To help prepare students for careers in the energy industry, the Halliburton Foundation has endowed an engineering faculty chair at Texas A&M University.

Former students and friends of the university working at Halliburton contributed funds to the $1 million pledge.

Dave Lesar (center), Halliburton chairman, president and chief executive officer, was hosted on campus Sept. 29 by G. Kemble Bennett (right), vice chancellor and dean of engineering, and Eddie J. Davis, president of the Texas A&M Foundation.

“We are most appreciative to Halliburton and its employees for choosing to make a wise investment in the future through this gift,” said Dr. G. Kemble Bennett, vice chancellor and dean of Texas A&M Engineering. “This endowment will provide the means to keep Texas A&M competitive in recruiting and retaining top faculty members who will enhance the educational experience of countless students studying under holders of the Halliburton Chair Professor.”

Endowed faculty chairs are among the most important resources available to universities in recruiting and retaining distinguished faculty at the top of their profession. Distributions from the endowment can fund a variety of educational enrichments including student support, faculty development, curriculum enhancement and research initiatives.

“Our partnership with Texas A&M is strong and long-standing,” said Dave Lesar, Halliburton chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Texas A&M continues to be a top recruiting school for Halliburton in the number of students joining the company straight from university.”

Halliburton’s giving to Texas A&M totals $6.8 million since 1981, including $1.75 million to the Look College and its departments.

The Halliburton Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting educational and charitable purposes, was established in 1965 and supports U.S. education at all levels, through employee matching gifts, direct grants and scholarships. In 2008, the Halliburton Foundation contributed $2.9 million to enhance educational opportunities at K-12 and higher educational institutions.

“Halliburton has been a fantastic corporate partner over the years. This gift is just one more example of their outstanding support of higher education,” said Don Birkelbach, senior director of development for engineering with the Texas A&M Foundation.

Founded in 1919, Halliburton is one of the world’s largest providers of products and services to the energy industry. With more than 50,000 employees in approximately 70 countries, the company serves the upstream oil and gas industry throughout the lifecycle of the reservoir – from locating hydrocarbons and managing geological data, to drilling and formation evaluation, well construction and completion, and optimizing production through the life of the field.

Fall 2009 enrollment at Texas A&M’s main campus at College Station reached a record 48,787 on the fifth class day, a number likely to change only slightly before the 20th class day, the official period for certification by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The Dwight Look College of Engineering is currently ranked 8th in graduate and 9th in undergraduate programs among public universities by U.S. News and World Report.

Written by Exa York

Popularity: unranked [?]

A new full-scale pump facility dedicated Friday (Sept. 25) at Texas A&M University positions its engineering technology and industrial distribution department as a national leader in fluid systems education.

“Thanks to DXP Enterprises Inc., our students can study in a controlled, safe and realistic environment. The DXP Pump Laboratory consists of industry-furnished pumps, speed controllers and data acquisition system similar to those in commercial and industrial applications around the world. These capabilities position us as a leading educator in this important area, both for our undergraduate and continuing education students,” said Walter W. Buchanan, head of the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution and holder of the J.R. Thompson Chair.

David R. Little (center), chairman, president and CEO of DXP Enterprises officially opens the DXP Pump Laboratory assisted by company executives and college representatives. From left, Jorge Leon, Michael Golla, Todd Hamlin, Barry Lawrence, Little, Walter Buchanan, John Jeffery, N.K. Anand, Jorge Alvarado.

The three-part gift to the Texas A&M Foundation from DXP Enterprises Inc. includes a $500,000 laboratory endowment, $75,000 in startup funds and laboratory equipment valued at $75,000.

“DXP’s vision is to provide a state-of-the-art learning center that combines classroom and ‘hands-on’ practical learning opportunities for students at Texas A&M as well as our own employees, customers and suppliers. With the help of several of our key manufacturers, I believe the laboratory is equipped with an appropriate combination of pumping equipment, instrumentation and controls which will allow students to test and confirm basic and advanced principles of fluid technology learned in the classroom,” said David R. Little, chairman, president and CEO of Houston-based DXP Enterprises.

