Distinguished Alumni

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151-160 of 331
Charles H. Weinbaum, Jr. ’47

Charles H. Weinbaum, Jr. ’47
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Year Awarded: 2008

Beaumont, TX

Weinbaum received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from Texas A&M. During his time as a student, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Beaumont Hometown Club and the Hillel Club, and he lettered in basketball. He went on to attend the Graduate School of Business at New York University before beginning his career with Beaumont’s Weinbaum Insurance Agency, of which he remains a partner. Weinbaum began developing commercial real estate in 1953 and, since 1975, has been president of two oil and gas firms, Cherokee Royalty and Marion Cass. In addition, he has been general partner of Weinbaum Family Investments since 1980. He is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International and has served as a volunteer and contributor to dozens of educational and nonprofit organizations.



Weinbaum has been actively involved with Texas A&M, having served as president of the Beaumont A&M Club and on the Board of Directors of The Association of Former Students. He is a co-founder of the Texas A&M Letterman’s Association as well as a member of the 12th Man Foundation Champions Council. Weinbaum funded a President’s Endowed Scholarship in 1990 and has contributed to many other A&M organizations and activities. He serves a councilman emeritus for The Association of Former Students and was recognized by the Beaumont A&M Club for 50 years of dedicated service. In 1982 he and his late wife, Gloria, were recognized by Texas A&M University as its Parents of the Year.



Weinbaum has five children, Charles, Class of 1977; Daniel, Class of 1981; Jonathan, Class of 1982; Bernard; and Rebecca; seven grandchildren, including Elana Weinbaum, Class of 2007; and a great-grandchild.

"Charlie Weinbaum- no matter who you speak to- is highly respected for his honesty, love for his family and community, optimism, ethical business practices, and his passion for Texas A&M University."

  - W. Edward Collins, M.D. ’77

Raul B. Fernandez ’59

Raul B. Fernandez ’59
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Year Awarded: 2007

Laredo, TX

Raul B. Fernandez, class of 1959, received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University. During his time as a student, Fernandez was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Student Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and was President of the Laredo A&M Hometown Club.



Fernandez began his career in 1960 with H. B. Zachry Co. in San Antonio. In 1961 he reported for a two year tour of duty in Germany, U. S. Army Artillery, where he attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant.



Upon his return to San Antonio in 1963, he was associated with H. B. Zachry Properties and J. H. Uptmore & Associates, where he was promoted to senior vice president in 1985. In 1990, Fernandez started his own building, development, and real estate investment company.



Throughout his career, Fernandez has been committed to public and higher education in the state of Texas, having served eighteen years as a public school district trustee and on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. In 1990, he was honored with the naming of the Raul B. Fernandez Elementary School in San Antonio’s Northside Independent School District.



Fernandez has been actively involved with Texas A&M, having served as president of the Association of Former Students and the San Antonio A&M Club. He also served as Chairman of the Corps of Cadets Development Council and as Vice Chairman of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.



Fernandez has been sought after as an Aggie Muster speaker and has made over twenty Muster presentations in Texas, the Air Force Academy in Colorado, and in 2005 he spoke at Muster in San Salvador, El Salvador.



Born in Laredo, Raul and his wife Sylvia, class of 1988, have three children, William, Monica, class of 1984, and Michael, class of 1988, three grandchildren and one great grandchild.

"You could not find a more outstanding graduate to serve as a role model of what an old Ag can mean to this university, but he has the vision to inspire and promote others to follow in his footsteps and become more than they know they can be, future leaders in their communities, university and state. As well as honor him, we would do well to clone him!"

  - Tommie Lohman ’59, Distinguished Alumnus, 2012

Preston M. Geren, Jr. ’45

Preston M. Geren, Jr. ’45
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Year Awarded: 2007

Fort Worth, TX

Geren entered Texas A&M University in the fall of 1941 to study architectural engineering and in 1943 left to enter the U.S. Army. Upon release from duty in 1945, the degree he was preparing for was no longer offered at Texas A&M. Therefore, he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in architecture in 1947 at Georgia Tech, and Texas A&M made special dispensation for Geren to remain a member of the Class of 1945. He was a member of the Corps of Cadets and a Letterman in swimming.



