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Blue Bell Execs, Clayton Williams, And Spouses Receive Texas A&M Foundation’s Highest Honor

The Texas A&M Foundation Board of Trustees recognized Evelyn and Ed Kruse, Verlin and Howard Kruse, and Modesta and Clayton Williams Jr. as recipients of the Sterling C. Evans Medal.
By Monika Blackwell, Texas A&M Foundation February 24, 2015

The Texas A&M Foundation Board of Trustees on Wednesday recognized Evelyn and Ed Kruse, Verlin and Howard Kruse, and Modesta and Clayton Williams Jr. as recipients of the Sterling C. Evans Medal. The award is the foundation’s highest honor.

Recipients of the Evans Medal support Texas A&M University through demonstrated philanthropy, volunteerism and leadership. Their devotion to Texas A&M and desire to motivate others to strengthen the university embody the spirit of the medal’s namesake, who was a visionary among Aggie philanthropists.

Kruse
Howard Kruse, a former president and CEO of Blue Bell Creameries, received the Sterling C. Evans Medal from the Texas A&M Foundation on Wednesday along with his wife Verlin. Edward Kruse, Howard’s brother, and his wife Evelyn (not in attendance) also received the prestigious honor.

Both of the Kruse families, known for their lifelong connection to Blue Bell Creameries, committed $9 million through personal and corporate gifts to support the renovation and expansion of Olsen Field, the university’s baseball stadium. As a result, the facility now bears the name C. E. “Pat” Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park. Among other major contributions, the families also established an endowed dean’s chair in The Bush School of Government and Public Service.

“The Kruses have spent a lifetime aligning their personal beliefs and corporate standards with Texas A&M’s six core values,” said T. Randall “Randy” Cain, a Texas A&M Foundation trustee. “The family is leaving a proud legacy at Texas A&M—one that reflects a care for people and a commitment to community advancement.”

ed and Evelyn kruse
Ed and Evelyn Kruse were also recognized with the Sterling C. Evans Medal for their years of generosity and devotion to Texas A&M.

A former CEO and president of Blue Bell, Ed Kruse is a 1949 graduate of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. During his time at Texas A&M, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and a varsity letterman in swimming. At age 13, he began working for his father, E.F. Kruse, who served as Blue Bell’s CEO and president for 32 years. After his father died, Ed Kruse led the company until 1992.

Evelyn Kruse has been by her husband’s side, supporting their household and professional endeavors for 64 years. The couple has four Aggie children (two sons died at age 45) and 21 grandchildren.

Ed Kruse’s brother Howard Kruse graduated from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 1952 and was also a member of the Corps of Cadets. He became president and CEO at Blue Bell after his brother’s retirement in 1992, running the company until his retirement in 2004.

A key player in the family’s philanthropic decisions, Verlin Kruse was a lab technician at Blue Bell when she met her husband more than 50 years ago. Howard Kruse credits the success he achieved while leading Blue Bell to his wife’s support and devotion to their family.

Both Kruse brothers are members of the Corps Hall of Honor and have received distinguished alumni awards, and, together with their wives, are members of the A&M Legacy Society. Both couples have made significant contributions to Texas A&M programs, including:

  • The Association of Former Students
  • The 12th Man Foundation
  • The Corps of Cadets
  • The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • The Bush School of Government and Public Service

Clayton Williams Jr. graduated from Texas A&M in 1954 with a degree in animal husbandry from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. A jack-of-all-trades, Williams has bred cattle, developed real estate, worked as a banker, served as a telecommunications mogul and ran for Texas governor. Today, he is president and CEO of Clayton Williams Energy Inc., cementing his legacy as one of the state’s most well-known oilmen.

A former model who managed a modeling school in Midland, Texas, Modesta Williams attended Texas Tech University and studied business at Texas Christian University before leaving college to earn a living. She served as a director of ClayDesta National Bank, which survived the 2008 economic crisis that recorded 1,600 bank failures. She also designed the 183-acre ClayDesta Plaza.

Clayton williams
The Texas A&M Foundation awarded Clayton and Modesta Williams the Sterling C. Evans Medal for years of philanthropy to the university.

Clayton and Modesta Williams have contributed more than $7 million to Texas A&M. Their most recognizable contribution is to The Association of Former Students in the form of a $2.5 million gift to help complete the organization’s headquarters, the Clayton W. Williams Jr. Alumni Center. The couple has also funded scholarships for the Corps of Cadets and supported a variety of activities, including the Berg-Hughes Center for Petroleum and Sedimentary Systems within the College of Geosciences.

“This couple has taken their good fortune to great heights,” said George Hickox, a Texas A&M Foundation trustee. “They have seized the initiative to become builders, creators and teachers at this university, and we honor them for their efforts to advance our institution and to instill upon us all a sense of responsibility to do the same.”

Williams is a member of the Corps Hall of Honor and is a recipient of the Halbouty Geosciences Medal. He is also a recipient of outstanding alumni awards from both The Association of Former Students and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Both he and his wife are members of the A&M Legacy Society.

“All three of these couples’ lifelong devotion to Texas A&M University, transformative contributions and volunteer leadership have shaped the university’s progress and influenced countless Aggies,” said Ed Davis, president of the Texas A&M Foundation.

The couples join a small but prestigious group of Evans Medal recipients. For a full list of recipients, visit txamfoundation.com/EvansMedal.

Media contact: Monika Blackwell, Texas A&M Foundation.

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