“There are curriculums developed for various levels of knowledge and experience, with instruction provided by the professional staff at Texas A&M. We partnered with the university not only because of their long association with the renowned International Pump Users Symposium and Turbomachinery Laboratory, but also because of the excellent reputation and tradition of their Engineering and Industrial Distribution programs. I am pleased with the progress we have made so far and look forward to working with Texas A&M to continuously improve the learning environment and the capabilities of this facility,” Little said.

“This endowment by DXP Enterprises provides a setting where undergraduate students can gain hands-on/minds-on skills and where practicing engineers, distributors and managerial professionals can continue their education and be trained on real-world equipment,” said Jorge Leon, program director of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology (MMET).

The endowment is the first for MMET, one of four programs in the department.

“Engineering technology and industrial distribution students conduct consultative and managerial processes for the providers or users of these technologies. A world-class lab like this gives our students the hands-on education necessary to develop such skills, and the education programs continually sharpen our faculty’s skills in delivering an applied education,” said Barry Lawrence, program director of Industrial Distribution (ID). MMET and ID undergraduates will be primary student users of the facility.

Also present at the ceremony were representatives from five of the six corporate partners contributing a combined estimated value of $330,000 in equipment and technical support to the lab: ITT-Goulds Pump; R&CW-Goulds Pump, centrifugal pumps and controls; Viking Pump, an IDEX company, gear and vane pumps; Wilden Pump and Engineering, a Dover company, air-operated double diaphragm pumps; SKF USA Inc., bearings and condition-monitoring rotating equipment; and EagleBurgmann, mechanical and cartridge seals.

In addition to a lecture area with multimedia capability, the laboratory is equipped with four modular-style fluid system trainers and a separate pump room dedicated to real-world simulation of a complete pumping system. Each mobile trainer provides unique training opportunities for inspection, processing or troubleshooting of commercially available pumps in a real-world fluid transfer application. Six pumps in the pump room connect in parallel to two 500-gallon tanks.

The pumps can be monitored remotely in real-time using an ITT-Goulds Web-based system. The combination of real-scale pumping system with Web-based condition monitoring equipment puts Texas A&M at the forefront of fluid systems undergraduate and continuing education for years to come, said lab co-directors Jorge L. Alvarado and Michael Golla.

“The pursuit and maintenance of our program’s excellence would not be possible without such great corporate partners as DXP Industries. We appreciate DXP’s generosity in establishing this endowment, which provides the margin of excellence that allows our students to get the experience needed in order to be successful in industry,” said Jay Roberts, director of development for engineering with the Texas A&M Foundation.

DXP operates nationwide as a leading provider to the industrial sector of maintenance, repair, operating and production (MROP) products and services; innovative pumping solutions; and precision supply chain services. The publicly traded company has over 90 service centers and more than 70 supply chain service locations as well as three regional distribution centers and five fabrication centers.

Written by Exa York

Popularity: unranked [?]

In a campus ceremony today (Sept. 18) BP America announced its significant upgrade of computer resources for integrated hydrocarbon reservoir studies at Texas A&M University.

BP’s Richard Morrison (left) announces laboratory support with department head Stephen Holditch.

BP’s gift, funded through the Texas A&M Foundation, will establish the BP Laboratory for Field Studies in the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering.

“This targeted investment by BP in Texas A&M students and faculty creates a state-of-the-art, highly collaborative working environment to deliver one of the most advanced, team-based, undergraduate reservoir engineering courses in the world,” said Richard Morrison, BP’s vice president of Gulf of Mexico production. “The environment created here feels less like a classroom and more like team space in one of BP’s deep water producing assets.”

“One of the most important functions of a petroleum engineer is to conduct studies where geology, geophysics, petrophysics and reservoir simulations are used to describe reservoir behavior, predict well performance and optimize reservoir development. Such courses are very computer intensive. This gift by BP will allow us to completely rebuild our computer laboratory with the best technology,” said Dr. Stephen A. Holditch, department head and holder of the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation Endowed Chair.

The BP lab expands the level of technology and computer resources available to petroleum engineering juniors, seniors and graduate students in their reservoir modeling and capstone reservoir design courses. Director of the facility is Dr. Maria Barrufet, assistant department head and holder of the Baker Hughes Endowed Chair.

The lab will provide students for the first time with GeoGraphix® software, reservoir simulation software by Computer Modelling Group Ltd. (CMG), 40 new computer workstations, three SMART boards and all new furniture.