Geren began his career as a registered architect and engineer in 1947 when he joined the firm with his father, Preston M. Geren, Sr., which was established in 1934. The firm became a leading architectural force in Fort Worth and the state of Texas. After his father’s death in 1969, Geren became the sole owner of Geren Associates Architects and Engineers and was recognized as one of the 250 largest architectural firms in the nation at the time. Among Geren’s designs is the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center on the Texas A&M University campus.



Geren has generously volunteered his time to Texas A&M University as president and member of the Executive Committee of the 12th Man Foundation and member of the Chancellor’s Advisory Council and President’s Advisory Council. He also served on the Advisory Council to the Corps of Cadets and on the Advisory Council of the School of Architecture and Environmental Design. Texas A&M’s College of Architecture honored Geren with the Outstanding Alumni Award in 1998. Born in Fort Worth, Geren and his wife, Colleen, have three sons, Charles, Preston and Toby, two daughters, Eva and Chandra; and 11 grandchildren.

"Preston Geren, Jr. exemplifies just what it means to be an Aggie. His love of country, love of community and love of Texas A&M can be found in his many great deeds and accomplishments, and they are certainly worthy of recognition."

  - Rick Perry ’72, Governor of Texas

Edwin J. Kyle ’99

Edwin J. Kyle ’99
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Year Awarded: 2007

Kyle, TX

Kyle graduated from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas in 1899 with a degree in horticulture. As a senior, Kyle served as senior captain (now known as Corps commander), class president, president of the YMCA and valedictorian. Kyle brought national recognition to Texas A&M through his contributions to agriculture, education and athletics, but his most lasting impression would be the naming of Kyle Field in his honor.



Kyle began his professional career at Texas A&M in 1902 as an instructor, the head of the Department of Horticulture and Mycology and horticulturist to the Experiment Station. He became the first dean of the School of Agriculture in 1911. Kyle retired from A&M in 1944 and served as director of the Farm Credit Administration in Houston until the late 1950s. In 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him United States Ambassador to Guatemala. After his resignation in 1947, Kyle was called back to Guatemala to receive that nation’s highest decoration, The Order of the Quetzal. Kyle served as executive secretary of The Alumni Association from 1905 until 1906 and was president of the General Athletic Association, a precursor to the Texas A&M Athletic Council, and a member for 24 years. Born in Kyle, Texas, Kyle lived in Bryan until his death in 1963.

Roderick D. Stepp ’59

Roderick D. Stepp ’59
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Year Awarded: 2007

Wichita Falls, TX

Stepp received a bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from Texas A&M University in 1959. As a student at Texas A&M, Stepp was the editor of the 1959 Aggieland. He was a member of the Corps of Cadets and the Ross Volunteers and was named Distinguished Student and Distinguished Military Graduate.



Stepp began his career in 1959 with Pan American Petroleum. In 1961, he was called to service with the United States Army, where he served until 1963. In 1963, Stepp purchased interest in a small family-owned metal shop in Fort Worth with six employees. Under his business expertise, M&M Manufacturing Company has grown to become a major manufacturer of construction-related products utilizing leading edge technology to create state-of-the-art manufacturing processes with six manufacturing plants and over 700 employees. Stepp co-funded and introduced a very significant research project to the Energy Systems Laboratory at Texas A&M University and co-funded a marketing project with Mays Business School.



As a former student, Stepp has generously served Texas A&M with his time and talent as member, president and Muster chair of the Fort Worth/Tarrant County A&M Club and vice president of The Association of Former Students. He served as president of the 12th Man Foundation, member and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Texas A&M Foundation, and member of the President’s Board of Visitors. Stepp has been Muster speaker and served on the Vision 2020 Council and One Spirit One Vision Campaign. Born in Wichita Falls, Stepp and his wife, Claudia, reside in Fort Worth and have two children, Randall and Rhonda, and four grandchildren.

COL Edward B. Cushing, Class of 1880

COL Edward B. Cushing, Class of 1880
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Year Awarded: 2006

Houston, TX

Col. E.B. Cushing, Class of 1880, majored in civil engineering at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now known as Texas A&M University).



