Sterling C. Evans ’21
direct link to this listing

Year Awarded: 1973

Medina County, TX

Sterling Evans’ life has been one of unselfish dedication to improving conditions for farmers and ranchers across Texas and the Southwest. Throughout his lifetime career in agriculture, Evans has contributed his time, talents, and resources in support of youth programs in agriculture and research to develop better agricultural methods.



Evans was born in Medina County, Texas, in 1899. He attended grade school at Melon in Frio County and graduated from Uvalde High School in 1917. He then enrolled at Texas A&M and graduated in 1921 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry. While a student at A&M, he was a member of the YMCA Cabinet, the Ross Volunteers, and The Battalion staff.



Upon graduation, he spent seven years as State 4-H Club leader for the Texas Agricultural Extension Service before being named Direct Extension Agent in the Lubbock Area, a post he held in 1933. The next year, Evans was selected to become the first president of the Houston Bank of Cooperatives. In December 1940, he was elected president of the Federal Bank in Houston. During the 18 years Evans headed the land bank, he initiated programs to rehabilitate the National Farm Loan Associations across Texas and to consolidate the associations for more efficient service to the farmers of the state. In 1950, Evans took on the added duty of General Agent for the Farm Credit Banks of Houston and nine years later resigned to devote full time to his farm and ranch interests in Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico.



In 1971, he concluded the second of two six-year terms on the Texas A&M University System Board of Directors. He was president of the board from 1963 to 1965. He also served as trustee of the Texas A&M Development Foundation, the Texas A&M Research Foundation, and The Association of Former Students Loan Fund. He was the first chairman of the “Friends of the Texas A&M University Library”, a group formed in 1971. Under his leadership, the Friends raised $120,000 in 1972.

"Mr. Evans was the best of the best—the epitome of what all Aggies wish they could be. He served generously and always unselfishly."

  - Dr. Haskell Monroe, Jr., Dean of Faculties Emeritus

James M. “Cop” Forsyth ’12
direct link to this listing

Year Awarded: 1973

McKinney, TX

Forsyth received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering in 1912 and 1913. After two years of military service, he founded Forsyth Engineering Co., a heavy power plant company he owned until 1970.



He has worked tirelessly to repay what he considers to be his debt to Texas A&M. As a Class Agent for the Class of ’12, he was instrumental in leading his classmates to establish the first class-sponsored President’s Endowed Scholarship. Forsyth also served The Association of Former Students as a Vice President and he and his wife endowed three of the $25,000 President’s Scholarships. Perhaps the greatest contribution Mr. and Mrs. Forsyth have made to Texas A&M University is their $300,000 commitment toward construction of the new alumni center that was located in the expanded Memorial Student Center which is now the Forsyth Center Art Galleries.

"We receive more from A&M than we will ever give back. I just want to try and repay the school that has meant so much to me, and help young people receive as I have received."

Royce E. Wisenbaker ’39
direct link to this listing

Year Awarded: 1973

Mineola, TX

Wisenbaker received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1939 and a master’s degree in Municipal and Sanitary Engineering in 1940. Following service in WWII, Wisenbaker and Robert E. Fix ’38 formed the engineering firm Wisenbaker Fix and Associates. The company has been responsible for well over $100 million worth of construction projects.



Wisenbaker is considered to be the “father” of the Century Club and is credited with establishing the President’s Endowed Scholarship program. As president of The Association of Former Students in 1966, Wisenbaker clearly exhibited his devotion to his alma mater by initiating the study which resulted in a new organizational structure to more effectively serve Texas A&M University.

"Mr. Wisenbaker’s commitment to higher education was exemplary. He impacted a lot of young Texans’ lives by assisting them in their efforts to get a college education."

  - Governor Rick Perry ’72

Robert R. Herring ’41
direct link to this listing

Year Awarded: 1974

Childress, TX

Herring received a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1941. After service in WWII, he began a more than 30-year career in the natural gas industry, ultimately serving as President and Chairman of the Board for Houston Natural Gas Corp. He was a Director for the Independent Petroleum Association of America, Texas Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, and the American Gas Association.



Herring also served as President of the Texas Heart Institute, Board of Governors at Rice University, Trustee of the University of Houston Foundation, and Past President and Director of the Houston Chamber of Commerce.

"I consider Bob Herring a most outstanding person. His character and integrity are of the highest order. He represents the epitome of the word ‘distinguished’."

  - Michel T. Halbouty '30, Distinguished Alumnus, 1968

Bernard G. Johnson ’37
direct link to this listing

Year Awarded: 1974

Dallas, TX

Johnson received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1937. After serving in WWII, he founded Bernard Johnson Inc., one of the largest architectural engineering firms in the Southwest United States. Through the direction of Bernard Johnson, the firm now has a staff of 250 professional and support personnel providing complete design services in all major disciplines. In 27 years the company has planned or consulted on projects totally more than $2 billion in construction costs. Clients including the United States Steel Corporation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Atomic Energy Commission and Texas A&M have used his company’s services nationwide, in Latin America and in the Far East.



This donor of a $25,000 Texas A&M President’s Endowed Scholarship has also been honored with the Knight of the Holy Sepulchre by Pope Paul VI.

Owen W. Sherrill ’10
direct link to this listing

Year Awarded: 1974

Kerens, TX

Sherrill received a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture in 1910. Much of his life was devoted to the development of the city of Georgetown, serving as Mayor and as President of numerous local banks. He was past president of the National Association of Farm and Land Brokers and served as director of the National Association of Real Estate Boards for 18 years. He was named Texas Realtor of the Year and the Texas Association of Realtors named Sherrill “Texas All Time Farm and Land Broker”.



Sherrill was President of The Association of Former Students from 1928-1929 and organizer of the Williamson County A&M Club.

Julian B. Thomas ’11
direct link to this listing

Year Awarded: 1974

San Marcos, TX

Thomas received a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1911. He served as president and general manager of Texas Electric Service Co. In the early 50s, he fostered development of the futuristic “Gruen Plan” for downtown Fort Worth and served as chairman of a state water conservation committee appointed by Governor Allan Shivers.



Thomas was President of Dallas and Fort Worth A&M Clubs, President of The Association of Former Students, and a Trustee and Councilor to the Texas A&M Research Foundation. He was selected from more than 1200 nominees to serve on the A&M Century Council which recommended guidelines for the overall development of the university.

Robert W. Baker ’44
direct link to this listing

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.

Dr. Lawrence E. Fouraker ’44
direct link to this listing

Year Awarded: 1975

Bryan, TX

Fouraker received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Economics in 1947 and 1948. He served as Dean of the Harvard University Graduate School of Business from 1970-1980. He has been a member of the Harvard business faculty since 1961 and held the prestigious Edsel Bryant Ford Professorship of Business Administration from 1968 until his appointment as dean.



His teaching, research and consulting activities have been focused primarily on questions of business strategy, organization and the role of the private corporation in the development process. He is widely regarded for his theories in international business and his pioneer work in the development of experimental economics. His published articles and book s include Bargaining and Group Decision Making, a study performed with Sidney Siegal, which earned the 1959 monograph prize in the social science of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

George D. Comnas ’35
direct link to this listing

Year Awarded: 1976

Vancouver, Canada

Comnas received a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 1935. He built an international reputation for organizing global shipping and marketing operations for petroleum products and other commodities. His experience in the oil and shipping industries made him one of the most knowledgeable consultants in the world.