John R.
Blocker ’45
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Year Awarded: 1983
San Antonio, TX
John R. Blocker, a former member and Vice President of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blocker Energy Corporation, the fifteenth largest contract drilling company in the world with 54 rigs operating in eight countries. He is also a retired Senior Vice President of Dresser Industries, where he was in charge of that company’s worldwide petroleum and minerals operations.
A member of Texas A&M’s Class of ’45, he left college to serve in the Army during World War II and won the Bronze Star. After the war, he returned to Texas A&M and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in 1948. Following graduation, he worked in various aspects of the oil and gas business in Texas before becoming operations manager for Dresser subsidiary in Argentina. He served dresser in both that country and Venezuela before relocating to Dresser’s Houston office, where he had various responsibilities for foreign operations. He retired from Dresser in 1977 as Senior Vice President.
He was honored as “Texas Business Executive of the Year” for 1982 by Texas A&M’s College of Business Administration and Texas Business Executive magazine. His selection was based on nominations from corporate officers around the state.
Blocker has long been devoted to his alma mater. He has been on The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. In addition to serving as Vice President of the Board, he was Chairman of the Committee for Academic Campus and headed the Regent’s participation in the Texas A&M University System Target 2000 Project. Additionally, he is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Executive Development Program in the College of Business Administration and a Trustee of the Texas A&M University Research Foundation.
He and his wife have endowed two academic chairs in the College of Business Administration and have also founded a President’s Endowed Scholarship and a Twelfth Man Scholarship.
"I feel a major commitment to Texas A&M. When I went to A&M, I didn’t have any money, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I had no plans. A&M brought me out, made me something of a man rather than a boy. The two years I spent there after the war were the most impressive, most influential years of my life. It was the single most powerful influence on my life, that’s the way I feel."
A.W. “Head”
Davis, Jr. ’45
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Year Awarded: 2003
Wichita Falls, TX
Davis received a bachelor’s degree in General Business in 1948 and later received a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from Southern Methodist University. He was a Cottle County attorney and 50th judicial district attorney before founding Bryan’s Davis & Davis Attorneys at Law, where he is Managing Partner. Davis served as President of The Association of Former Students, and participated in the planning funding and construction of the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center and the creation of the Sam Houston Sanders Corps of Cadets Center on the Texas A&M campus.
"He is a fine example of that generation of Aggies who have a unique perspective of how Texas A&M changed their lives, and has acted on that insight with generous support back to Texas A&M."
- Randy Matson ’67, Past Executive Director of The Association of Former Students
Thomas R.
Frymire ’45
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Year Awarded: 1986
Abilene, TX
Frymire received a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1947. He began his career as a Sales Engineer and 29 years later was Chairman of the Board of Frymire Engineering Co., Inc., the largest mechanical and electrical service company in the south.
He was the President of the Aggie Club, a charter member of the 12th Man Club, and a sponsor three President’s Endowed Scholarships. Mr. Frymire also donated the “Kyle Field” sign located on the west side of the stadium.
"He is always hailed as the epitome of A&M spirit when his name is mentioned."
- Thomas A. O’ Dwyer '47, Distinguished Alumnus, 1984
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
Richard E.
Haas ’45
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Year Awarded: 1982
Marathon, KS
Haas received a bachelor’s degree in Animal Husbandry in 1947. After graduation, he founded many agricultural- and energy-related businesses. He served as Owner-Manager of R.E. “Dick” Haas Land & Cattle Company, R.E. “Dick” Haas Pipeline Company and R.E.H. Energy Enterprises, Inc.
Haas was President of the Corpus Christi A&M Club, served on The Association of Former Students Board of Directors, and was a Trustee of the Texas A&M Development Foundation. He also established an endowment of more than $300,000 to fund a President’s Scholarship and created the Haas-Litterst Endowment in Animal Science.
Marvin T.
Runyon, Jr. ’45
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Year Awarded: 1996
Fort Worth, TX
Runyon received a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering in 1948. After a 37-year career with Ford Motor Co., he was chosen to serve as President and CEO of Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corp. In 1992, he accepted appointment as Postmaster General of the United States. Under his leadership, the Postal Service delivered three straight years of record breaking success.
"At A&M, we lived in companies. I lived a very military life there, and I liked that life. It really puts the teamwork mentality into you. The spirit was just outstanding."
Charles G.
Scruggs ’45
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Year Awarded: 1982
McGregor, TX
Scruggs received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Administration in 1947. His career began at Progressive Farmer magazine, where he advanced to Editor in 1978. Scruggs was Founder and President of the Southwest Animal Health Research Foundation and was instrumental in establishing the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.
He was a recipient of many awards for his outstanding contributions to agriculture from the American Society of Animal Science, American Agricultural Editors Association, Agricultural Communicators in Education and Federal Land bank Association of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Scruggs was recognized as “Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture.”
