieutenant in the Air Service in July 1918.
His career with the Air Force from the beginning of World War I to the end of World War II, is an outstanding example of the work of those men who were pioneers of military aviation in 1917 and who helped lead the United States to victory in 1945.
General Beverley has been awarded the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster. His foreign decorations include the Mexican Medal of Military Merit, First Class; the Necklet Paotang awarded him by the Chinese Government for his work in connection with the training of Chinese students at the San Antonio Air Materiel command, and the Order of Military Merit in the grade of Commander presented him by the Brazilian Government for services rendered as military and air attache to Brazil.
Brig. Gen. George H. Beverley retired on August 1, 1949 and resided in Saint Petersburg, FL. He passed away on September 15, 1988.
Robert C.
Beyer, Jr. ’53
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Air Force Brig. Gen.
Tampa, FL
General Beyer was born in Dallas in 1932. He was awarded a bachelor of science degree and commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., in 1956. The general received a master of science degree from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1976. He graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va., in 1971; and from the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 1976.
General Beyer was then ordered to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., as an air officer commanding a cadet squadron. After two years, he was appointed the first exchange officer to the U.S. Military Academy as a tactical officer in the Office of the Commandant of Cadets.
The general is a command pilot with more than 3,600 flying hours and has flown F-102s; F-4C's, D's and E's; and F-5E's.
His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon with "V" device and oak leaf cluster.
Brig. Gen. Robert C. Beyer, Jr. retired August 1, 1987. He passed away on August 22, 2015.
Jay D.
Blume, Jr. ’63
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Air Force Maj. Gen.
Montgomery, TX
Major General Jay D. Blume was a special assistant for base closure, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He develops and implements Air Force programs in support of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Acts and is the focal point for Air Force activities involving base realignment and closure actions.
General Blume commanded fighter squadron, fighter wing, the NATO Airborne Early Warning Force Component and a technical training center before assuming his current duties.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in industrial engineering, both from Texas A&M University.
He was a command pilot with over 4,900 flight hours. Some of the aircraft he flew included the E-3A, F-4, F-16, F-100, T-38, T-37, T-33.
His major awards and decorations include but are not limited to the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Vietnam Service Medal with two service starts, Air Medal with 16 oak leaf clusters.
Maj. Gen. Jay D. Blume, Jr. retired on February 1, 1996 and currently resides in Montgomery, TX.
James G.
Boatner ’50
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Army Maj. Gen.
Fort Belvoir, VA
Jim Boatner was born on March 28, 1930 in Tianjin, China where his father was stationed with the United States Army's 15th Infantry. The son, grandson, and father of career infantry officers, he grew up on Army posts and in military towns in the depression era and during World War II. He graduated from high school in San Antonio, Texas, and attended Texas A&M University before entering West Point in 1947.
Upon graduating in 1951, he was commissioned in the infantry and served in combat during the Korean War, returning to the historic 15th Infantry ("Old China Hands') as a company commander. Years later, after retiring from the Army, he proudly served for four years as the Honorary Colonel of the 15th Infantry Regiment.
On the luckiest day of his life, Jim met Kathryn "Kay" Schroeter of Cleveland, Ohio, on a blind date, and they were married in Dallas, Texas, in 1954.
His troop assignments were primarily with light infantry units, including in both the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions. In 1958, he attended Harvard University earning two Master's Degrees in preparation for teaching back at West Point in the Social Sciences Department. In 1967, he trained and then deployed a light infantry battalion to Vietnam. During his career, General Boatner also had extensive experience in Washington, DC, serving as an assistant to the deputy Secretary of Defense, David Packard.
His notable general officer assignments were commanding all Army forces in Alaska, including the 172nd Arctic Light Infantry Brigade, and US Commander in West Berlin just before the end of the Cold War. He retired in 1986 with 35 years of service.
For 14 years after his military retirement, Jim was President and then Chairman of the Board of Robinson Terminal Warehouse Corporation in Old Town, Alexandria, the Washington Post's newspaper warehousing facility.
He and Kay were also longtime active parishioners of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Mount Vernon where he served on the social justice committee, and volunteered as a mentor and advocate for low-income mental health patients. He was also a proud member of the West Point class of 1951, regularly attending monthly District of Columbia-area luncheons and leading the planning for the class 60th reunion in May 2011.
Jim was predeceased by his loving wife of over 62 years, Kay, in March 2017. He is survived by his five children, son, Jim (Nancy) of Clifton, Virginia, son, Tom (Lisa) of Boise, Idaho, son, Mike (Tricia) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, daughter, Jane (Dudley) and son, Peter (Anne) of Charlottesville, Virginia; as well as nine grandchildren.
Malcolm F.
Bolton ’61
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Air Force Brig. Gen.
Phoenix, AZ
Brig. Gen. Malcolm F. Bolton was born in Houston in 1939, and graduated from Pasadena (Texas) High School in 1957. He received a bachelor of science degree from Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College, College Station, in 1961 and a master of science degree in management from Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, in 1973. The general graduated from Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 1974 and the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa., in 1978.
He was the assistant deputy chief of staff, plans, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va. Before his present duties, he served as vice commander of the 58th Tactical Training Wing and became commander of the wing in June 1981.
His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal.
Brig. Gen. Malcolm F. Bolton retired on February 1, 985 and currently resides in Phoenix, AZ.
Charles R.
Bond, Jr. ’49
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Air Force Maj. Gen.
Richardson, TX
Major General Charles R. Bond, Jr. was a commander of the Twelfth Air Force in Waco, Texas. As commander he was responsible for the overall training and combat readiness of tactical fighter, airlift and reconnaissance units west of the Mississippi River.
In 1947, General Bond entered Texas A&M University under the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology program and graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in management engineering.
He was also a member of the Flying Tigers. The Flying Tigers was a volunteer for service in China as part of a secret program, the American Volunteer Group, nicknamed the Flying Tigers. The group was made up of about 400 pilots and ground personnel and based in Burma, the Flying Tigers protected military supply routes between China and Burma and helped to get supplies to Chinese forces fighting the Japanese.
His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Seven Star Wing Medal.
Maj. Gen. Charles R. Bond, Jr. was one of the last surviving Flying Tigers until he passed away on August 18, 2009.
Richard A.
Box ’61
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State Guard Brig. Gen.
Austin, TX
Richard Arthur Box, DDS of Austin received his bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University in 1961 and a doctorate of dental science from the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston in 1966. Dr. Box is a doctor of dental surgery and has a private practice in the Austin area. Dr. Box is a member of the American and Texas Dental Associations, and American and Texas Academies of General Dentistry. He is a also a member of the Capitol Area Boy Scouts Board of Directors, Texas A&M Lettermen’s Association, 173rd Airborne Brigade Association and National Guard Association of Texas. He served in the United States Army and as commander of the Texas State Guard. He served on The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents from 2008 to 2013, including as Chairman from March 2011 to 2013.
Jack T.
Brown ’37
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Army Brig. Gen.
Rockport, TX
Jack Tyre Brown was born on September 11, 1915 in Luling, Texas. He studied Agricultural Administration while at Texas A&M. He was married to Mary Kathryn Glass. He passed away on June 14, 1993 in Rockport, Texas.