Gary Mitchell ’79 attributes his 42 years of success in the oil and gas industry to his time at Texas A&M. While at A&M, he embodied the Aggie core values and a diligent work ethic.
Gary is showing his love for A&M by supporting the success of current and future mechanical engineering students with the Gary ’79 and Jodi Mitchell Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship is for students like Gary -- ones who work hard, take on leadership opportunities, and never stop asking questions. The endowment will also contribute, in part, to the Meloy Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program.
Gary Mitchell ’79 was your average engineering student looking for a way to put himself through school while trying to make the most of his college experience.
“I had to work hard to get through A&M,” Mitchell said. “Money wasn’t easy to come by. That's why I did a co-op, in fact, to help put myself through school.”
During his time at A&M, Gary enjoyed traditions like football games and Aggie Muster and cherished getting to honor Aggies at silver taps. The ideals he took with him throughout his career are the Aggie Core Values.
Gary worked his way up through the oil and gas industry, eventually managing around 1,500 men and women along the Gulf Coast. One of his highest achievements was implementing a safety system that was based on employees’ true care and concern for each other and their safety above all else.
“A&M taught so much in the way of integrity and trust,” said Gary. “Doing it right, working hard, earning your keep, and you know, the golden rule, treating others as you'd have them treat you. That served me extremely well through managing a lot of people and projects.”
Having left his mark in his career, Gary and his wife, Jodi Mitchell, decided it was time to help support Aggie engineers.
“I just wanted to make it a little easier for a deserving student to benefit from his career success in oil and gas. I felt like doing it in the mechanical engineering department for a good Texas-based graduate that's worthy of it,” Gary said.
Gary hired many Aggies over the years and always saw the culture and work ethic shining through them. This is one of the reasons he’s chosen to give back today.
“When I hired employees, the Aggie resumes were heads and tails above the others. The Aggie values led to hard-working individual, wanting to go the extra mile. You always would see Aggies involved in leadership and doing charitable work, rising to the challenge. It’s really good to see over the years that it remains instilled in our Aggies, for sure,” he said.
Gary shares some advice for the Aggie engineers going through college today.
“I know the students work so hard,” said Gary. “We all did back in school when learning the books. The faster you can get out of a book and develop wisdom and relationships, not just head knowledge, is the way to go. Always show humility and ask questions.”