Henry Bartell
Zachry, Jr. ’54
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Year Awarded: 1997
Laredo, TX
Zachry received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1954 and completed the Management Development Program at Harvard Business School. He serves as President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Zachry, Inc. Mr. Zachry’s interest and involvement in Associated General Contractors of America have extended over a number of years. He is a national life director, having served in a number of positions and on the board of directors since 1974.
At Texas A&M University, Mr. Zachry has been a member of the President’s Advisory Council, the Civil Engineering Department’s Advisory Committee, the Board of Advisors for the Texas Engineering Extension Service and has actively supported a variety of TAMU activities through the A&M Development Foundation. He and his father H.B. Zachry ’22 are the only father-son recipients of the Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Henry B.
Zachry ’22
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Year Awarded: 1964
Uvalde, TX
Zachry received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1922. He was President and Chairman of the Board of H.B. Zachry and Co. Zachry’s multimillion–dollar firm constructed the upper decks at Kyle Field in 1979, the chancellor’s house, and the modular dormitories.
Two A&M facilities- the campus’ Zachry Engineering Center, which houses many of the office, laboratories and classrooms of the College of Engineering, and the Texas Engineering Extension Service’s training center in San Antonio-are named for him. Outside Texas, Zachry’s company built part of the Alaskan pipeline, laid roads in Peru and Chile, erected dams in the United States and Canada and ventured into the Sinai to construct modular housing for peacekeeping troops.
He and his son Bartell Zachry, Jr. ’54 are the only father-son recipients of the Distinguished Alumnus Award.
"Zachry was a giant of a man and personified the high ideals of Texas A&M. He loved this university and gave untiringly and generously in support of it."
- Harvey R. “Bum” Bright ’43
Richard W.
Younts ’67
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Year Awarded: 2006
Temple, TX
Richard W. Younts received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University in 1967 and attended business school at Arizona State University. During his time at Texas A&M, he was a student assistant in the Engineering Research Laboratory.
Prior to attending Texas A&M, Younts served from 1957 to 1960 in the U.S. Marine Corps. Following completion of his education, Younts joined Motorola’s semiconductor division in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1967. After several years of advancement within that division, he was appointed to operations manager of the rectifier businesses in 1974. In 1979, he moved to the semiconductor group’s MOS division in Austin as the group operation manager of logic and special functions. In 1982, he was appointed vice president of Motorola and director of operations for the MOS Memory Group in Austin.
In 1984, Younts moved to Japan as vice president and general manager of the semiconductor division of Nippon Motorola, Ltd. Three years later, he was made an elected vice president and president of Nippon Motorola, Ltd. Younts returned to the U.S. in 1991 to serve as executive president and executive director for the Asia and Americas Regions. In 1997, he was named as president of the Asia Pacific regions and appointed to serve on the management board of Motorola Inc. Today, Younts serves on several boards and as an advisor to the city of Tianjin, China. In 2001 he was given an honorary citizenship of China.
As a former student, Younts has been an integral part of Texas A&M’s success in its international programs. He was the co-organizer for the China-U.S. Relations Conference in 2003 and 2005, and established the Kyle R. Younts International Forum, in memory of his son, to support the International Programs Office and international awareness on campus. In 2003, he was appointed by Dr. Robert M. Gates to serve as the Lockheed-Martin World-Scholar-in-Residence for Texas A&M to provide advice to university administration on building Texas A&M’s presence in China. Born in Temple, Younts and his wife, Pat, have three children, Rhonda, Class of 1985; Marcy, Class of 1986; and Kyle (deceased).
"A&M is not just an institution that Rick supports and to which he gives his participation and resources. The Spirit and the values of A&M are, in large measure, who and what he is. Rick Younts is the Aggie we all hoped we would grow up to be."
- Rick C. Smith ’62
John F.
Younger ’37
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Year Awarded: 1989
McKinney, TX
Younger received a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 1937. After being in executive positions in the oil and gas industry, he founded Airport 20 Corp., an oil and real estate firm for which he served as President.
