Friends, former students launch capital campaign

One Spirit, One Vision gifts include endowed scholarships, professorships and new chair
   


"One Spirit One Vision" is Texas A&M's new multi-year, fund-raising campaign. This volunteer-led effort encompasses all private gifts benefiting Texas A&M, including gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations through the Texas A&M Foundation, The Association of Former Students and 12th Man Foundation.

The campaign's goal is to help Texas A&M attain national top 10 status while sustaining the distinctive spirit that sets the university apart. The name "One Spirit One Vision" reflects a unified commitment to Texas A&M's rich heritage and bright future.

For more information on the structure and goals behind "One Spirit One Vision," please see the complete Texas A&M campaign case statement.

For more information on scholarships available to students pursuing a degree at Texas A&M's College of Architecture, see the detailed list posted on the college's Web site.

Below is a list of some of the many friends and former students of the Texas A&M College of Architecture who have generously contributed to the One Spirit One Vision campaign.

Beale

College of Architecture former student Craig Beale '71, and his wife Julie, donated $150,000 to establish the Julie and Craig Beale Professorship in Health Facilities Design Fund. The fund will be used to "support practice-oriented teaching, practice-oriented research and /or service activities in health facilities design."

Deman

A gift annuity from Joe and Virginia Denman, initially valued at $100,000, will create the Beth and Joe Denman '46 Endowed Scholarship in the Department of Architecture at Texas A&M University.

Fleming

Graduates from Texas high schools who want to study construction science but need some financial help to make it happen will move to the top of the list of those contending for the Encompass Mechanical Services Endowed Scholarship.

Originally established in January 2000 as the Trinity Contractors, Inc. Endowed Scholarship, The fund was contributed to annually by Trinity Contractors with an additional $10,000 in funding from the Construction Industry Advisory Council. Funding for the scholarship, later named the Encompass Mechanical Services Endowed Scholarship, was completed recently with a $25,000 gift from David and Katherine Fleming.

Gafford

An initial gift of $25,000, plus another $10,000 from the Construction Industry Advisory Council, created the Ronald J. Gafford '72 Endowed Scholarship (Gafford Family Endowed Scholarship) in construction science.

Gafford, recently named an Outstanding Former Student of the Texas A&M College of Architecture, is chief executive officer for Austin Industries in Dallas, one of the largest, most diversified construction companies in the United States. A former member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, Gafford earned a Bachelor of Building Construction at Texas A&M in 1972 and was certified in Harvard Business School's prestigious Advanced Management Program in 1987.

Throughout his career, Gafford has amassed over 30 years of diversified professional experience in the construction industry, including seven years in commercial and residential real estate development. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Dallas Citizens Council, the Dallas Symphony Association, Trinity Industries, Interfaith Housing Coalition and the Lakehill Preparatory School. He has been an elder at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church since 1991.

Gafford

In addition to the previous scholarship endowment, Ronald J. Gafford '72 endowed a scholarship benefiting "worthy and deserving" students pursuing a career in architecture. With a $25,000 initial investment, he created the Billy Frank Gafford Endowed Scholarship in architecture.

Gauldin

Catherine L. Gauldin presented a $50,000 gift establishing the Catherine L. Gauldin Endowed Scholarship in architecture. The scholarship will be presented annually on the basis of academic achievement and financial need.

Hensel Phelps

Students interested in studying commercial construction at Texas A&M University may be eligible for some financial assistance thanks to a $25,000 scholarship endowment established with a $15,000 gift from the Hensel Phelps Construction Company and an additional $10,000 from the Construction Industry Advisory Council.

The gift, presented recently to A&M's Department of Construction Science, establishes the Hensel Phelps Construction Company Endowed Scholarship.

"Hensel Phelps has been a long-time supporter and employer of our students," said James Smith, professor and head of the Department of Construction Science at Texas A&M.

Hensel Phelps Construction Company is a multi-billion dollar, employee-owned national contractor with a unique philosophy of "cross-training" its employees in order to give them experience with many different project types. The company builds a variety of facilities including airports, office buildings, retail centers and residences.

Hensel Phelps is also a long-time member of the Department of Construction Science's Construction Industry Advisory Council. CIAC members advise the Aggie construction program on contemporary construction issues and influence the department's strategic direction and course content.

