THE TEXAS A&M FOUNDATION MAGAZINE | S P R I N G 2 0 1 1 PRESIDENT’S LETTER ‘Whopper of a Donation’ ecently I received a remarkable letter from Jon Hagler ’58, whose schol- arship gifts you may have read about in the fall 2010 issue of Spirit. Jon is one of only two people named “Trustee Emeritus” at the Texas A&M Foundation and received our revered Sterling C. Evans Medal in 2005. As the lead donor to the Jon L. Hagler Center, he ushered in a new Foundation era through his vision of our headquarters building as an investment in A&M’s future. He also led the modernization of the Foundation’s endowment portfolio during seven years as a trustee. This former Corps Commander is a Distinguished Alumnus and was a co- chair in A&M’s landmark strategic planning initiative, Vision 2020. Among his numerous gifts to A&M are scholarships that support hundreds of Aggies who qualify for the Foundation Excellence Award. These scholarships help outstanding undergraduates from historically disadvantaged groups, including minorities and those who face significant economic or educational hurdles. You won’t meet many men with such wisdom, insight and commitment. I’m honored to call Jon my friend and proud to work in a building that bears his name. His handwritten note was brief: “Ed—Here’s a whopper of a donation. At least I was determined to give something! My best, Jon” Attached was this faded check sent shortly after Jon completed studies at Harvard Business School. This old canceled check from Jon Hagler epitomizes Aggie philanthropy and makes my job worthwhile. I’m sure it’s just one of many from Aggies who, despite limited means, feel moved to give back. In 1962 Jon could not foresee his future success, but he shared a few dollars to help others experience Texas A&M and the opportunity it gave him. Since then he has multiplied that early gift a million times over. That’s the Aggie spirit. eddie j. davis ’67 president texas a &m foundation Memorial scholarships honoring Tom Gillis ’42 will help Aggie cadets make their mark on Texas A&M as he did. » p.26 Contents FEATURES 16 Student Impact: GATEWAY TO DREAMS With assistance from regents’ Scholarships, first-generation college students pursue A Regents’ Scholarship has given Sydney Van degrees from Texas A&M. Wyk ’13 a new dream and the education she needs to achieve it. » p.16 20 College Impact: WA N T E D : PROJECTMANAGERS A gift from the Chevron Corp. expands Aggie engineers can graduate with a multidisciplinary engineering project management program that gives Aggie management skills that give them an edge careers a boost. » p.20 in landing that first job and advancing in their careers. 26 Spirit Impact: ESPRITDECORPS Tom Gillis ’42 was a picture-perfect cadet vOlUMe XII nO . 2|S p r I n G 2 011 and Army officer during World War II. Spirit is published three times a year by the Texas His family honors his memory with two A&M Foun dation, which manages major gifts and endowments for the benefit of academic Corps scholarships. programs, scholarships and student activities at Texas A&M University. Direct inquiries to the Marketing Office, Texas A&M Foun dation, 401 30 George Bush Drive, College Station, TX 77840- 2811, call (800) 392-3310 or (979) 845-8161, or e- Faculty Impact: mail [email protected]. Information in ONCEAFARMER ... NOWAMENTOR this magazine is for educational purposes only and should be examined by independent legal Dr. Jim Kracht, holder of the Marilyn Kent counsel due to possible differences in local laws Byrne Chair, provides Aggies with crucial and individual needs. ingredients for success, whether it’s giving.tamu.edu improved study skills or financial aid. www.facebook.com/TexasAMFoundation www.texags.com www.youtube.com/AggieSpiritAndMind copyright © 2011 texas a &m foundation e D I TO r Sondra White ’87 MAnAGInG eDITOr Mary vinnedge ’75 DIreCTOr OF MArKeTInG Kathy McCoy ’80 MAnAGer OF MArKeTInG John Zollinger WeB COMMUnICATIOnS SpeCIAlIST rachel Dohmann ’07 MArKeTInG SpeCIAlIST Alice Bassett DEPARTMENTS STUDenT InTernS nichelle Jaeger ’12 Jennifer Albee ’13 ArT DIreCTIOn & D e S I G n Geer Design, Inc. 3 THELEGACY pHOTOGrApHY James H. Johnson ’86 plans a gift for A&M Confucius Institute (pp. 2; 35) before heading to Afghanistan. Cushing Memorial library Archives (pp. 11, bottom; 14) 4 LETTERS / CORRECTIONS Denise Keller (pp. 7, top; 38, bottom) robb Kendrick (cover; inside front cover; 6 ONCAMPUS pp. 1, left; 11, top; 16; 19-22; 28; The university wins accolades from recruiters 37, center; 38, top; inside back cover) and publications; a team of veterinary John lewis (p. 25) experts will help animals in disaster areas. Jim lyle (pp. 