Texas A&M Announces 2008 Distinguished Alumni
Texas A&M University and The Association of Former Students announced the recipients of the 2008 Distinguished Alumnus Award are Charles H. “Charlie” Weinbaum, Jr., Class of 1947, of Beaumont; James D. “Doug” Pitcock, Jr., Class of 1949, of Houston; Arthur R. “Artie” McFerrin, Jr., Class of 1965, of Kingwood; and Neal W. Adams, Class of 1968, of Euless.
Established in 1962, the Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a former student of Texas A&M University. Since its inception, 284 individuals have been recognized for their significant contributions to their professions, Texas A&M University and their local communities.
“Each and every one of the more than 300,000 former students of Texas A&M has a special place in our university’s history, and every year we recognize only a few with the prestigious Distinguished Alumnus Award,” said Texas A&M University President Dr. Elsa A. Murano. “This award recognizes some of the most dedicated former students, whose service to Texas A&M and lifetime personal and professional achievements truly exemplify the Aggie Spirit. I applaud this year’s recipients for their leadership and selfless service, and would like to also express my appreciation to their families for their continued support.”
The recipients learned of their honor when surprised in their places of business and other locations by a group of university and Association representatives, including Murano; The Association of Former Students’ 2008 President General Hal M. Hornburg (USAF, Ret), Class of 1968; Association Executive Director Porter S. Garner III, Class of 1979; Association Assistant Executive Director Marty Holmes, Class of 1987; and a Ross Volunteer.
“I’m so pleased that our nominating process found Aggies such as these four wonderful individuals to be named as the 2008 recipients of the Distinguished Alumnus Award,” said Association President General Hal M. Hornburg (USAF, Ret), Class of 1968. “Each has contributed in his own unique way; yet they all posses the same common qualities: they are loyal Aggies, exemplary citizens and outstanding Americans. Their actions will inspire others to follow their example: service before self. Texas A&M and all Aggies can take great pride in the honor bestowed on these most deserving men.”
Garner echoed the sentiments of Murano and Hornburg and offered his congratulations on behalf of the Aggie Network.
“Each of our 2008 Distinguished Alumni are exemplary role models and truly deserving of the highest honor bestowed upon a former student of Texas A&M University,” Garner said. “Charlie, Doug, Artie and Neal have certainly distinguished themselves in their respective professions and without fail have been lifelong advocates for Texas A&M and Texas Aggies. I am honored to know them.”
The Association of Former Students will further honor Texas A&M University’s 2008 Distinguished Alumni in formal events and ceremonies throughout the year. Recipients will be hosted for dinner by Murano and will be recognized during the May commencement ceremonies. In addition, The Association will honor all recipients of this award during its annual Distinguished Alumni Gala as well as at the Texas A&M vs. Kansas State football game in October.
Brief biographical information on Texas A&M University’s 2008 Distinguished Alumni is included below.
Texas A&M University 2008 Distinguished Alumni
Charles H. “Charlie” Weinbaum, Jr., Class of 1947, received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from Texas A&M. During his time as a student, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Beaumont Hometown Club and the Hillel Club, and he lettered in basketball. He went on to attend the Graduate School of Business at New York University before beginning his career with Beaumont’s Weinbaum Insurance Agency, of which he remains a partner. Weinbaum began developing commercial real estate in 1953 and, since 1975, has been president of two oil and gas firms, Cherokee Royalty and Marion Cass. In addition, he has been general partner of Weinbaum Family Investments since 1980. He is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International and has served as a volunteer and contributor to dozens of educational and nonprofit organizations.
Weinbaum has been actively involved with Texas A&M, having served as president of the Beaumont A&M Club and on the Board of Directors of The Association of Former Students. He is a co-founder of the Texas A&M Letterman’s Association as well as a member of the 12th Man Foundation Champions Council. Weinbaum funded a President’s Endowed Scholarship in 1990 and has contributed to many other A&M organizations and activities. He serves a councilman emeritus for The Association of Former Students and was recognized by the Beaumont A&M Club for 50 years of dedicated service. In 1982 he and his late wife, Gloria, were recognized by Texas A&M University as its Parents of the Year.
Weinbaum has five children, Charles, Class of 1977; Daniel, Class of 1981; Jonathan, Class of 1982; Bernard; and Rebecca; seven grandchildren, including Elana Weinbaum, Class of 2007; and a great-grandchild.
James D. “Doug” Pitcock, Jr., Class of 1949, graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. As a student, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, American Society of Civil Engineers, Houston Hometown Club and Saddle and Sirloin Club.
