Texas A&M University Announces 2010 Distinguished Alumni
Texas A&M University and The Association of Former Students announces the recipients of the 2010 Distinguished Alumnus Award are Dudley J. Hughes, Class of 1951, of Jackson, Miss.; Charles W. Soltis, Class of 1955, of Houston, Texas; Dr. Fred A. Palmer, Class of 1959, of Godley, Texas; Don H. Davis, Jr., Class of 1961, of Sedona, Ariz.; and William H. “Bill” Flores, Class of 1976, of Bryan, Texas. Two former students, Joe Utay, Class of 1908, and Robert L. Acklen, Jr., Class of 1963 were also recognized posthumously.
Established in 1962, the Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a former student of Texas A&M University. Since its inception, 197 individuals have been recognized for their significant contributions to their professions, Texas A&M University and their local communities.
“This tremendous class of Distinguish Alumni exemplifies what is possible with a degree from Texas A&M University,” said A&M President Dr. R. Bowen Loftin, Class of 1971. “Even more impressive than their individual accomplishments, however, is that they have based their lives on the core values that are interwoven into each and every Aggie. These former students are true exemplars of the Aggie Spirit across our state and country, as well as around the world.”
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 Loftin; The Association of Former Students’ 2010 Chair of the Board of Directors S. Shariq Yosufzai, Class of 1974; Association President and CEO Porter S. Garner III, Class of 1979; Association Vice President Marty Holmes, Class of 1987; a Ross Volunteer; along with Reveille and her handler, Ben Coffman, Class of 2012.
“Each of our 2010 Distinguished Alumni are exemplary role models and truly deserving of the highest honor bestowed upon a former student of Texas A&M University,” Yosufzai said. “They serve as outstanding examples of the impact that Aggies can have on their alma mater, their communities, and the overall betterment of mankind.”
Garner echoed the sentiments of Loftin and Yosufzai and offered his congratulations on behalf of the Aggie Network.
“Our 2010 Distinguished Alumni represent a cross-section of life experiences and achievements as diverse and inspiring as our worldwide Aggie Network,” Garner said. “They all, however, share the same profound commitment to Texas A&M and epitomize our core values as well as our unique and unrivaled Aggie Spirit.”
The Association of Former Students will further honor Texas A&M University’s 2010 Distinguished Alumni in formal events and ceremonies throughout the year. The Association will honor all recipients of this award during its annual Distinguished Alumni Gala on Oct. 15, 2010. In addition, the 2010 recipients will be hosted for dinner by Loftin and recognized during the Texas A&M football game against Missouri on Oct. 16.
Brief biographical information on each of Texas A&M University’s 2010 Distinguished Alumni is included below.
Texas A&M University 2010 Distinguished Alumni
Dudley J. Hughes, Class of 1951, graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in geology. As a student, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Geology Club and the Palestine Hometown Club.
Hughes served in the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant and was awarded the Bronze Star for his meritorious service in Korea. Afterward, he established a highly successful career in exploration geology, operating more than 10 different oil and gas exploration companies during his 40-plus year career. He is currently the president of Hughes Oil Inc. and Hughes South Corp.
Hughes was recognized by Texas A&M with the Geosciences and Earth Resources Distinguished Achievement Award and received the All American Wildcatters’ Rudman Outstanding Wildcatter Award. He also received the American Association of Petroleum Geologists’ Outstanding Explorer Award and was named the 2009 Philanthropist of the Year by the state of Mississippi.
Hughes has been a loyal supporter of the University and the College of Geosciences. In 1998, Hughes and his wife, Robbie, created the Dudley J. Hughes ’51 Chair in Geology and Geophysics, and he contributed to the Robert R. Berg Professorship in Geology and the William R. Bryant Oceanography Chair for Teaching, Research and Mentoring Excellence. He was instrumental in the endowment of the Berg-Hughes Center for Petroleum and Sedimentary Systems. Hughes is a member of The Association of Former Students’ Century Club and remains active as a volunteer and contributor to dozens of charitable organizations.
Charles W. Soltis, Class of 1955, received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University and went on to attend the Engineering Training School in Syracuse, N.Y. During his time at Texas A&M, he was in the Corps of Cadets, the Houston Club, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Pi Tau Sigma.
Following his military service, Soltis began a successful career in commercial heating and air conditioning with the Carrier Co., and then in air-filtration technologies and cleanroom design and construction for industry and the medical field. Today he is the president and managing partner of Soltis Enterprises in Houston.
Soltis’ passion for the preservation of the Costa Rica rainforest spurred him and his late wife, Wanda, to donate a research and education center in San Juan de San Isidro de Peñas Blancas, Costa Rica, to Texas A&M University to provide students with international experiences and to study topics related to sustainability in the tropics and community development. In addition to this state-of-the-art center, Soltis has given Texas A&M the long-term right to access and study a 250-acre rainforest adjacent to the Center.
Soltis was inducted into Texas A&M’s Department of Mechanical Engineering Academy of Distinguished Graduates in 1994 and he received the Cleanroom Hall of Fame Award in 1991.
