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THE TEXAS A&M FOUNDATION MAGAZINE | F A L L 2 0 1 3 At Texas A&M University, you PRESIDENT’S LETTER can’t talk about inclusion without mention of the iconic Aggie soldier who was at the helm when both African-Americans and women were first admitted, and when Fairness for All: A Q&A With Anne Rudder Erdman the Corps of Cadets was no longer mandatory. Maj. Gen. James Earl Eddie Joe: What do you recall from the time when your father was president? Rudder ’32 was president during Anne: all four of my undergraduate years, We lived in a wonderful two-story, gray frame house located near the Fish and I was a freshman cadet the Pond that was built in 1891 for Lawrence Sullivan Ross. It had an elevator, beautiful fall semester after his controversial staircase, three fireplaces and many rooms. decisions were approved by the During the Christmas break of 1963, a fire in the hearth spread to the attic legislature. During my sophomore year, participation in the Corps from disintegrated mortar and the old house burned down. At the time, I was a became voluntary. When Rudder senior living in a sorority house at the University of Texas, so I was the lucky one. died on March 23, 1970, the My siblings lost everything, and the family moved into a temporary house off-cam- world lost a true visionary. pus on Lee Street. They moved into the new (current) president’s house in 1965, For this special issue of Spirit, I asked my friend, former neighbor living there until my father’s death. and one of Rudder’s five children, Anne Rudder Erdman, to share a Eddie Joe: What is one of your fondest memories of your father? few memories. She was allowed to Anne: take classes at Texas A&M in the In the evenings, Dad and I, along with his bulldog Ranger, took a lot of long summer of 1960 because she was walks through the fields of what is now West Campus. Back then there weren’t the daughter of a Texas A&M many lights on campus, so we could see all the stars in the sky. We’d talk about administrator. Unable to receive heaven and earth and whether we were the only ones to inhabit the universe. I feel a Texas A&M degree, however, she transferred to the University like the luckiest person on the planet to have had the opportunity to spend this of Texas to complete her studies time with my dad. I was very much aware of his job as president, but he rarely in education. She now lives in talked about it at home—he kept his work and family life separate. In fact, my Denver near her two sons Mark ’91 sisters and I were not allowed to date Aggies until we graduated from high school. and Brad ’93 Bell—and five grandchildren. Eddie Joe: What values did you learn from your father? eddie j. davis ’67 Anne: president Whatever was best for the future of Texas A&M was what my dad set his texas a &m foundation sights on accomplishing. He never missed an opportunity to instruct his children on the difference between right and wrong. He led by example. One morning we Former Texas A&M President James awoke to find beer bottles covering our front yard. In short order, the young men Earl Rudder ’32 con grat ulates his daughter Anne during her A&M responsible for this deed were sitting in our living room, heads hanging low. With - Consolidated High School graduation out raising his voice, dad instructed the boys to clean up the mess. To my knowledge, ceremony in 1960. he never dismissed a Texas A&M student. His belief in fairness was unquestionable. Eddie Joe: If he was alive today, what would your father say about the progress Texas A&M has made during the past 50 years? Anne: He would be extraordinarily proud of today’s Texas A&M students and pro - grams. Enrollment figures speak volumes: Texas A&M’s student population has increased nearly tenfold and its undergraduate and graduate programs are out- standing. I would be remiss not to mention athletics. Having been a player and coach, my dad had a special place in his heart for the Aggie football team. If he were alive to see Johnny Manziel, he would definitely be watching every game! Eddie Joe: Any final reflections? Anne: My oldest son was only 2 years old when Dad died. So although my chil- dren didn’t know him personally, he was still a giant in their lives. I always hoped that my two sons would find the same joy in their work that Dad found at his job at Texas A&M University—and they have! FEATURES 20 50 YEARSOFINCLUSION How the admission of women and African-Americans transformed Texas A&M into one of the nation’s most The first lady of Aggieland has held the hearts prominent research universities. of Aggies for more than 80 years. » p.30 30 REVEILLE She was Texas A&M’s first female cadet and her namesakes continue to be the most revered ‘women’ on campus. Student Impact: Contents 34 TEAMINGUP The Black Former Student network and an Aggie couple partner to create scholar- ships for African-American students. 