Pitcock began his professional career in 1950 as a purchasing agent for Farnsworth & Chambers in Houston. He served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1952 before returning to Farnsworth & Chambers. By 1955, he was co-founder, partner, president and CEO of Williams Brothers Construction, a company he built from a startup to one of the nation’s largest highway construction firms.
In 1976 Pitcock was appointed by President Gerald R. Ford to the National Transportation Policy Study Commission, and served as national president of Associated General Contractors of America 1984. In 2002, he was honored for his emergency reconstruction of the collapsed Queen Isabella Causeway in Port Isabel, Texas. Pitcock was inducted into the Texas Good Roads and Transportation Association Hall of Fame in 2004, the Texas Transportation Institute’s Hall of Honor in 2005 and was honored as the ‘Houston Engineer of the Year’ in 2006.
Pitcock has generously volunteered his time and resources to Texas A&M, funding numerous scholarships, fellowships and research projects. He has been honored as a Distinguished Graduate of Texas A&M’s Department of Civil Engineering and as an Outstanding Alumnus of the Dwight Look College of Engineering.
Pitcock and his wife, “Puddie,” have two children, Jim and the late Jan.
Arthur R. “Artie” McFerrin, Jr., Class of 1965, received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M and went on to earn a master’s degree in the same field in 1969. As student, he was a member of Company E-1 in the Corps of Cadets, the Student Conference on National Affairs, the Society of Military Engineers, as well as the Great Issues Committee.
McFerrin began his career in 1967 with Shell Chemical, before becoming an independent plant manager in 1972. In 1975 he founded KMCO, a chemical processing and manufacturing company, and in 1990 established KMTEX, a high-volume distillation company. He purchased South Coast Terminals in 1995 and is a partner in several other chemical processing plants.
McFerrin has served Texas A&M as chairman of the Chemical Engineering Advisory Board and has served on the President’s Corps of Cadets Board of Visitors, the 12th Man Foundation Board of Trustees, Texas A&M Research Foundation, and the Chancellor’s Century Council.
In 2005, McFerrin established an endowment to support Texas A&M’s department of chemical engineering, which now bears his name. His many contributions to Texas A&M are visible throughout the campus and include the McFerrin Indoor Athletic Center and the Cox-McFerrin Basketball Center. McFerrin endowed the Becky Gates Children’s Center, the Marilyn Kent Byrne Student Success Center in the College of Education and Human Development, as well as the Byrne Chair currently held by Dr. Jim Kracht.
He has been part of the Distinguished Visiting Executive Series at the George Bush School of Government and Public Service and in 1998 was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the Department of Chemical Engineering.
McFerrin and his wife, Dorothy, have two children, Jeffrey, Class of 1992, and Jennifer.
Neal W. Adams, Class of 1968, received his Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing. As a student, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Student Senate, served as head yell leader, and was honored as a Distinguished Military Graduate and Distinguished Student. Upon graduation, Adams attended Baylor School of Law, receiving his juris doctorate in 1970.
He served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1972, receiving the Distinguished Service Medal. He began his professional career in 1972 as president of Neal W. Adams, P.C. Since 1987, he served as president, principal attorney and co-owner of Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C.
In 2001, Governor Rick Perry appointed Adams to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, where he served six years and, in July 2005, Governor Perry appointed him as vice chairman of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, a position he held through August 2007.
In October 2002 and 2007, Texas Lawyer magazine named Adams as the “Go-To Lawyer” for school law in the state of Texas. Each year beginning in 2003 through 2007, Adams has been honored as one of the Texas Super Lawyers in school and education law by Texas Monthly magazine. He is a past chairman of the State Bar of Texas School Law Section. A Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, Adams was named ‘1994 Man of the Year’ by the Northeast Tarrant County Board of Realtors.
Adams is a loyal supporter of Texas A&M. He is a member and chair-elect of the Chancellor’s Century Council, a member of The Association of Former Students’ Leadership Council, the A&M Legacy Society, the Corps Development Council and the Corps of Cadets Association. Adams also serves as a member and past chair of the President’s Board of Visitors for the Corps of Cadets, a member of the 12th Man Foundation’s Board of Trustees, and a member and past president of the Former Yell Leaders Association. He is a regular Muster speaker and a life member of the Fort Worth-Tarrant County A&M Club. In addition, he is a frequent contributor of his time and talents to various civic, church and community organizations.
Adams and his wife, Sonja, have two daughters, Marti Morgan, Class of 1993 (son-in-law, Craig Morgan, Class of 1993) and Paige.
