Jesse L.
Easterwood ’09
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Year Awarded: 2009
Wills Point, TX
Easterwood, Class of 1909, studied agriculture at Texas A&M, leaving in 1909 to pursue business opportunities in Mexia, where he would become one of the town’s leading citizens. As a student, he was a member of B Company Infantry and played second base on the baseball team.
Upon the United States’ declaration of war on Germany in 1917, Easterwood sold his business and volunteered for duty as an aviator. He would become one of the first Americans qualified to fly as a naval aviator and sailed to Europe with the first group of American pilots to serve overseas in World War I. He completed 16 missions deep behind German lines and later saw service with the air forces of France and Italy. By the end of the War, Easterwood was one of only three survivors from the original group of 68 American pilots.
After the war, Easterwood remained in the Navy, flying the dangerous early airmail experiments. As a naval lieutenant he took it upon himself to fly all aircraft with mechanical problems and perished while attempting an emergency landing in a seaplane with a notoriously bad engine.
Easterwood was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic deeds during World War I. In 1940, Texas A&M paid tribute to his service by naming its new flying field - now known as Easterwood Airport - in his memory.
"Lt. Easterwood exemplified the values on which this institution was founded - duty, honor and service. His life illustrated the leadership abilities TAMU instills and values in other great Aggies such as Earl Rudder ’32, including leading from the front, inspiring by example and never asking others to do what he was not willing to do himself."
- Stephen H. Lucy ’82
Jefferson C.
Dykes ’21
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Year Awarded: 1984
Dallas, TX
Jefferson C. Dykes is a retired United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service administrator who is nationally known as an author and collector of rare Western books.
Following his graduation form Texas A&M University, Mr. Dykes spent eight years teaching high school vocational agriculture in Stephenville and McAllen and six years as a faculty member at his alma mater before joining the Soil Conservation Service in 1935.
He began collecting books about the Texas Rangers during the mid 1930’s and later elected to include other aspects of the West. His expertise in the field has been recognized both by the University of Texas, which asked him to appraise its Frank Dobie Collection, and his alma mater, which sought his help in acquiring the best range livestock collection in the world. That collection, which includes more than 18,000 volumes, now bears his name.
In 1971, he and his daughter, Martha Dykes Goldsmith, established a charitable remainder trust with the inventory of his book operations, Jeff Dykes/Western books, for the benefit of Texas A&M. He manages the company on behalf of the Texas A&M University Development Foundation.
"Mr. Dykes has made a fine collection for the A&M Library and has done more for the library than any individual with whom I am acquainted. Under his leadership, the library received one of the best collections of books ever written on the western cowboys that any university in the south would have."
J. Harold
Dunn ’25
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Year Awarded: 1964
Dallas County, TX
Dunn received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1925 and a master’s degree in 1938. He was Chairman and CEO of Shamrock Oil and Gas Corp. He served on the Texas A&M System Board of Directors and was President of The Association of Former Students.
"The friends you make through the years make life worthwhile… I don’t know how anyone could have a more interesting and pleasant life than has been my privilege."
Dr. James H. “Red”
Duke, Jr. ’50
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Year Awarded: 1988
Ennis, TX
Duke received a bachelor’s degree in Economics at Texas A&M University in 1950, a Bachelor in Divinity from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He received his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Houston where he later was a Professor of Surgery and a Special Assistant to the President.
Duke served in many professorial positions throughout his medical career. He was Founder and Medical Director of Life Flight Operations and Medical Director or Affiliated Hospital Systems and Hermann Hospital in Houston where he developed the Intensive Care Unit into the largest blunt trauma center in the world. He has been featured on several national news reports, health specials and a television series, one of his most noteworthy being the nationally syndicated “Health Reports” where he was a Television Medical Reporter and Host of the “BodyWatch” TV series.
"When asked how an Aggie ended up working for UT in Houston, Duke doesn’t skip a beat: ‘I’m a missionary.’"
- Excerpt from article in the Houston Post
Wilfred T.
Doherty ’22
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Year Awarded: 1966
Houston, TX
Doherty received his bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 1922. He served as the Vice President of the Robert A. Welch Foundation, President and Director of the Mound Company, Director of Fidelity Oil & Royalty Company, First National Bank and Texas National Bank of Houston, and Director of the Bank of the Southwest.
In 1953, he was named to Texas A&M’s Board of Directors and served as President for four years. He was a leading figure in support of the A&M building and utilities program, married student housing, putting emphasis on the quality of faculty, and the development of data processing, nuclear science, and space technology. Doherty also served on The Association of Formers Students Board of Directors and the Texas A&M Foundation Board of Trustees.
"Texas A&M has been very good to me… Regardless of what I may do I will never be able to repay my debt to Texas A&M. God bless the Aggies and keep them what they are forever."
Otway B.
Denny, Jr. ’71
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Year Awarded: 2016
Bryan, Texas
OTWAY B. DENNY, JR. ’71 received a bachelor’s degree in political science from A&M and a law degree, cum laude, from Baylor Law School; at A&M, he was in the Corps of Cadets Company B-1, served as a Ross Volunteer and was a Fish Camp Committee Chair.