GeoGraphix® is a flexible program for petroleum exploration and development that allows engineers to handle and interpret a large diversity and volume of data. The computational results from GeoGraphix then populate a CMG reservoir simulator to analyze reservoir data, predict future performance and optimize reservoir development. SMART Technologies Inc. is the leading manufacturer of interactive whiteboards that connect with a computer and projector. Images projected from an instructor’s computer appear on the whiteboard, which accepts touch input.

“BP is a model corporate partner with Texas A&M and the petroleum engineering department. They are committed to helping improve and advance the quality of education of our future engineers and we cannot thank them enough for their continued support,” said Brady Bullard, director of development for petroleum engineering with the Texas A&M Foundation.

The Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering in the Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M is ranked first in undergraduate programs and second in graduate programs among public institutions by U.S. News & World Report. Unofficial fifth day enrollment numbers for the department’s fall 2009 semester are 608 undergraduates and 231 graduate students.

Written by Betsy Ellison, betsyellison@tees.tamus.edu

Popularity: unranked [?]

Joe Wellborn ’41

His summer jobs in the 1930s Texas oilfield were hot and dirty, but for Houston high schooler Joe Wellborn they fueled dreams of a future career.

Wellborn went on to earn a petroleum degree at Texas A&M University and spend four decades with the company known today as ExxonMobil. Now he has created a scholarship to help others pursue their goals.

“I want to give back to the school that did so much for me,” the retired Exxon Co. operations superintendent said.

His contribution of $30,000 to the Texas A&M Foundation will establish the Joseph H. Wellborn, Sr. ’41 Endowed Scholarship in Petroleum Engineering. Matching funds from ExxonMobil Foundation will help complete the gift.

“This scholarship from Mr. Wellborn will be instrumental in helping Texas A&M attract and retain the most highly qualified students to the field of petroleum engineering—and in providing graduates who will meet the needs of a growing oil and gas industry,” said Dr. Stephen A. Holditch, petroleum engineering department head and holder of the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation Endowed Chair.

Wellborn’s student days at Texas A&M were busy. A member of the Corps of Cadets, he was B Battery Field Artillery’s first lieutenant. After classes he waited tables at Sbisa and Duncan dining halls to pay expenses, yet still made time to participate in the Duncan Volunteers and the Houston, Newman and Petroleum Engineering A.I.M.E clubs.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1941, he worked briefly for Humble Oil and Refinery Co. before joining the U.S. Army. He rose to the rank of captain, training soldiers at Fort Sill. After atomic bombs hit Japan, Wellborn escorted 562 men and 30 officers from Portland, Ore., to Nagasaki, Japan, for occupational duties.

Following the war Wellborn returned to Humble Oil where his ability to instruct young minds benefited the company through years of growth and change. He said: “I trained a lot of young engineers, and my motto was always ‘safety first.’ ”

Wellborn’s vigorous health also benefited his employer. He achieved 43 years of perfect attendance before retiring in 1984.

Wellborn met his future wife, Emily Alexander, when he was stationed at Fort Sill. They were married 65 years at the time of her death in 2008.

Among their gifts to Texas A&M are a President’s Endowed Scholarship, Endowed Opportunity Award scholarships and a fellowship for the George Bush School of Government and Public Service. Longtime members of the 12th Man Foundation and the Century Club at the Association of Former Students, they supported the Kyle Field expansion, George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and other academic projects.

“Mr. Wellborn continues to this day to care about Texas A&M and the importance of providing scholarships to deserving students. His scholarship will help ensure that future generations of Aggies will have the resources they need to complete their education,” said Brady Bullard, director of development for petroleum engineering with the Texas A&M Foundation.

Wellborn’s family includes three children: Joseph H. Wellborn Jr., Texas A&M Class of 1966; and Pegi Cariker and Sue Cox, both graduates of Baylor University. Also seven grandchildren: Joseph H. Wellborn III, Texas A&M Class of 1990; Ryan D. Wellborn, Texas A&M Class of 1992; Emily C. Cox, Texas A&M Class of 2000; Alex Wellborn, Sam Houston State University Class of 1997; Elizabeth Wellborn Richardson, St. Edwards University Class of 2001; Emily Cariker Shuart, Baylor University Class of 2003 and Oklahoma University Law School, 2006; and Allan Cox, Texas Tech University Class of 2002, whose wife Gina Meredith is Texas A&M Class of 2000.

