Dr. Frank J.
Malina ’34
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Year Awarded: 1972
Brenham, TX
Dr. Frank Malina has literally reached the stars both as a scientist-administrator and as an artist. Malina’s pioneering work in the field of rocketry is part of the basis of rockets now going to other planets. His advancement in the field of kinetic art has won him fame in recent years.
Malina is a trustee in the International Academy of Astronautics; founder-editor of Leonardo, International Journal of the Contemporary Artist; and founder of Electre Lumidyne International Corporation.
Malina received a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1934, a master’s degree in Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 1936, and a Doctorate of Aeronautics from Cal Tech in 1940.
He is credited with forcing the start of rocket science and technology in the 1930’s with his thesis on the theory and practice of rocketry. Malina was instrumental in establishing NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In 1954, he brought a new vision to art when he introduced electric light and movement into painting. Malina’s mobile electro-paintings have been exhibited in Paris, Lyon, Rennes, France; Milan; Rome; Prague; Amsterdam; Washington, D.C.; New York; San Francisco; and the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M campus.
"Malina has played a leading role in the development of space technology and would worthy of recognition for that accomplishment alone. But in addition, he has been a leader in the development of the International Space Academy, which has effectively promoted the interchange of scientific information about the exploration of space."
- Daniel J. Boorstin, Director, Smithsonian Institution
COL Henry C.
Wendler ’34
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Year Awarded: 1996
Boerne, TX
Wendler received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Administration in 1934. After a 39-year career with International Business Machines, he retired as Director of Personnel and Customer Relations in 1971. Throughout his tenure, he hired and trained many who achieved uncommon success in computer system marketing and other executive positions, including Ross Perot.
He was an active member in the Dallas and Houston Rotary Clubs and Chambers of Commerce.
"Some of my fondest memories are of my business experiences at IBM with you. Much of my success is directly related to having an opportunity to work for you."
- In a letter to Wendler from Ross Perot
James W.
Aston ’33
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Year Awarded: 1967
Dallas, TX
Aston received his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering in 1933. He served in World War II, rising to the rank of colonel and received the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Service Medal. He joined the Republic National Bank where he served as Executive Vice President, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Aston also served as the Director of the National Boy Scouts of America, the Cotton Bowl Council and its Athletic Association, and the Dallas Citizen’s Council. In 1957, Sports Illustrated named the former A&M fullback to its Silver Anniversary All-American Football Team. Aston served as President of The Association of Former Students in 1961. Aston and his wife, Sarah, have a son, James.
"A man of selfless generosity, Jimmie Aston’s involvement in the well being and betterment of his fellow man is active and real."
- Excerpt from the Humanitarian Award Dinner invitation honoring James W. Aston '33
Harvey
Cash ’33
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Year Awarded: 1980
Castro County, TX
Harvey Cash received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1933. Throughout his more than 20-year career with Texaco, he advanced through the ranks to become Executive Vice President in 1962. He was recognized for his petroleum expertise and ability to negotiate with high ranking officials of foreign governments. He played an important role in preventing serious energy problems in Western Europe during the 1967 Middle East crisis.
Cash served as President of The Association of Former Students in 1978, was a founding member of the Texas A&M University’s Presidential Endowed Scholarship program and was instrumental in implementing changes in annual fundraising.
"No one has better served their university than Harvey Cash served Texas A&M. He was always ready to help whenever called upon."
- Randy Matson ’67, Past Executive Director of The Association of Former Students
Fred W.
Heldenfels, Jr. ’33
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Year Awarded: 2009
Corpus Christi, TX
Heldenfels graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. As a student, he participated in the Corps of Cadets and was a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.
Heldenfels joined the family business in 1933 and with his brother, Tony Heldenfels, Class of 1935, led the lumber business started by his father and uncle to become one of the largest contractors for public and private construction projects in South Texas. He was named Chairman of the Board of Heldenfels Brothers, Inc. in 1978 and remained so until his death in 1992.
Active and influential within the construction industry, he served as president of both the Associated General Contractors of Texas and the Associated General Contractors of America. He served as a board member for the Del Mar College Board of Regents for 24 years and as its president for 10 years. In recognition of his service to the school, the administration building was named for him in 1982.
Heldenfels served on the Board of Directors of the Texas A&M Research Foundation and was an active supporter of The Association of Former Students and the 12th Man Foundation.
A native of Beeville, TX, Heldenfels spent most of his professional life in Corpus Christi. He was married to Rae Heldenfels, and after her death to Paula Heldenfels. He was father to two sons; Frederick III ’56 and John ’60; grandfather to Frederick IV ’79, Kenneth ’82, Gilbreath ’85, John ’85; and Steven ’88; and had seven great-grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
"My father was drawn to Texas A&M because of the spirit exhibited by both his father and uncle who preceded him at Texas A&M. To him, being an Aggie was not just an education but also a lifelong experience, and he was guided throughout his career by the principles of leadership and contribution that he learned at Texas A&M."
- Fred W. Heldenfels III '56, son of Fred W. Heldenfels, Jr. '33
Morris “Buddy”
Benz ’32
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Year Awarded: 1973
Port Arthur, TX
M. “Buddy” Benz is a leading exponent of contemporary floral design. He has won almost every award his particular field can offer. The Benz School of Floral Design in Houston is one of the outstanding schools of floral design in the United States.