He has been a partner with Norton Rose Fulbright in Houston since 1981 and served as president of the Houston Bar Association 1992-93. He is a fellow of both the American College and International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
He has served as a member and chair of the Board of Directors of The Association of Former Students and is on the Board of Trustees of the Texas A&M Foundation. He served as a Class Agent for the Class of ’71 for 20 years, from 1971 to 1991. He is a member of The Association’s Endowed Century Club and supported the enhancement of the Clayton W. Williams Jr., Alumni Center.
He has served as chair of the Houston Bar Foundation and the Texas Bar Foundation; as a volunteer with Veterans Legal Initiative; and as chair of Houston Volunteer Lawyers. He has led the Houston Young Lawyers Association and the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas. He was named Aggie Lawyer of the Year by the Texas Aggie Bar Association in 2000.
He has been a member of the Corps of Cadets Development Council, the College of Liberal Arts Development Council and the 12th Man Foundation’s Advisory Board, and he and his wife have created several A&M scholarships. He has been selected for “The Best Lawyers in America” and “Texas Super Lawyers” classifications.
His family includes wife Bonnie, daughters Amy Denny Stuber ’97, Lisa Denny ’98 and Stacey Denny Peavy; and three grandchildren. His father was Otway B. Denny ’39.
Joe Carter
Denman, Jr. ’46
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Year Awarded: 1981
Lufkin, TX
Denman received a bachelor’s degree in Architecture in 1950. He was an Aviator in the U.S. Naval Corps during WWII.
Denman received a bachelor’s degree in Architecture in 1950. He was an Aviator in the U.S. Naval Corps during WWII.
Denman is an Officer, Director, or Trustee for more than 25 financial, investment, industrial, governmental, and professional firms or organizations. He was very successful in the lumber industry as he served on the governing boards of the Lumberman’s Investment Corporation, National Forests Products Association, and was the Past President of the Southern Forest Products Association and the Texas Forest Products Manufacturers Association. Currently, Denman holds patent on an apparatus to efficiently measure lumber volume. He also served as President and CEO of Temple-Eastex Inc., Diboll.
"I doubt anyone could better exemplify the Spirit of Aggieland in his everyday associations than Joe Denman."
- C.M. Harbordt ’70
Don H.
Davis, Jr. ’61
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Year Awarded: 2010
Sedona, AZ
Davis graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and received a Master of Science in business administration from Texas A&M in 1963. During his time at A&M, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the varsity baseball team and the Shreveport Hometown Club.
After graduation, Davis worked as an engineering sales trainee with Allen-Bradley and moved up through the sales and marketing ranks to become president of Allen-Bradley in 1989, four years after its acquisition by Rockwell. Davis was named president of Rockwell International in 1996, CEO in 1997 and chairman in 1998. He retired in 2005 after a distinguished 42-year career with the company.
Davis was honored with the Dwight Look College of Engineering Outstanding Alumni Award in 1990, and he was elected to the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s Academy of Distinguished Graduates in 1992.
Davis and his wife, Sallie, have supported Texas A&M with endowments, including the Sallie and Don Davis ’61 Professorship in Engineering, two graduate fellowships in mechanical engineering, and a major gift to support the renovation of Olsen baseball field. Davis has served on the College of Engineering external advisory committee and he continues to serve on many boards. He is an Endowed Century Club member of The Association of Former Students and he volunteers and contributes to many educational and cultural organizations, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
"As all Aggies know, Texas A&M is a special place that affects you at a very deep level. The values that are a part of A&M's culture helped me to understand the importance of honesty, integrity, responsibility, discipline and perseverance."
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
Dr. Eddie Joe
Davis ’67
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Year Awarded: 2018
College Station, TX
As president of the Texas A&M Foundation for 23 years, 1993- 2016, Davis led three major fundraising campaigns that brought more than $2 billion in support to A&M. He also served as Texas A&M University’s interim president in 2006-08 after Bob Gates’ appointment as U.S. secretary of defense.
As a student, Davis was cadet colonel (commander) of the Corps; a Distinguished Military Student and Graduate; a student senator; member of SCONA and Alpha Zeta; and co-editor of Agriculturalist magazine.
Davis was an Army paratrooper in Vietnam, and before joining the Foundation, held every key financial position, including CFO, at Texas A&M and The Texas A&M University System, finally serving as executive deputy chancellor of the System. In 2012, he received the National Commonfund Institutionally Related Foundation Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
Davis has been part of A&M’s 12th Man Ambassadors, Brazos County A&M Club president and a speaker at some 30 Musters. He has served on the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce board, as vice chair of the College Station Development Foundation, and with many other community efforts.
He is an Endowed Century Club member of The Association with 35 years of giving, is a Heritage member of the A&M Legacy Society and College of Education and Human Development and has given a Delta Gamma Foundation Lectureship.
His family includes wife JoAnn; two children, including Michael Davis ’98 (wife: Annette Davis ’99); four grandchildren; and siblings-in-law Russ ’80 and Debbie ’80 Kellen and Phillip Meuse ’62.
“Growing up, as an Aggie student and as a young manager at A&M, I thought people who became Distinguished Alumni were giants. Guess I either lowered the average, or proved that keeping your nose clean and working hard actually pays off,”
- Dr. Eddie Joe Davis '67