During Younger’s presidency of The Association of Former Students, the Century Club was established and the Texas Aggie changed from a newspaper to a magazine format. He was a member of the Texas A&M Target 2000 Project Committee and A&M College of Liberal Arts Development Council. Younger was instrumental in bring the Institute of Nautical Archeology to Texas A&M University.
"Texas A&M can be proud to have an alumni who has given of himself to others and to his community which is reflected in the many outstanding accomplishments that he has made to enrich his community."
- William G. Saxton '90
S. Shariq
Yosufzai ’74
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Year Awarded: 1999
Dacca, East Pakistan
Yosufzai received a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 1974. While at Texas A&M, he served as Vice President of the Student Body and the Chairman Pro Tempore of the Student Senate. He serves as Corporate Vice President of Caltex Petroleum Corp., a joint venture of Texaco and Chevron, and President of Caltex Lubricants. He is the recipient of several awards. In 1995, he was awarded AIChE’s Robert L. Jacks Memorial Award for his contributions to both the management of engineers and the Chemical Process industries. He was appointed Chair of the Council of Societal Impact of AIChE.
Yozufzai was the first former student to be awarded both the Distinguished Alumnus Award and the Outstanding International Alumnus Award.
John M.
Yantis ’53
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Year Awarded: 2017
San Antonio, TX
JOHN M. YANTIS ’53 received a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology. As a student, he was a freshman class officer and “A” quartermaster in the Corps of Cadets.
After serving in the military, he worked for H.B. Zachry Co. and later as an equipment salesperson. In 1965, he founded what is today the $70-million-per-year construction firm Yantis Co., of which he served as chairman. He was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 1988, and the company is a multiple-year honoree of the Aggie 100 list of fastest-growing businesses.
He is deeply involved in philanthropy and service both in San Antonio, where he was on the board of directors for Boysville (1980-84), and at Texas A&M. In 2008, he created the Patsy and John Yantis ’53 Regents Scholars Student Assistance Endowment Fund through The Association. He has served on the 12th Man Foundation board and on the 12th Man Foundation’s Champions Council and the Chancellor’s Century Council, has endowed 12th Man and Association scholarships, is a member of the A&M Legacy Society and has been a Gold level member of The Association’s Century Club, with 36 years of giving. In 1999, he was inducted into the Texas A&M Lettermen’s Hall of Honor.
He was chairman of the 2007 Valero Alamo Bowl and has served on the board of Associated General Contractors and as president of Oak Hills Country Club, former home of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament, in 1990 and 1999.
His family includes his late wife, Patsy; children J. Mike Yantis ’76, Thomas G. Yantis ’78, Nancy Yantis Austin ’82 and Susan L. Yantis ’84; son-in-law Henry Eitt Austin ’80; grandchildren Mike Yantis, Jr. ’02, Taylor Eitt Austin ’12, and Hailey Lynne Austin ’15; and granddaughters-in-law Jennifer Nicole Yantis ’06 and Laura Oatman Austin ’13.
Edmond
Wulfe ’55
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Year Awarded: 2017
Houston
ED WULFE ’55 received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. As a student, he served on 2nd Wing staff as a cadet lieutenant colonel, was a Ross Volunteer and a member of the Freshman Drill Team and the Senior Court, and was president of Texas A&M Hillel.
He is the chairman, CEO and founder of Wulfe & Co. commercial real estate brokerage, development and property management firm. Among properties he has developed: BLVD Place, which won a 2015 Houston Business Journal Landmark Award; redeveloped Meyerland Plaza, which was honored among “Deals That Made a Difference” in 1995 and 1996; and Gulfgate Center, which won the Houston Chapter of the Urban Land Institute’s 2012 Development of Distinction Award and Best Rehabilitation Renovation Project in 2003. He was previously executive vice president and a director of Weingarten Realty Investors.
He serves on Texas A&M’s Master of Real Estate Advisory Board, has been a lecturer for MBA students, created an endowed scholarship in Mays Business School, and funded an auditorium in the Texas A&M Hillel Building. He has been a Diamond level member of The Association’s Century Club, with 33 years of giving.