Post

Extraordinary effort, rather than academic achievement, will be the measurement by which students qualify for the recently established Raymond G. Post '23 and Raymond G. Post, Jr. '61 Endowed Scholarship in architecture. The endowment was established for the A&M Department of Architecture with a $25,000 gift from Raymond Post.

A fellow in the American Institute of Architects, Post is the founding principal of Post Architects in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Throughout his 38 years of experience, he has been involved in projects of most every description, including academic, institutional, retail, commercial, restoration, religious, entertainment and sports. In the process, his firm has earned 14 design awards.

Among Post's many interesting projects was the creation of a master plan for the Louisiana State Capitol Complex. He has played a leading role in the American Institute of Architects, serving as the organization's national president in 1996. He also served as president of and remains active in the Louisiana Architects Association. He is also president of the Louisiana Board of Architectural Examiners. Additionally, he is active in numerous professional, community and educational organizations. In 1996, Post was selected to serve as chairman of a jury to select an international architecture firm to design a billion-dollar financial center in Beijing, China.

Skaggs & Sprague

The College of Architecture at Texas A&M University is home to one of the world's leading architecture for health programs — a reputation gained in part by the contributions of Outstanding Former Students like Ron Skaggs '65 and Joe Sprague '70 of HKS Inc. in Dallas. HKS, one of the world's five largest architecture firms, is also a leader in the health facility design industry.

Longtime supporters of the college, Skaggs, HKS chairman, and Sprague, senior vice president and director of health facilities at HKS, joined forces in 2003 to create the Ronald L. Skaggs, FAIA and Joseph G. Sprague, FAIA Chair in Health Facilities Design Fund. The $1 million endowment, created by a $500,000 gift from Skaggs and Sprague with matching funds from Texas A&M University, will "support practice-oriented teaching, practice-oriented research and /or service activities in health facilities design."

The holder of the chair will have an academic appointment to Texas A&M's Department of Architecture and will coordinate activities with the existing architecture for health professors.

Trevino

With a $15,000 gift honoring their father who passed away November 2001 and $10,000 in matching funds from the Construction Industry Advisory Council, the family of Oscar T. Trevino established the Oscar T. Trevino Endowed Scholarship in Construction Science.

"He led more by example than by words, and this scholarship is an extension of his legacy," said Trevino's son, Oscar Jr. '78 upon creating the endowment. Though Trevino Sr. was not a student at A&M, his son studied civil engineering at A&M.

"As long as I can remember, dad wore an Aggie cap and supported the Aggies," said Trevino Jr. The endowment, established in memory of Trevino's long career in construction, will fund scholarships for students in the construction science program with a preference for students interested in highway construction.

Urban/Beavers Heavy Construction

Upper class and graduate students majoring in construction science or construction engineering studies and pursuing a career in the heavy construction industry will be the right candidates for the newly established William F. Urban/Beavers Heavy Construction Scholarship. The scholarship was established with the promise of $80,000 paid in four installments from the trustees of the Beavers Charitable Trust.

Windsor/Williiams/Gamma Construction

Gamma Construction Company recently presented $150,000 to the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University to establish the Cecil O. Windsor Jr. '66 Endowed Professorship in Construction Science. Keith Williams, president of Gamma Construction, established the fund to honor Windsor for his long-time support.

The two met when Windsor, an Aggie civil engineering graduate, was working for SpawGlass, a Texas-based general contractor. It was Windsor who first hired Williams, a favor returned years later when Williams invited Windsor to join him at Gamma Construction where Windsor now works as vice-president in the Denver office.

Williams credits Windsor's mentorship for his success in the construction industry.

"He is a great guy and I thought it only fitting that he be honored, while he is alive, for the things he has done and done for me," said Williams.

The endowed professorship will provide funds for professional development and teaching, research and service initiatives. The professorship will rotate to a new recipient every two years offering perpetual support of A&M's Construction Science program.

Gamma Construction Company is a member of the Department of Construction Science's Construction Industry Advisory Council. CIAC members advise the Aggie construction program on contemporary construction issues and influence the department's strategic direction and course content.

Gamma is a commercial general contractor with offices in Denver and Houston. The company portfolio includes restaurants, retail centers, educational facilities, banks, places of worship, and medical facilities.

Endowments benefiting the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University are managed by the Texas A&M Foundation to forever benefit the programs designated by each donor. To learn more about the Texas A&M Foundation and opportunities to support Aggie education, visit the Foundation's Web site http://www.tamu.edu/foundation.


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