Alumni who have distinguished themselves through their professional and civic accomplishments and who have brought special honor to the university through service and support are nominated by fellow alumni to receive the annual Distinguished Alumni Award. A committee, composed of faculty, staff, and BOARD MEMBERS, screens the nominations and makes recommendations to the Association's Board of Directors. Recipients are honored AT Homecoming each fall.
Distinguished Alumni of Texas A&I/Texas A&M University-Kingsville
2007
Dr. D. Lynn Drawe '64, Director of the Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation, Sinton, TX
Stevens G. Herbst '58, President of Rainbow Investments Company, Corpus Christi, TX
John P. Jackson '73, '75, Vice President for Morgan Stanley, Rockport, TX
Hugh M. Morrison, '69, Former President and CEO of Pilgrim Cleaners; Chairman of the Board of Advanced Nueromodulation Systems, Inc., Houston, TX
Allen J. Tarbutton, Jr. '61, Retired President of Mitchell Gas Services, LLP, The Woodlands, TX
2006
Rodney A. Klett '65 Retired Texas Band Director & Coordinator of Georgetown High School
Hector Farias, Jr. '61 '65 Chairman of the Board of Farias & Farias, Inc. International Trade Firm-Customhouse Brokerage, Warehousing, Freight Forwarding & Distribution
2005
Al Gonzalez '65 Chairman & CEO of Age Refining, Inc.
Miguel A. Nevarez '61 Executive Directorship of University of Texas Pan American Coastal Studies Laboratory
Richard A. Nevill '42 Retired Vice President of Houston Pipe Line Co. Pipe Line Operations- DECEASED
2004
Joe Henkel '69 President & CEO of Kleberg First National Bank
Wayne King '59 Retired Senior Vice President-Valero Energy Corp.
Eliseo "Cheo" Torres '69 '71 '76 Vice Pres. for Student Affairs at the Univ. of New Mexico
2003
Carlos Guerra '69 Columnist
Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez '73 Commander of the U.S. Army's V Corps
Merle Muckleroy '58 Retired President of Camco Products & Services - DECEASED
2002
Dr. L. E. Ramey ’42 Retired Medical Doctor - DECEASED
Sen. Carlos Truan ’59 State Senator (D-Corpus Christi)
2001 Irma Rangel '52 Representative, Texas Legislature - DECEASED
2000 Mr. Thomas V. Shockley, III '67 Vice Chairman, Central and Southwest Corporation
1999 Dr. Carrol A. "Butch" Thomas '69 Superintendent of Schools - Beaumont
1998 Albert Huerta, '66, '68, Attorney
1997 Amado Pena '65, '71, Artist
1996 Cynthia K. Gilliam '74,Vice President of Retail Customer Operations, Nevada Power Co.
1995 I. Q. Vidaurri '67, Dean of Students-Texas A&M University-Kingsville
1994 William C. "Bill" English '49, Vice Chancellor of Fiscal Affairs, University System of South Texas
1993 Ed DeMouche '49, Sr. Vice President, Entex Inc. - DECEASED
1992 J. E. Turner '35, Dean of Men, Texas A&I University - DECEASED
1991 J. Philip McCormick '64, Sr. Vice President, Lone Star Gas Company
1990 R. Boyd Ladd '35, Consultant, National Associations
1989 John N. Lauer '69, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, B. F. Goodrich Co.
1988 Robert F. "Hawk" Wright >56, President and Chief Operating Officer, Amerada Hess Corporation
1987 B. Finley Vinson >37, Chairman Emeritus, First Commercial Corporation in Arkansas
1986 William K. Bell >50, Attorney & Former President of the Oklahoma Bar Association - DECEASED
1985 A. M. Wiederkehr >47, President & Founder, Supron Energy - DECEASED
1984 Donald W. Partrick, M.D. >58, Neurosurgeon
1983 William D. Stevens >58, President, Exxon Co., U.S.A.
1982 John S. Gillett >34, Superintendent of Schools, Kingsville ISD - DECEASED
1981 Edward N. Wheeler >47, Vice President R & D, Celanese Chemical Co.-DECEASED
1980 Preston Doughty >35, President & Founder, Citizens Standard Life Insurance Co.
1979 George F. Rhodes >50, Attorney & Former Texas A&I Regent - DECEASED
1978 Lawrence A. McNeil >48, Partner, Corpus Christi Oil & Gas - DECEASED
1977 Cecil E. Burney >33, Attorney & Political Activist - DECEASED
1976 Bruce M. Withers >50, Divisional President, Mitchell Energy & Development
1975 Lola L. Bonner >53, Attorney & Former Chairman Texas Democratic Party - DECEASED
1974 E. C. Weekley >43, Executive Director, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo - DECEASED
1973 Gilbert E. Steinke >42, Legendary Football Coach - DECEASED
1972 James A. Rickard >48, Vice President, BP Exploration
1971 Claude Kay Ballard >34, President Columbia Nitrogen Corp. - DECEASED
1970 Herschel H. Cudd >33, President, Amoco Chemical Company - DECEASED
1969 Joseph J. Trevino, M.D. >50, Physician, Psychiatrist & State Health Official
1969 Charles C. Cumberland >36, Dist. Professor, Princeton, Rutgers, Michigan State - DECEASED
1968 Robert L. Mitchell >43, Vice Chairman, Celanese Corp., Deceased - DECEASED