James E.
Wiley, Sr. ’46
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Year Awarded: 1990
Dallas, TX
Wiley received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1948. As a student he lettered in track and football and played in the 1944 Orange Bowl. He and his brother founded Wiley Brothers General Contractors which designs, leases and manages commercial and industrial buildings. During his career, he supervised construction of many Dallas landmarks.
In addition to his professional and community service, Mr. Wiley served on key advisory groups on campus and has been a major supporter of programs in a variety of areas. In 1983, when he and his brother were on campus to endow the A.P. and Florence Wiley Chair in Civil Engineering in honor of their parents, they attended a Memorial Student Center lecture series featuring two former U.S. Secretaries of State and were so impressed with the student run program that they provided $500,000 endowment for what is now know as the Wiley lecture Series.
"James Wiley is a man who has done more than dream about how to expand the educational horizon for students and Texas A&M. He has made his vision of Texas A&M a reality. His integrity and family values are without peer. He is a role model for Aggies young and old."
- Dr. Irene B. Hoadley, Former Director, Sterling C. Evans Library
Harvey R. “Bum”
Bright ’43
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Year Awarded: 1991
Muskogee, OK
Bright received a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1943. His career spanned the oil, trucking and finance industries. After serving in World War II in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he joined Sun Oil Company as a field engineer. He and his roommate, Herbert Schiff ’43 began trading oil leases and in 1949 the two men sold half of their lease holdings and established their own exploration and production company.
Bright also built a nationwide trucking empire with East Texas Motor Freight as the cornerstone, was a principal stockholder in RepublicBank Corporation, and created BrightBanc. From 1984 through 1989 he was owner of the Dallas Cowboys football team. Bright served as Chairman of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents from 1981-1985.
"He was a close friend and businessman that I respected and admired tremendously. With Bum, his word meant everything. He was one of the most honorable men that I have ever had the privilege of knowing and working with."
- Jerry Jones, Owner of Dallas Cowboys football team
William B.
Heye, Jr. ’60
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Year Awarded: 1991
San Antonio, TX
Heye received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1960 and later, a Master of Business Administration degree from the Harvard Business School. After a 20+ year career with Texas Instruments, Heye served as Vice President and General Manager of the Ampex Corp., which markets products used in graphics, editing and special effects.
Mr. Heye has been a Campus Muster Speaker and a Distinguished Visiting Executive Series speaker in the College of Business. Heye and his wife, Joan, were awarded Aggie Parents of the Year 1986-87.
Frederick D.
McClure ’76
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Year Awarded: 1991
San Augustine, TX
McClure received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics in 1976 and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence degree from Baylor University School of Law. McClure’s career led him to serve as Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs under President George H. Bush.
McClure worked in the Office of Senator John G. Tower for two years. After earning his law degree, he served as a trial attorney in Houston, and then returned to Senator Tower’s office as Legislative Director and Legal Counsel. He served as an Associate Deputy Attorney General in the U.S. Department of justice for a year before joining the staff of President Ronald Reagan as Special Assistant for Legislative Affairs and later became Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs.
He graduated summa cum laude from Texas A&M and received the Brown Foundation J. Earl Rudder Outstanding Student Award. He was Speaker of the Student Senate, a Rhodes Scholarship Finalist, and Student Body President. McClure is the youngest former student to be named a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M.
"Part of our American birthright is to change things. You have been given an edge here at Texas A&M. People will expect more of you, and rightly so."
James E.
Wilson ’37
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Year Awarded: 1991
McKinney, TX
Wilson received a bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering in 1938. After graduation, he began a career with Shell Oil Co. holding various staff and management positions in the Gulf Coast, mid-continent and Rocky Mountains regions. In 1960 Wilson was named vice-president for exploration and production in Houston – the first geologist and, at that time, youngest vice president in the company’s history. As a leader at Shell, Wilson was an industry pioneer in melding the disciplines of geology, engineering, and geophysics into teams and fostering communication and cooperation toward common goals.
He served on The Association of Former Students Board of Directors in 1967 and donated his vast collection of foreign maps to Texas A&M.