3; 30; 32; 33) nASA/Jpl-Caltech/K. Tran & C. papovich, 8 LABWORK Texas A&M University (p. 8) Josiah pugh (p. 34) Aggie researchers are preserving the wooden © Snow leopard Conservancy (p. 9) remnants of a ship in the expedition of Bryce Swihart (pp. 12-13) famed explorer la Salle, and A&M TAMU Conservation research astronomers find hundreds of new stars. Through videoconferencing, Xing Jun teaches laboratory (p. 8) a long-distance Chinese language class in Texas 10 NEWGIFTS public schools. » p.34 p r I n T I n G Chas. p. Young printing A gift from reta Haynes honors her late Aggie husband and supports her favorite BOArD OF TrUSTeeS A&M programs. Bob Surovik ’58 Chairman 12 ONEVOICE John Bethancourt ’74 Chairman-elect The Memorial Student Center is at the Mel Glasscock ’59 heart of this Aggie’s family legacy. Charles Gregory ’64 by Collin laden ’10 richard Kardys ’67 Tom Saylak ’82 14 VIEWPOINT van Taylor ’71 legett Hall has undergone major changes O F F I C e r S in its 100-year history: now only women ed Davis ’67 live in the renovated dorm, which offers Contents president high-tech perks. Jim palincsar Senior vice president for Development 34 OPPORTUNITY Doyle Thompson The Confucius Institute, which educates vice president and Controller Aggies and other Texans about China, liska lusk vice president and General Counsel seeks scholarships for study abroad. 36 @F O U N D AT I O N Donors have given $7.5 million for the Memorial Student Center renovation and expansion. C Ov e r p H OTO 38 POSTSCRIPT Reveille VIII breaks in a new mascot ready for My Close-up corporal every year. Cody Guffey ’13 by reveille vIII (as told to Cody Guffey ’13) will hang up his leash later this spring. 2 TEXAS A&M FOUNDATION Aggie Creates Gift Before Starting Afghanistan Job TheLegacy Before James H. Johnson ’86 started a The revocable living trust makes To discuss how a planned gift to new job in Afghanistan this year, he provisions for the university and other the Texas A&M Foundation might wanted to finish an important item on beneficiaries of his estate, and Johnson benefit A&M, you and your his to-do list: establish a planned gift chose a trustee who will carry out his family, contact Glenn Pittsford ’72 for Texas A&M University. Johnson wishes exactly. As he made his gift to in the Office of Gift Planning at decided that a revocable living trust was the Texas A&M Foundation for the [email protected] or (800) the best giving vehicle for him. “It’s benefit of Texas A&M, Johnson was 392-3310. He or another gift easier to revise than a will. I can move surprised how specifically he could planning officer can describe how and manipulate the trust distributions customize it. “everything I did is a such plans work and provide when my circumstances change.” reflection of who I was and what I personalized illustrations. They Johnson, who has bachelor’s and became through A&M.” consult with you and your advisers master’s degrees in agricultural eco- His trust will fund a Memorial as you consider and implement nomics from A&M, accepted a job Student Center (MSC) Fall leadership a charitable planned gift. with the Texas A&M-based norman Conference endowment that will devel- Borlaug Institute for International op future Aggie leaders in perpetuity. Agri culture in 2010. He will improve In addition, Johnson will establish stability and growth of commercial four endowed scholarships. Two will agriculture in nangarhar province. “I be Southerland Aggie leader scholar- had been thinking about my trust ships. Two more will assist freshmen James H. Johnson ’86 will use his creation for five or six years. Then I or sophomore agri cultural economics agribusiness expertise to develop a sustainable commercial agricultural met with a lawyer in Georgetown, and majors with a preference for Future sector in Afghanistan. we set it up within about a week.” Farmers of America (FFA) members. “Through FFA involvement, I got my Houston livestock Show and rodeo scholarship. It let me be active in stu- dent organizations instead of working to pay for school. I wanted to give back to someone like me years from now. “A planned gift is the perfect vehicle for me. It’s a way of giving to A&M in the future without any finan- cial impact on me today. I’ve always felt A&M was welcome to use my money to help others—after I get through having fun with it,” Johnson said with a big laugh. —by mary vinnedge ’75 SPIRIT MAGAZINE | SPRING 2 0 1 1 3 Mr. Hickman hired me to be in charge CORRECTIONS of answering the phone after the main The A&M legacy Society list, published office at the annex closed each day and as part of the 2010 annual report in on holidays.