Cushing joined the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1881 as chief engineer of construction and was an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was a colonel and advising engineer in the U.S. Army and received distinguished service medals from the governments of France, Belgium and Italy.



As a former student, Cushing dedicated himself to supporting and improving the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and after the legislature failed to appropriate funds for the college, underwrote the needs of the college to prevent closure. In 1880, he was elected chief secretary of the Association of Ex-Cadets (now known as The Association of Former Students) and while serving as president on the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas’ Board of Directors, was responsible for bringing President W.E. Bizzell to the college.



Cushing had the foresight to compile records of student enrollment from the first years of the college, setting the precedent for the Directory of Former Students. He helped establish the Alumni Bureau and the Alpha Phi Fraternity, and was elected to the Houston Committee in 1914 to represent the college before the state legislature.



Upon his death in 1924, Cushing bequeathed to A and M his large collection of engineering texts, which are now stored in the Cushing Library.

"There is perhaps no man who has had the interests of the college so much before him and no man whose memory deserves such a fitting tribute by the college."

  - Library Committee statement to the Board of Directors on the naming of ‘Cushing Library’

Dr. Frederick E. Giesecke ’86

Dr. Frederick E. Giesecke ’86
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Year Awarded: 2006

Latium, TX

Dr. Frederick E. Giesecke received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now known as Texas A&M University) in 1886 and a doctorate of engineering from the University of Illinois in 1924. While a student at the college, he was captain of the Corps of Cadets.



After graduation, Giesecke became an assistant professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department from 1886 to 1888, and at age 19 was made head of A and M’s Department of Mechanical Drawing. He founded the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas’ Department of Architecture in 1905 before moving to Austin as a professor and then dean of the University of Texas’ Department of Architecture. In 1927, Giesecke returned to A and M as the dean of the College of Architecture and head of the Department of Architecture. Within a year, he was named head of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station.



Through 1939, Giesecke designed and supervised the construction of many campus buildings that are still standing today including the Chemistry Building, the Williams Building, Cushing Library and Hart and Walton halls. In 1942, he was awarded with the F. Paul Anderson Gold Medal for outstanding contribution to the science of heating and ventilation.



As a former student, Giesecke led the formation of, drafted the constitution for and served as the first secretary of the Alumni Association of the A and M College of Texas, a precursor to The Association of Former Students.

L.C. “Chaz” Neely, Jr. ’62

L.C. “Chaz” Neely, Jr. ’62
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Year Awarded: 2006

San Antonio, TX

L.C. “Chaz” Neely, Jr., Class of 1962, received a bachelor’s degree in business administration in marketing from Texas A&M University. During his time at Texas A&M, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and the San Antonio Hometown Club.



In 1963, Neely began his career at Sinclair Refining Co. and later moved to the truck leasing division of Hertz Corp. Soon after in 1970, Neely joined Knowlton’s Creamery, spending 13 years honing his marketing and distribution skills and gaining important management experience. It was in 1979 when Neely purchased San Antonio Steel Co., a then small firm who bought large quantities of nail and wire from wholesalers and then resold them to contractor suppliers and lumber yards. From 1981 to 1983, Neely continued to work for Knowlton’s Creamery and run San Antonio Steel. After many ups and downs, San Antonio Steel Co. today has retail sales in excess of $37 million with 35 employees. SASCO was named to Inc. Magazine’s Top 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies in 1986, and is frequently recognized by the San Antonio Business Journal Top 50 Private Companies of San Antonio. He was named the Ernst & Young, LLP Entrepreneur of the Year for the Central and South Texas Region in 1997.



Neely has volunteered his time to Texas A&M University as President of the San Antonio A&M Club, a member of the Chancellor’s Century Council, the Mays Business School Development Council, the One Spirit One Vision Campaign committee and the 12th Man Foundation. He served on the boards of directors for The Association of Former Students and the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship. The Mays Business School honored him with the Outstanding Alumni Award in 2005 and he is an inaugural member of the “Aggie 100,” recognizing the 100 fastest growing Aggie-led businesses in the world. Born in San Antonio, Neely and his wife, Trisha, have three children: Alison, Class of 1990; Bradford, Class of 1994; and Trey, Class of 1997.