He chaired Houston Mayor’s Main Street Coalition, leading redevelopment of the city’s Main Street Corridor; chaired the Stadium Park Redevelopment Authority; chaired a referendum to expand Houston’s light rail and transit systems (2003); and co-chaired a $100 million parks bond issue campaign (2012). He has served on executive committees and boards for Greater Houston Partnership, Houston Symphony, Scenic Houston, Holocaust Museum, Uptown Management District and the Texas Bowl.
His family includes wife Lorraine, four daughters, seven grandchildren, extended family of two daughters and three grandchildren, and his brother Emil Wulfe ’58.
Dr. Charley V.
Wootan ’50
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Year Awarded: 2016
College Station, TX
DR. CHARLEY V. WOOTAN ’50 received bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in agricultural economics; he was a member of the Corps of Cadets’ Company E, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, Alpha Zeta Agricultural Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi Collegiate Honor Society.
He was director of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute from 1976 to 1993 and director emeritus from 1993 to 2001, the year he passed away. In 2003, he was inducted into the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor. He received the Luther DeBerry Award from the Texas Department of Transportation, the S.S. Steinberg Award from the American Road and Transportation Builders Association and honors from the Transportation Research Board.
He was the founder and first president of the Council of University Transportation Centers in 1979. He was a Silver level member of The Association’s Century Club, with 32 years of giving.
He served in the Pacific theater 1944-46 in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve 1950-56.
He was the head timer at A&M men’s and women’s track and field meets 1974-1994, a frequent Muster speaker and an A&M economics professor.
He chaired the board of the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation, which in 2001 named the Charley V. Wootan Grant Program for him. In 2012-13, the program awarded $5 million to 1,500 students.
His family includes wife Doxie Wootan; children Richard Charles Wootan ’74 and Debra Alice Wootan Roberson ’75; and Aggie grandchildren are Clint Charles Roberson ’00, Thomas Ross Roberson ’03 and Steven Paul Roberson ’06. His brother was the late A.B. “Pat” Wooten ’42.
Anthony J.
Wood ’87
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Year Awarded: 2023
Austin, TX
Born in the U.K., Wood spent most of his teenage years in Houston. He started his first computer company in high school and worked odd jobs to earn extra cash. Neither of his parents attended college, so what brought Wood to Texas A&M was a $500 scholarship.
Wood studied electrical engineering, a discipline that complemented his interests, but his grades began to drop his junior year because he was devoting too much time to his newest company, SunRize Industries, instead of his classes. With some encouragement from Aggie administrators, he brought his grades up and graduated.
Wood is best known as the founder and CEO of Roku, a TV streaming platform. With an innovative understanding of demand, technology and trends, Wood envisions that all TV would someday be streamed. His foresight, paired with his drive, humility, quiet thoughtfulness and respect for others’ input, have earned him great success.
His innovation is not limited to his business ventures. Through the WoodNext Foundation, Wood funds research in a broad range of disciplines, including mental health, homelessness, entrepreneurship, dementia, pollution and more. He even supports the study of circadian rhythms, hoping to find a cure for jet lag.
Texas A&M is also a beneficiary of Wood’s generosity. He is the named donor of the new stage in Aggie Park. He has also given major gifts to the Texas A&M Global Cyber Research Institute, the School of Medicine’s PTSD and Mental Health Research Fund and much more.
“He remains kind, humble and passionate, and uses his numerous successes in life to help better his community, his country and the world.”
- Ray A. Rothrock ’77
Royce E.
Wisenbaker ’39
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Year Awarded: 1973
Mineola, TX
Wisenbaker received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1939 and a master’s degree in Municipal and Sanitary Engineering in 1940. Following service in WWII, Wisenbaker and Robert E. Fix ’38 formed the engineering firm Wisenbaker Fix and Associates. The company has been responsible for well over $100 million worth of construction projects.
Wisenbaker is considered to be the “father” of the Century Club and is credited with establishing the President’s Endowed Scholarship program. As president of The Association of Former Students in 1966, Wisenbaker clearly exhibited his devotion to his alma mater by initiating the study which resulted in a new organizational structure to more effectively serve Texas A&M University.
"Mr. Wisenbaker’s commitment to higher education was exemplary. He impacted a lot of young Texans’ lives by assisting them in their efforts to get a college education."
- Governor Rick Perry ’72