"Jim Wilson is a personable man, very intelligent, an excellent geologist and well rounded gentlemen. Texas A&M University is lucky to have alumni like Jim Wilson."
- Ted L. Bear
Jack
Finney ’38
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Year Awarded: 1992
Commerce, TX
Finney received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Administration in 1938. His endeavors include a wholesale bakery, investment management, commercial/residential development and construction, and managing quarter horses. He was named Director Emeritus of the Texas A&M System Board of Directors and was instrumental in hiring football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.
"My father Jack Finney, truly represents the greatest qualities that make the word ‘Aggie’ so special that only another Aggie would understand. I don’t remember when I first understood all the facets and dimensions such a word would encompass, but I do know it was a part of my life as I observed from my father in action. His love for A&M has been apparent to all who know him."
- Jean Finney Townsend, daughter
Frank M.
Muller, Jr. ’65
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Year Awarded: 1992
St. Louis, MO
Muller received bachelor’s degrees in Economics and English in 1965 and later a master’s degree in Business Administration. While a student, he was elected Student Body President.
He distinguished himself as executive assistant to the president of Pepsico, Inc, executive vice-president of the National Trailer Convoy, executive assistant to the chairman and president of Agrico Chemical Company, president of Devco Overseas Company, and general manager of The Kingston Company, Ltd. After a long career in executive positions, he became Senior Vice President of The Coastal Corp., where he managed multimillion dollar acquisitions and joint ventures.
"A&M, as you well know, is not a school- it’s a religion. For some of us, it was able to give us a level of nurturing at a time that was critical in our lives. As such, it’s a pleasure to give back."
Samuel Loyd
Neal, Jr. ’59
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Year Awarded: 1992
Henderson, TX
Neal received a bachelor’s degree in Marketing in 1959 and later a master’s degree from the University of Texas. In 1966, Neal joined W.L. Dinn and Co., the oldest and largest independent insurance agency in south Texas, where he was named President in 1978. He served on the Board of Directors for The Association of Former Students and was President of the Corpus Christi A&M Club.
Neal was also the first Board Chairman of the Corpus Christi Area Economic Development Corporation, Corpus Christi Co-Citizen of the Year, Corpus Christi Caller-Times Co-News Maker of the Year, and the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Man of the Year in 1985. Corpus Christi City Council designated April 3, 1986 as “Loyd Neal Day”.
"Loyd Neal has attained extraordinary stature in his community. What counts most for me, however is his love for Texas A&M University and his vision of greatness if the university in the future."
- Dr. Daniel Fallon, Former Dean of College of Liberal Arts, Texas A&M University
Lester T.
Potter ’28
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Year Awarded: 1992
Dallas, TX
Lester T. Potter received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1928. After graduation, Potter joined Lone Star Gas Co., advancing to President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board. While serving on the board, he developed a management succession procedure emphasizing responsibility, authority and accountability.
Potter has been highly involved in community service. He has served as Director and President of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce. He has also participated as a Director of the Dallas Urban League, Goodwill Industries, The Salvation Army, Dallas Alliance for Minority Enterprise, Dallas Community Arts Fund, American Red Cross, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He served on The Association of Former Students Board from 1988-1990 and was President of the Sul Ross Group.
"The Aggie Spirit is unique- one of a kind. Aggie spirit leads and guides us into accomplishment, sustaining us in the effort."
George A.
Linskie ’38
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Year Awarded: 1993
Dallas, TX
Linskie studied Mechanical Engineering at A&M College of Texas. His career began in the air conditioning business and he worked for the Frigidaire Air Conditioning Division and then joined the firm of Rollins and Forest Consultuing Engineers as a mechanical design engineer. He later founded Linskie Co., who merged with Sam P. Wallace Co. in 1970. He was served in many leadership positions with his industry’s professional societies and was a founding member and past president of the Engineers Club of Dallas.
Outside his love for flying (he has had an active commercial pilots license for over 40 years) his first love has been, serving on the Board of the Children’s Medical Center for the past 30 years, where he is a past president and chairman of the board.
"I know of no more dedicated person who exhibits and demonstrates the high ideals and spirit of Aggieland."
- James W. Aston '33, Distinguished Alumnus, 1967