Hon. Mayo J.
Thompson ’41
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Year Awarded: 1980
Houston, TX
Thompson received a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1941 and an L.L.B. degree from the South Texas College of Law in 1949. After becoming a noted specialist in admiralty law, he was appointed Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission, a role in which he served until 1975.
He participated in the founding of Texas A&M University’s Center for Education and Research in Free Enterprise and serves on the Center’s Board of Consultants. Thompson was recognized nationally as Free Enterprise Man of the Year in 1976.
He served as an Alumni Counselor to the Corps of Cadets and has given strong assistance to Texas A&M’s annual Student Conference on National Affairs and is a founding member of the University’s President’s Endowed Scholarship Program.
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
R. A. "Murray"
Fasken ’38
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Year Awarded: 1981
Toronto, Canada
Fasken received a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1938. He served in the United States Army from 1941-1946. Fasken began his career at Midland National Bank in 1950 as a teller and was named president of the bank in 1958, serving in that position until 1964, at which time he was named chairman of the board.
Fasken was a long time civic leader in Midland, Texas serving as president of the Midland Chamber of Commerce and the Midland College Board.
Fasken supported Texas A&M by contributing funds to the Center for Education and Research, the 12th Man Foundation and establishing several President Endowed Scholarships. He also gave his time and talent by serving on the Texas A&M University Development Foundation and assisted in efforts to recruit students and athletes to attend Texas A&M.
"Murray Fasken has quietly done everything possible for Texas A&M. He does it so quietly that most of us don’t even know to say thank you."
- Joe Hiram Moore '38, classmate
C.E. “Pat”
Olsen ’23
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Year Awarded: 1981
Clifton, TX
Olsen received a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1923. He was co-founder and President of Gearench Manufacturing Company where he invented or co-invented a complete line of tools under trade names Petol Tongs and Titan Tongs. He made Gearench the undisputed world leader in providing special tools for atomic, chemical, mining, petroleum and plastics industries.
Olsen was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame as one of A&M’s all-time great baseball pitchers. He played two years with the New York Yankees and is a long time supporter of Major league Baseball. A&M’s baseball stadium was dedicated and named in honor of C.E. “Pat” Olsen in 1978.
"We’ve both been blessed with good health which has enabled us to do the things we always wanted to do. If you find what you want to do in life, and the good Lord gives you the opportunity to do it, you are doubly blessed- El and I are most grateful."
Clayton W.
Williams, Jr. ’54
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Year Awarded: 1981
Midland, TX
Williams received a bachelor’s degree in Animal Husbandry in 1954. In 1957 he entered the oil and gas business as an independent producer, and since that time has been active in all facets of the industry. During his business career, he has organized 23 major entities, ranging from Clajon Gas, the largest privately owned natural gas company in Texas, and Williams Company, which has drilled more than 800 wells across the country, to his newest company, Clayton Desta Communications, which has built the first totally digital microwave long distance network in Texas. His farming and ranching operations encompass more than 450,000 acres of land in Texas and Wyoming. He serves as President of Clayton Williams Energy Inc.
Williams has demonstrated his loyalty to Texas A&M in a number of ways, from serving as Visiting Executive in residence at the College of Business Administration to underwriting the Clayton Wheat Williams Texas Life Series to be published by the Texas A&M Press. He has contributed funds for a President’s Endowed Scholarship as well as funds for general use by the University. Williams served on The Association of Former Students Board of Directors. Clayton W. Williams, Jr. epitomizes the best of Texas A&M: integrity, a concern for others, and unwavering support of his alma mater.
"A&M taught me that you have to go after things, do something and do it right. I’m proud to be a part of it."
Alfred I.
Davies ’34
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Year Awarded: 1982
Fort Worth, TX
Davies received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Administration in 1935 and later a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics. His tenure on The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents encompassed the establishment of the Private Enterprise Research Center, opening of the West Campus complex, and the completion of Olsen Field.
Davies was also the Director and Executive of the Sears, Roebuck and Company in Dallas. He has served on the governing boards of the Republic National Bank in Dallas, the Republic of Texas Corporation, Enserch Corporation, Zale Corporation, Frozen Food Express; and Metropolitan Savings and Loan Foundation.
"By all standards, Al Davies’ business career, his family life and his distinguished civic service has reflected honor and glory to Texas A&M University."
- James W. Aston ’33, Distinguished Alumnus, 1967
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.
Field
Scovell ’30
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Year Awarded: 1982
Wichita Falls, TX
Scovell studied Liberal Arts while at A&M College of Texas. He spent 20 years in sporting goods sales as store owner and as regional sales director for Rawlings Sporting Goods. He joined Southland Life Insurance Company and later served as Vice President. Throughout his career in the sports and insurance industries, he was a Director of the Dallas Cowboys Football Club, received the Distinguished American Award from the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, and served on the Texas Sports Hall of Fame Committee.
"There’s no bigger Texas Aggie than Field Scovell. Aggie jokes really hurt him. He can get fighting mad!"
- Felix McKnight '32, Editor, Times Herald
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."
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."