Written by Exa York

Popularity: 73% [?]

The oil and gas industry may encompass the globe, but its engineers are a close group who honor their own. Nowhere is that loyalty more evident than at Texas A&M University where petroleum engineers from the Class of 1975 have established a permanent tribute in memory of classmate Charles A. Rohan.

Charles and Toni Rohan

Rohan was a retired Chevron engineer who lived in Richmond, Texas, at the time of his death in 2006.

“Charles Rohan personified the high ideals of what it means to say, ‘I am an Aggie petroleum engineer.’ His name will live on forever through this scholarship, which will help us prepare other fine young people for careers in the profession he loved so much,” said Dr. Stephen A. Holditch, petroleum engineering department head and holder of the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation Endowed Chair.

A $275,000 endowment at the Texas A&M Foundation will create the Charles A. Rohan Memorial Scholarship in Petroleum Engineering. When fully funded, the scholarship will be awarded annually to four or more students with a minimum grade point ratio of 3.5 in their department coursework and an overall minimum 3.0 GPR. Preference will be given to juniors and seniors who demonstrate leadership quality, financial need and involvement in oil and gas related extracurricular activities.

Trent B. Latshaw is the class representative coordinating activities and contributions associated with the scholarship. Lead gifts by Latshaw, Terry W. Rathert and Ted H. Smith helped start the Class of 1975 gift.

“This group of men truly embodies the Aggie Spirit. The honoring of their classmate and the demonstrated passion to give back to Texas A&M are evident with this tremendous scholarship in petroleum engineering,” said Brady Bullard, director of development for petroleum engineering with the Texas A&M Foundation.

Rohan and his wife, Toni, were high school sweethearts in Richmond. They moved to Mississippi where Charles enrolled in a university with a co-operative work program of keen interest to him.

“But Charles’ heart belonged to Texas A&M,” Toni said. “One day he saw an Aggie bumper sticker in Starkville, Mississippi, came home and told me, ‘We’re heading home — I’m going to Texas A&M.’ We saved our money for a year and then moved to College Station.”

At Texas A&M Rohan briefly pursued a kinesiology degree with the intention to coach high school football. After one year he changed to petroleum engineering.

“He was going to change to mechanical engineering, and I told him the day before enrollment that I was glad that he hadn’t chosen petroleum engineering because it looked too hard — and it was like Charles to take a challenge,” Toni said.

She went on to serve as president of the Petroleum Engineering Wives Club as her husband became increasingly active in the Petroleum Engineers Club. After an internship with Getty Oil, he joined the company’s office at Conroe, Texas, after graduation.

Rohan advanced to area engineer for Getty Oil Onshore in Lafayette, La. For a decade he was Getty Oil’s recruiter at Texas A&M job fairs. He was a sponsor for Dr. Robert Shivers during his dissertation work and helped provide expertise, field knowledge and insights into petroleum engineering fundamentals. Rohan stayed with the company through its merger with Texaco and Texaco’s subsequent merger with Chevron.

For many years he was a member of Texaco’s first response team for the United States. After retiring from Chevron in 2002 after a 29-year career, he became an independent consultant.

Juli, Christi, Charles and Rusty (Charles Jr.) Rohan flash their Aggie rings.

“Charles spent his life dedicated to his family and the career he was passionate about — drilling for oil. Together we instilled a love for education in our four children, who in turn have dedicated their lives to educating young minds. Our family is touched and honored by this scholarship, which will further Charles’ dream: providing assistance to young men and women who otherwise may miss out on their education and dreams because of financial difficulties,” Toni said.

Their son Thomas graduated from the University of Texas Pan American where he received a full baseball scholarship. Christi is Texas A&M Class of 1998; Charles Jr., Class of 2000; and Juli, Class of 2004.

Charles and Toni also passed a love of Texas A&M traditions to their grandchildren. Toni predicts nine future Aggies in the family at current count.

Friends and family of Rohan are invited to contribute to the scholarship. Donations may be mailed to the Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77801with “Rohan scholarship” on the memo line.

Written by Exa York

Popularity: 12% [?]

Raymond H. Eubank’s daughter and two sons followed in his footsteps to graduate from Texas A&M University. Now the entire family has joined forces to provide other students the same opportunity.