35 AGGIEWOMENGIVEBACK The Women Former Students’ network preserves the rich tradition of women on campus through merit scholarships. Dr. Christine Stanley ’90, vice president and associate provost for diversity and professor in Faculty Impact: the College of Education and Hu man Develop - 36 DOTHERIGHTTHING ment, believes that the challenge is to make A Texas A&M experimental economist Texas A&M a welcoming place for all. » p.20 explores the intricate art of decision-making. Kelly Albright ’14, a business honors 37 THEPRESIDENTIALPROF student, is the first recipient of a With support from Pres. George H.W. President’s Endowed Scholarship Bush, Professor valerie Hudson maintains funded by the Women Former Students’ the most extensive database on women. Network. » p.35 College Impact: 38 ROCKSOLIDGENEROSITY A gift from a Class of ’85 construction science major gives a historic building new life and new purpose. 39 AN AGGIE AT HEART The Carolyn lohman learning Communi ty v O l U M e X v n O . 1|F A l l 2 0 1 3 helps freshmen education majors find Spirit is published three times a year by the Texas their Aggieland niche. A&M Foun dation, which manages major gifts and endowments for the benefit of academic programs, scholarships and student activities at Spirit Impact: Texas A&M University. Please direct inquiries to 40 OPENINGDOORS the Marketing Office, Texas A&M Foun dation, 75 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, TX A Class of ’ Aggie’s vision to branch 77840- 2811, call (800) 392-3310 or (979) 845-8161, out and give back to the Corps of Cadets. or email [email protected]. Information in this magazine is for educational purposes only 41 FORTHEYOUNGESTAGGIES and should be examined by independent legal The Becky Gates Children’s Center counsel due to possible differences in local laws and individual needs. provides interactive learning for the area’s youngest Aggies. giving.tamu.edu giving.tamu.edu/Blog giving.tamu.edu/SpiritMagazine 42 12 FEARLESSFIRSTS facebook.com/TexasAMFoundation These 12 Aggies challenged the status quo youtube.com/AggieSpiritandMind to achieve notable “firsts” at Texas A&M. twitter.com/TXAMFoundation copyright © 2013 texas a &m foundation EIGHTGREATS Since we began planning this special issue of Spirit to appropriate to print eight different covers. Exactly which celebrate the 50th anniversary of the admission of African- cover is bound to your copy of Spirit was a random, Americans and women to Texas A&M University, the computer-generated decision. So you don’t miss out, question of whom to feature on the cover has been here’s a snapshot of all eight covers with more informa- especially challenging. As time passed and we inter- tion about each person. To learn more about them, viewed myriad amazing individuals, we felt it was keep reading. Chandon Adger ’17 Dr. Kate Miller electrical engineering dean, college of geosciences foundation excellence award recipient Dr. Eleanor Green Dr. Karan Watson dean, college of veterinary medicine provost and executive vice president & biomedical sciences for academic affairs Crystal Perez ’14 Dr. M. Katherine Banks biology vice chancellor and dean of engineering chief of staff, corps of cadets Kenneth Robinson ’93 Natalie Dunn ’14 chairman, black former student network international studies southwestern black student leadership conference chair e D I TO R Sondra White ’87 MAnAGInG eDITOR Megan Kasperbauer ART DIReCTIOn & D e S I G n Geer Design, Inc. PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENTS Gabriel Chmielewski ’06 (p. 29, second from left; 51, top left) Cushing Memorial libraries & Archives (p. 1, top right; 30-33; 42, #1; 43, #5) Isaac Dovalina (p. 46; 50) 5 THELEGACY Robb Kendrick (cover; p. 1, left; 2-3; 9, A life-changing study abroad in Italy bottom; 10; 14; 15; 21; 22; 25; 26; 28; 29; inspired Michelle Keller ’92 to fund 33, bottom right; 34; 35; 37; 39; 41; 47) similar journeys for future Aggies. Igor Kraguljac (p. 1, bottom right; 36; 38) Bonjwing lee (p. 5) 6 LETTERS Jim lyle (p. 40; 48; 51, bottom right; 57) Memorial Student Center (p. 43, #4, #6) 8 DIVERSITY ONCAMPUS Trent Palmer (p. 33, right) Corps of Cadets welcomes its most diverse Kathleen Phillips (p. 44, #9) class in history; ADvAnCe Center cele- Generous commitments made by the late Texas A&M College of education George P.

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