"Texas A&M has always been a labor of love for me. I shall try doubly hard to serve more in the future."
Gilbert M.
Turner ’45
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Year Awarded: 1984
Travis Peak, TX
Turner received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting in 1947. His company, Boring & Tunneling Company of America (BorTunCo.), specializes in boring and tunneling under roadways, railways and waterways. He also heads several other companies operating worldwide, including American Steel Building Co., KenMor Electric Company, and Bluebonnet Express of Houston.
Turner has long been affiliated with A&M Athletics and its programs. He served on the Target 2000 Project Committee and has helped sponsor Aggie basketball broadcasts and the football coach’s television show. Turner has also funded a 12th Man Scholarship and a President’s Endowed Scholarship.
"He is a credit to the principles, ideas and aggressive drive characteristic of alumni of Texas A&M."
- John F. Baugh, Founder of Sysco Corporation
Dr. Robert V.
Walker ’45
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Year Awarded: 2012
Dr. Robert V. Walker, Class of 1945, studied pre-dentistry at the Agricultural & Mechanical College of Texas before he was drafted into the army. While at A&M, he was named “Best Drilled Man” of H Battery Field Artillery during his sophomore year, 1st Sergeant in his junior year, earned a walk-on position on the freshman baseball team in 1942, and played the full 1943 season of baseball on the A&M varsity team, earning his “T” medal. He earned a doctor of dental surgery degree from Baylor University College of Dentistry in 1947, studied at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Medicine for a year in 1953, and won Honorary Fellowships from both the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland in 1973 and England in 1984.
He was called back into the army in 1951, where he advanced from 1st lieutenant to captain at the Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio in 1953. During his tenure there he joined the BAMC Comets baseball team and played at the national championship level in 1951-52. It was here that he was introduced to oral surgery and was encouraged to continue his education, and he became a certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon in 1958. Walker was an assistant professor, and then professor as well as Chairman of the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and ended his time there as Professor Emeritus.
Walker held leadership roles and remained active in many societies and associations around Texas, such as the American Trauma Society, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Dallas County Dental Society and the Southwest Society of Oral Surgeons, just to name a few. He won numerous honors and achievement awards, like the Texas Dental Association Gold Medal for Distinguished Service in 2003, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Dallas County Dental Society in 2002, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Baylor College of Dentistry (now Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry) in 1999. He was a founding member, board member and past president of the Texas A&M Medical-Dentistry Society, past chair and vice-chair of the College of Science External Advisory and Development Council, member of the Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets Association, The Association of Former Students, the Texas A&M Foundation and the 12th Man Foundation. In 1994, he established the Emily and Robert Walker Endowed Scholarship in Science at Texas A&M, followed in 1995 by the Emily and Robert Walker ’45 Endowed Lectureship in Biology. In 2004 he was honored with induction into the Texas A&M College of Science Academy of Distinguished Former Students.
Walker and his wife, Emily, had one daughter and two sons. He passed away on April 28, 2011.
"Dad really enjoyed the Corps and playing baseball. He was a walk-on player for the baseball team, and beat out a recruited player with a scholarship for shortstop. He was very happy to win the Best Drilled Man award for his unit, over students who had come from large city high schools with ROTC programs. It was a big disappointment when he was drafted at the end of his junior year, and he didn't get to wear his boots or take a position of leadership in the Corps as a senior."
- -Trey Walker, Robert Walker's son
Robert W.
Baker ’44
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Year Awarded: 1975
Millican, TX
Robert Wayne Baker has distinguished himself as an attorney, banker, member of the Coordinating Board, Texas College and University System, and former member of both houses of the Texas Legislature.
Baker’s business interests include partnerships in insurance, investment and development companies. He was chairman of the boards of Guaranty National Bank and Mercantile Bank of Houston and served on the boards of four companies. His professional affiliations include the American, Texas and Houston Bar Associations.
After practicing law in Houston for three years following completion of his formal education, he served in the Legislature for a decade. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1952, was twice reelected and then won election for a four-year term in the State Senate. He authored bills which allowed the University of Houston to become a state supported institution, created the Psychiatry Research institution of Houston, authorized the medical examiner system for the State of Texas and created a Savings and Loan section for the State Finance Commission.
His service to the people of the State of Texas includes leadership and guidance which he has provided as a member of the Coordinating Board, Texas College and University System, since 1971.
Baker initially enrolled at Texas A&M in 1940, but he interrupted his studies to enter the Air Force in 1943. He returned in 1945 and was awarded the Bachelor of Science degree in economics one year later. He earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from The University of Texas School of Law in 1949.
Baker has been an avid supporter of higher education. He and his wife have provided two President’s Endowed Scholarships at his alma mater.