Joellyn and Raymond Eubank

Their $170,000 gift will establish three scholarships—two in the Dwight Look College of Engineering and one for the Corps of Cadets—all funded through the Texas A&M Foundation.

“We greatly appreciate the Eubank family’s investment in engineering education. Their scholarships will help deserving young engineers for years to come,” said Dr. Jo Howze, senior associate dean of engineering academic programs.

Two endowments of $60,000 each will fund scholarships in computer science and petroleum engineering, with the remaining funds establishing an award in the General Rudder Corps Scholarship Program.

“Our love for Texas A&M University motivated us to make this gift. It’s one way we can show our appreciation for the excellent education and career path A&M provided. The fundamental values of hard work, integrity and responsibility were part of that education,” said Raymond Eubank, president and owner of Dallas-based Estate Oil & Gas, Corp.

He and his wife Joellyn will join with daughter Sheri J. Edwards, Texas A&M Class of 1976, and son Richard H. Eubank, Texas A&M Class of 1974, to fund the Raymond H. Eubank ’48 Family Scholarship in Computer Science. Preference will be given to students in the Corps of Cadets.

Sheri Edwards and Richard Eubank with their father

Sheri and Richard both received computer science degrees.

For the past eight years Sheri has been a senior computer programmer for the Garland Independent School District. Richard is currently a computer consultant in McKinney, Texas, servicing the North Dallas area.

Dennis R. Eubank is a Texas A&M Class of 1978 petroleum engineering graduate. He is an independent consulting petroleum drilling engineer, with extensive experience in horizontal, off-shore and very deep wells.

Dennis and his father are endowing the Raymond H. Eubank ’48 Family Scholarship in the Nelson Scholars Program to attract freshman students to a profession in petroleum engineering.

Dennis Eubank with wife, Sarah, and children, Anna and Jake

Joellyn Eubank retired after 32 years as a public school educator. Her last position was assistant superintendent of elementary administration with the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District.

“Ray and Joellyn have been an absolute joy to work with. The entire Eubank family loves and respects Texas A&M as evidenced by these three outstanding scholarships that will help Aggie students for generations to come,” said Brady Bullard, development officer for engineering with the Texas A&M Foundation.

Petroleum engineering at Texas A&M ranks first in undergraduate programs and second in graduate programs among public institutions by U.S. News and World Report. The department’s enrollment for fall 2008 was 592 undergraduates and 254 graduate students.

The computer science and engineering department’s fall 2008 undergraduate enrollment was 590 and 309 graduate students. Computer engineering at the university ranks 15th in graduate study programs among public institutions, according to U.S. News and World Report.

by Betsy Ellison, (979)862-3567

Popularity: 14% [?]

The memory of a safety engineering education pioneer has been preserved with an endowed engineering scholarship at Texas A&M University by lead donor Michael (Mike) Sawyer.

Mike Sawyer provides lead gift for Vernon scholarship

The Dr. Ralph J. Vernon ’51 Scholarship rewards engineering students who earn a 3.0 grade point ratio, pursue a process safety specialty and demonstrate financial need. Contributions can still be made to the permanent scholarship, funded through an initial $25,000 endowment in 2006 at the Texas A&M Foundation.

“Process safety is now an integral part of chemical engineering education, and the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at A&M is widely recognized as a world leader in chemical process safety research and education. Through the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center, our department produces highly sought students in process safety, and this scholarship ensures we retain the best and brightest in safety engineering,” said Dr. Michael V. Pishko, department head and holder of the Charles D. Holland ’53 Professorship.

“Dr. Vernon’s impact did not stop upon my graduation. He maintained contact and continued nurturing my career for many years after A&M, and I, as well as many former students, owe my success largely to him,” said Mike Sawyer, who provided the lead gift. A Class of 1983 safety engineering graduate of Texas A&M, he is president of Apex Safety Consultants, ASC Inc., a speciality process safety consulting firm.

Born in Greenville, S.C., Vernon earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial education from Clemson University and then served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He obtained a master’s degree in education from Texas A&M and completed his Ph.D. in preventive medicine and environmental health at the University of Iowa.

Vernon began his career as a safety engineer for Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. in 1953. He joined the Texas A&M faculty in 1966 and pioneered safety engineering and industrial hygiene degrees within the engineering college. He became a full professor in 1971 and retired as professor emeritus of industrial engineering in 1986.