"Mr. Neely’s rise to success was not meteoric. Instead it was slow, steady and done with great perseverance. In a world where instant gratification and creative financing is glorified and, I think Mr. Neely’s story gives a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed- grit, sweat equity and, sometimes… putting yourself on the line. It is a lesson that young, start-up entrepreneurs would benefit from."

  - Donna Turtle, Business Journalist

Erle A. Nye ’59

Erle A. Nye ’59
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Year Awarded: 2006

Fort Worth, TX

Erle A. Nye received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University in 1959, a juris doctorate from Southern Methodist University in 1965 and a doctorate of science honoris causa from the Baylor College of Dentistry in 1996. During his time as a Texas A&M student, Nye was a member of the Corps of Cadets and was a Distinguished Military Graduate.



Nye began his career in 1960 with Dallas Power & Light Company, a subsidiary of Texas Utilities Company. In 1980, he was named Vice President of the parent company where his career would span 45 years and he would lead seven companies under TXU Corp., Texas’ largest publicly-held utility company. In 2004, he retired as Chief Executive Officer and now serves as Chairman Emeritus of TXU Corp. During his long and distinguished career, Nye chaired many industry organizations, including the Edison Electric Institute, the Electric Power Research Institute, the North American Electric Reliability Council and the Nuclear Energy Institute. He has served on numerous state and federal boards and committees and currently serves as Chairman of the President’s Critical Infrastructure Advisory Council. He has been recognized with numerous honors, including The Nasher Award from the Dallas Business Committee for the Arts, the Robert H. Dedman Award for Ethics and Law from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and Texas General Counsel Forum, and the Corporate Social Responsibility Award from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.



As a former student, Nye has generously served Texas A&M with his time and talent. He has been a member of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents since 1997 and previously served as its chairman. Nye is also a member of the Chancellor’s Century Council, the Dwight Look College of Engineering Development Council, the One Spirit One Vision Campaign Executive Committee and the Texas A&M Foundation Development Advisory Committee. In 1993, he received the Outstanding Alumni Honor Award from the Dwight Look College of Engineering and was inducted into the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor in 2004. Born in Fort Worth, Nye and his wife, Alice, have five children: Kathy, Class of 1984; Allen, Class of 1989; Ann, Kyle and Scott.

"Just mention the name ‘Erle Nye’ and people talk about his integrity and how much they like and respect him."

  - Congressman Joe Barton '72

RADM Robert Smith ’61

RADM Robert Smith ’61
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Year Awarded: 2006

Dallas, TX

Rear Adm. Robert Smith III received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University in 1961 and is a graduate of Louisiana State University’s School of Banking of the South in 1977. As a student at Texas A&M, Smith was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Agricultural Economics Club and the Dallas Hometown Club.



Smith was commissioned into the U.S. Navy in 1962. He is a graduate of the Naval War College and also attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, completing a course in national security in 1991. During his 35 years of service, he participated in assignments in the Pacific, Washington, D.C., and the Atlantic, and retired in 1996 as chief of staff to the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In 1987 Smith was selected a Rear Admiral (lower half) and later earned his second star in 1991. The U.S. Navy recognized his distinguished military career with honors including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy Unit Commendation Award. Smith began his civilian career with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas in 1968. Smith has served as secretary to the bank’s board of directors and to the Federal Reserve System’s Conference of Presidents. In 1975, Smith served as assistant secretary to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Today he is senior vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank, responsible for its Houston’s branch.



Smith is actively involved as a Texas A&M former student as an ardent supporter and past president of The Association of Former Students and the Dallas A&M Club and past chairman of the Texas A&M Foundation. He is a past member of the 12th Man Foundation Board of Directors and Chancellor’s Century Council. He is a member of the Corps of Cadets Development Council, vice chairman of the Presidential Board of Visitors and chairs the President’s Council of Advisors. In 1999 he received the Jimmy Williams Distinguished Service Award from the Dallas A&M Club and the Houston A&M Club named him “Outstanding Houston Aggie of the Year” in 2002. Born in Dallas, Smith and his wife, Mary Sue, reside in Houston and Rockwall, Texas.

"He always does what is right- the hallmark of a good Aggie."

  - Joe B. Mattei ’53, Distinguished Alumnus, 2004

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