Advice from his father in 1928 turned him from a proposed career in dentistry toward an A&M degree in Landscape Architecture and Floriculture and a lifetime of dedication to the advancement of floral design as a profession and an art form.
After graduating from Texas A&M, Benz augmented his college training with studies abroad and at leading schools of floral design in the is country. Then, while teaching Floriculture and Design at Mississippi State College, he began creating his own floral designs which became the basis for the first textbook on this art form in Western culture.
This book, Flowers: Their Creative Designs, published in 1952, quickly became the basic reference work for floral artists and commercial florists. In 1960, Benz published Flowers: Free Form- Interpretive Design which changed the entire concept of floral design, raising it into the fine arts class. Flowers: Geometric Form, a complete revision of his first book, was published in 1962.
Benz opened his first floral shop in his hometown of Port Arthur in 1936, then moved the shop to Houston where he also operated a landscape office until entering the U.S. Army in 1941. He helped design the yellow, red and blue triangular emblem used by the Armored Command and was discharged in 1946 as a lieutenant colonel.
Following World War II, he organized the Benz School of Floral Design in Houston. Techniques developed by Benz for his two-week course enable even novices to master floral design.
Benz has bequeathed to Texas A&M University his collection of fine art gathered from all around the globe as well as his unique library containing almost everything written about floral art and its history. He is also the founder of the world-renowned Benz School of Floral Design at Texas A&M University.
No other individual has made a greater impact on his professional field than has M. “Buddy” Benz, a man dedicated to developing a standard of excellence in the use of flowers as a source of “beauty to temper man’s soul.”
"His great love for A&M and his appreciation for the fine arts are helping A&M take its rightful place among great universities with an outstanding fine arts collection for its student body."
- Robert Rucker '38, Department of Horticulture, Texas A&M, and close friend
Dr. Mavis P.
Kelsey ’32
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Year Awarded: 1983
Depost, TX
Kelsey received a bachelor’s degree in Biology in 1932 and a Doctorate of Medicine from University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Kelsey founded and is senior member of the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic of Houston, a large general clinic with 120 physicians serving a national and international clientele. He served as Medical Advisor for companies including Pennzoil Corp. and directed medical contracts for NASA and the U.S. Navy.
An avid collector of American art and Americana, Dr. Kelsey and his wife have donated valuable collections to several academic institutions and museums. The Kelsey’s have contributed several thousand books, prints and art works to Texas A&M’s Sterling C. Evans Library. Kelsey served on the President’s Council of Texas A&M’s College of Medicine and the Sterling C. Evans Library Development Council.
MG Alvin R.
Luedecke ’32
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Year Awarded: 1967
El Dorado, TX
Luedecke received a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 1932. His 30+ year career included duty in WWII and he served as Air Planner for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He became deputy chief of the Armed Forces Special Weapons project in 1951 and was appointed chief in 1957. In 1957 he was commander of Joint Task Force Seven, in charge of nuclear tests on Eniwetok and Johnston Island.
Luedecke was named General Manager of the Atomic Energy Commission in 1958 and in 1964 was appointed to his post with the Jet propulsion Laboratory. He has been deputy director of the Ranger, Mariner, Surveyor, and Voyager space projects. In 1946, Texas A&M awarded General Luedecke an honorary LL.D. degree.
"While my professional pursuits kept me elsewhere, I’ve always been dedicated to the objectives of Texas A&M, since I first came here in 1928."
MG J. Earl
Rudder ’32
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Year Awarded: 1970
Eden, TX
Rudder received a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University in Industrial Engineering in 1932. During WWII, Rudder organized and trained the 2nd Ranger Battalion that scaled the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc during the D-Day invasion and commanded the 109th Infantry Regiment during the Battle of the Bulge.
He served as the 16th President of Texas A&M from 1959 until his death in 1970. During Rudder's administration, the university doubled its enrollment, expanded its research program, improved academic and faculty standards, and transformed the university by making the military requirement optional and opening admission to women. Rudder's monumental decision put Texas A&M on a road to growth and national prominence. His commitment to excellence in education, leadership development and selfless service to others is a hallmark of the university today and is forever captured in the statue bearing his likeness on Texas A&M’s campus.
"Rudder was a man of incalculable strength, determination and leadership. As president of the university he was, I can say without reservation or restraint, the best friend the students ever had. He was always straightforward, honest and personable in his dealings with us as students. President Rudder was many things to many people: a war hero, a holder of public office, a general, a president. But to most of us, he was first and foremost and Aggie. He wore the same ring I wear and countless others have worn."
- Gerry Geistweidt '70, Past Student Body President
Hon. Olin E. “Tiger”
Teague ’32
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Year Awarded: 1966
Woodward, OK
Teague attended A&M College of Texas from 1928 to 1932, studying Agricultural Administration. He served in the U.S. Army, taking part in the allied landing in on D-Day. Teague was member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 32 years, most noted for his championship of veterans’ issues and his support of the space program.
His distinguished service awards include the AMVETS Congressional Silver Helmet Award, American Legion Award for Distinguished Public Service, VFW Award for Distinguished Public Service and Outstanding Representation of Servicemen, West Point Award for Distinguished Service of Behalf of the Corps of Cadets, and the Texas Agricultural Extension Service Distinguished Service Award.