Vernon’s teaching awards included the General Dynamics Award for Excellence in Engineering Teaching from Texas A&M, Educator of the Year Award from the International Safety Society and the Service Award from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.

He was a member of Sigma Xi, an international honor society for scientific and engineering research. He was a leader in his field, serving as president of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and the American Academy of Industrial Hygiene.

Upon retiring from teaching, Vernon served as president and chief executive officer of Biotechnics Inc. until 1990. He resided in College Station and attended First Baptist Church until his death in 2000.

Contributions to the Dr. Ralph J. Vernon ’51 Scholarship in Engineering can be mailed to the Texas A&M Foundation, Engineering Development Office, 3126 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-3126 with the words “Vernon Scholarship” on the notation line.

Written by Emily Whitmoyer

Popularity: 9% [?]

Dr. Jo Howze, senior associate dean for academic programs, presents Dr. G. Kemble Bennett (right) with a framed photo of Texas A&Ms Engineering Advisory Council. The advisory council has honored Vice Chancellor and Dean Bennett with an undergraduate scholarship endowed in his name.

The Texas A&M University Engineering Advisory Council has honored engineering vice chancellor and dean G. Kemble Bennett with an undergraduate scholarship endowed in his name.

The council’s gift of $100,000 to the Texas A&M Foundation establishes the G. Kemble Bennett Scholarship in Engineering to recognize the educator’s 22 years of leadership, service and passion for students at Texas A&M.

“Kem, you hold high standards for this program and we are most appreciative. This gift will continue giving to others in your name and will provide bright young minds with an outstanding engineering education for generations to come,” Joe R. Fowler, council chairman and president of Stress Engineering Services Inc. of Houston, said in a surprise announcement at the council’s April 2 dinner.

The first recipient of the Bennett scholarship will be named for fall 2009, courtesy of an additional $5,000 contributed by the Texas A&M Student Engineers’ Council (SEC).

Fowler and Jo Howze, engineering senior associate dean for academic programs, presented Bennett with a photograph of the council to be signed by its members and SEC officers.

Fowler said Texas A&M needs freshman scholarships to be competitive with those offered by peer institutions.

“As a council, we thought we could help build scholarship funds by personally contributing to the cause,” said Fowler, a Texas A&M Class of 1968 mechanical engineer. “Jo Howze recommended naming the scholarship in honor of someone who truly epitomized Aggie engineering — Dr. Bennett — and consequently we’ve asked Kem to set the criteria for his scholarship.”

Recipients of the scholarship will be “high academic achievers who need financial support to obtain an engineering education,” according to Bennett.

“Our advisory council members always give generously of their time, wise guidance and resources to support our college and their efforts to establish an endowed scholarship in my name is a most humbling honor,” said Dr. G. Kemble Bennett, vice chancellor and dean of engineering.

In addition to vice chancellor of engineering for the A&M System and dean of the Dwight Look College of Engineering, Bennett holds the Harold J. Haynes Dean’s Chair and is director of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), a state research agency headquartered in College Station.

Bennett joined the Texas A&M engineering program in 1986 and has held several leadership positions, including professor and head of the Department of Industrial Engineering, associate dean of research and director and CEO of the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX).

As vice chancellor, Bennett oversees coordination and collaboration among the engineering, academic and research programs at universities throughout the Texas A&M System and leads the research programs and extension services of three state agencies: TEES, TEEX and the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI). As dean of the Dwight Look College of Engineering, he heads one of the largest and highest-ranked engineering colleges in the nation.

Bennett is an elected Fellow of both the Society of Logistics Engineers and the Institute of Industrial Engineers, where he has been recognized for his professional and academic contributions through the awarding of the Eccles Medal and the Albert G. Holzman Award. In July 2008, Bennett was appointed by Gov. Perry to chair the Texas Board of Professional Engineers. He also serves as chair of the National Advisory Council for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Created by the Post-Katrina Act, the council advises the administrator of FEMA on all aspects of preparedness and emergency management.

Bennett holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, a master’s degree from San Jose State University and a Ph.D. in industrial engineering from Texas Tech University.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Donna and Gene Tromblee have parlayed retirement savings into a three-way benefit for chemical engineering students at Texas A&M University.

Gene and Donna Tromblee

The Seabrook couple used savings from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to create a $30,000 endowment at the Texas A&M Foundation for the Donna and Gene Tromblee ’70 Scholarship in the C.D. Holland Scholars Program.

The Tromblees contributed another $10,000 to support needs of the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, including funds for a general excellence fund and study abroad participants.

“Fulfilling our mission would be much more difficult without the generous support of Aggies such as the Tromblees. Donna and Gene have the thanks of our faculty and our students, both current and future,” said Dr. Michael Pishko, department head and holder of the Charles D. Holland Professorship.

The first recipient of the Tromblee scholarship will be named for fall 2009. The C.D. Holland Scholars program honors Dr. Charles D. Holland, who served as Texas A&M’s second chemical engineering department head from 1964 to 1987.

The Tromblees’ gift will help fund the cost for two chemical engineering students to participate in the summer 2009 Texas A&M Engineering Study Abroad Program, which will offer courses in Mexico, Panama/Costa Rica and Spain. While most programs focus heavily on the cultural aspects, the engineering summer curriculum puts more emphasis on the technical and professional experiences.

“We chose to give a gift for others to enjoy and from which to benefit as much as we have from my education at Texas A&M,” said Gene Tromblee.

A native of Minnesota, he graduated from high school in Huron, Ohio. He received his B.S. degree in chemical engineering in 1956 from Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Ohio, and a master’s in chemical engineering from Texas A&M in 1970.

He began his career with Monsanto as a technical service engineer at its Texas City plant.

After several moves culminating in a return to Texas City as plant manager, Tromblee became involved in the leveraged buyout of the plant by the Sterling Group in 1986. He retired as vice president of operations of Sterling Chemicals in 1991, and is active in several volunteer organizations in the Houston area.

At Texas A&M Tromblee serves on the chemical engineering department’s advisory council. He is one of only four representatives accorded the title of Permanent Member in recognition of significant and frequent contributions to the department over an extended time.

Donna Tromblee, formerly Donna Pauli from Coon Rapids, Iowa, graduated in 1955 from Mercy Hospital school of nursing in Des Moines, Iowa. She moved to Galveston where she met her future husband and continued to work in the nursing profession a few years after their marriage. She maintains an interest in the profession and volunteers at a local hospital in the Houston area.

The Tromblees are members of the Texas A&M Legacy Society, which recognizes planned gifts and cumulative current giving of $100,000 or more to the university.

They previously endowed three scholarships for high-achieving chemical engineering undergraduates in the department’s Lindsay Scholars Program. The Gene L. Tromblee ’70 Graduate Study Area in the Jack E. Brown Building honors the couple’s $100,000 gift to help fund the building’s construction.

“The Tromblees are loyal and committed to Texas A&M, and their support of many programs proves that. This latest gift will help future Aggies become great former students and leaders in the field of chemical engineering. What a wonderful legacy the Tromblees are leaving,” said Andy Acker, director of development for engineering with the Texas A&M Foundation.

The Texas A&M chemical engineering department ranks 15th in undergraduate studies among public institutions in America, according to U.S. News & World Report. The Dwight Look College of Engineering has over 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled as of fall 2008 and has been ranked 7th in graduate studies and 9th in undergraduate among other top universities in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Written by Betsy Ellison
betsyellison@tees.tamus.edu

Popularity: 7% [?]

A visionary partnership between Kathleen and William Urban of Kingston, Wash., and two charitable organizations has created a $1.25 million civil engineering endowment at Texas A&M University.

Kathleen and Bill Urban '66 join with The Beavers Inc. and the Zachry Foundation to create endowment.

Two $500,000 gifts—from Kathleen and William F. Urban and the Beavers Charitable Trust—and $250,000 in matching funds from the Zachry Foundation have endowed the Beavers Charitable Trust Professorship.

“This professorship will transform heavy construction studies at Texas A&M by creating tremendous new opportunities for our students and faculty,” said G. Kemble Bennett, vice chancellor and dean of Texas A&M Engineering. “We are extremely grateful to the Urbans, The Beavers Inc. and the Zachry Foundation for their generous gifts, and we look forward to the expanded capabilities of the construction engineering management program.”

During the first five years, the Beavers Charitable Trust Professorship will support the teaching, research, service and professional development activities of a faculty member and graduate student focusing on heavy construction engineering management.

In 2012 the professorship will become the Beavers Charitable Trust Chair with the addition of $250,000 from the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering.

“We are enormously grateful to Kathleen and Bill Urban, and to the Beavers Charitable Trust and the Zachry Foundation, for making this visionary gift to Civil Engineering. By permanently endowing a senior faculty position in Construction Engineering Management (CEM), this gift will allow us to attract leading experts in construction engineering and expand our CEM program. This gift also provides support for graduate fellowships at the discretion of the holder of this new professorship. This powerful new gift will help our program grow in both size and stature and will help to prepare the next generation of graduate engineers to enter the construction engineering field. I am grateful to Bill for leading the initiative that created this new endowment for our department,” said David V. Rosowsky, department head and holder of the A.P. and Florence Wiley Chair in Civil Engineering.

William Urban is the retired president and CEO of General Construction Co. and a past president of The Beavers Inc.

“This professorship was created to be the keystone in a first-of-its-kind program committed solely to advanced studies supporting the heavy construction industry,” said Urban, Texas A&M Class of 1966, who earned his bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering. “Giving back to Texas A&M and the heavy construction industry has been a goal of mine for a long time.”

Gift honors William Fred Urban '41.

Urban gave this gift in honor of his father, William Fred Urban, a 1941 Aggie graduate and World War II U.S. Army veteran. His father was the only one of 12 children to attend college and used his degree to build a successful construction business. He passed away at the age of 56 in Victoria, Texas.

“He was the best man I have ever known. When he died, more than a thousand people attended his funeral. This gift is one way to remember him and his legacy,” Urban said.

The younger Urban joined General Construction after graduation from Texas A&M. He worked in management from 1984 until his retirement in 2003, growing General into the premier heavy marine construction company on the West Coast.

General Construction Co., with headquarters in Poulsbo, Wash., is a heavy civil construction contractor with marine, industrial, heavy civil and design-build capabilities owning one of the largest fleets of heavy marine equipment in the country. Recent projects for the firm include the new Oakland Bay Bridge and a major upgrade for the Boeing Company.

At Texas A&M Urban has served on advisory boards for the College of Architecture and its Construction Executive Program. In 2003 he designated A&M to receive the President’s Endowed Scholarship awarded annually by The Beavers Charitable Trust.

He and his wife have supported the Corps of Cadets and the 12th Man Foundation with previous gifts and co-hosted a dinner and fundraiser in Seattle for the One Spirit One Vision Campaign featuring former President Robert M. Gates.

The Urbans also support numerous charitable foundations, especially ones dedicated to helping children. They have six grandchildren and three adult sons. Johnathan, Texas A&M Class of 1996, is a site development manager for Wireless Facilities Inc. in Georgetown and manages the family ranch at San Saba. William manages an Expeditors International office in Brisbane, Calif. David is a minister currently founding his second church, I-90 Community Church, in Seattle, Wash.

The Beavers Inc., founded in 1955 by a group of dam builders including General Construction, is a social and honorary organization for companies and individuals in the heavy engineering construction industry. The Beavers Charitable Trust is a non-profit organization established in 1977 by The Beavers Inc. board of directors. The trust has provided over $3.6 million in scholarship grants and maintained over $3 million in endowed scholarships at 34 American schools of engineering and construction management.

“The purpose of the Beavers Charitable Trust is to invest in future leaders of the construction industry,” said Lynn E. Barr, Beavers Charitable Trust chairman. “While this chair is a new direction for the trust, we believe that a program focused on heavy construction will be a tremendous asset to Texas A&M, the students in the civil engineering program and the heavy construction industry.”

The Zachry Foundation is a long-time supporter of Texas A&M Engineering. A past gift of $10 million provides civil engineering with faculty chairs, professorships, scholarships and fellowships, and includes support for the department’s excellence fund, surveying camp and student advising services.

The Zachry Department of Civil Engineering is ranked 7th in undergraduate and 8th in graduate studies, according to U.S. News & World Report. The magazine ranks the Dwight Look College of Engineering 9th in undergraduate and 7th in graduate studies among public universities in the nation.

By Emily Whitmoyer
emilywhitmoyer@tees.tamus.edu

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