Soltis is a member of the Houston A&M Club and The Association of Former Students Century Club.
Dr. Fred A. Palmer, Class of 1959, graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife science. As a student, he participated in the Corps of Cadets and was vice president of the Tyler/Smith County Hometown Club.
Palmer began his career as a wildlife biologist and assistant project leader for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. After serving on active duty with the U.S. Army, he returned to Texas A&M, where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in veterinary science in 1968 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1969. After practicing veterinary medicine for more than 25 years, Palmer sold his small-animal clinic in Bedford, Texas, in 1994.
Palmer has expressed his generosity to Texas A&M by endowing several scholarships, including the Dr. Fred A. ’59 and Vola N. Palmer Endowed Scholarship in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, and by establishing the Dr. Fred A. and Vola N. Palmer Chair in Comparative Oncology at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.
Palmer was named an Outstanding Alumnus by the College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 and has been actively involved with Texas A&M. He is a past chair of The Association of Former Students and is an Endowed Century Club member. He has also served as president of the Fort Worth/Tarrant County A&M Club and is currently a member of the 12th Man Foundation Athletic Ambassadors Council.
Don H. Davis, Jr., Class of 1961, graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and received a Master of Science in business administration from Texas A&M in 1963. During his time at A&M, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the varsity baseball team and the Shreveport Hometown Club.
After graduation, Davis worked as an engineering sales trainee with Allen-Bradley and moved up through the sales and marketing ranks to become president of Allen-Bradley in 1989, four years after its acquisition by Rockwell. Davis was named president of Rockwell International in 1996, CEO in 1997 and chairman in 1998. He retired in 2005 after a distinguished 42-year career with the company.
Davis was honored with the Dwight Look College of Engineering Outstanding Alumni Award in 1990, and he was elected to the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s Academy of Distinguished Graduates in 1992.
Davis and his wife, Sallie, have supported Texas A&M with endowments, including the Sallie and Don Davis ’61 Professorship in Engineering, two graduate fellowships in mechanical engineering, and a major gift to support the renovation of Olsen baseball field. Davis has served on the College of Engineering external advisory committee and he continues to serve on many boards. He is an Endowed Century Club member of The Association of Former Students and he volunteers and contributes to many educational and cultural organizations, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
William H. “Bill” Flores, Class of 1976, received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and received a Master of Business Administration from Houston Baptist University in 1985. As a student at Texas A&M, Flores was a member of the Corps of Cadets and the Ross Volunteers. He was vice president of the Memorial Student Center and the student body’s vice president of finance.
Flores pursued a career managing the finances of several businesses and was chosen as chief financial officer for a string of successful energy companies, ultimately becoming the CEO and president of Phoenix Exploration Co., from which he recently retired to pursue public service.
Flores was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the Mays Business School in 2003, and he and his wife, Gina, were honored as Fish Camp namesakes in 2008. They are among Texas A&M’s most generous benefactors, having funded many scholarships programs and endowments to the College of Education, the Mays Business School and the Corps of Cadets. Due to Flores’ generous support of the project to enhance the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Center, the Great Hall was renamed Flores Hall in their honor.
Flores served as chair of The Association of Former Students in 2007 and is a member of the 12th Man Foundation Athletic Ambassadors Council, the Mays Business School Development Council, and the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Development Council. He is an Endowed Century Club member and an active participant in the Brazos County A&M Club.
Joe Utay, Class of 1908, received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University and went on to earn a Bachelor of Laws degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1912. As a student, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, Ross Volunteers, the “T” Association, the Athletic Council and the Dallas Club and was captain of the varsity football team.
Utay returned to Texas A&M in 1912 and served as a freshman football coach and was director of athletics. He is recognized as a pioneer of football in the Southwest. He was the president of the Texas Officials Association from 1912 until 1936 and was instrumental in establishing the Southwest Officials Association, which helped organize the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, starting the tradition of the Southwest Conference appearing in the Cotton Bowl. He was also a practicing attorney in Dallas for more than 55 years.
Utay was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1984. He was a founding member of the Texas A&M Letterman’s Association and a charter member of the National Football Hall of Fame.
Utay served on the Texas A&M Board of Directors (now the Board of Regents) from 1935 to 1941. He was a contributor to The Association of Former Students’ Century Club. Dormitory 12 (Utay Hall) is named in his honor.
Robert L. Acklen, Jr., Class of 1963, received a Bachelor of Arts in history from Texas A&M University in 1967. During his time at Texas A&M, he was named a distinguished military student and was a member of the Corps of Cadets, A&M wrestling team, Russian Club, American Engineering History Society and the Dallas Hometown Club.
After graduation in 1967, Acklen joined the Army and served in Vietnam, suffering a broken back in a helicopter accident. Told he would never walk again, Acklen went on to recover and complete a business degree at the University of Texas. He then returned to active duty, earning a Ranger tab and completing paratrooper training before being assigned to a one-year tour in Korea.
In 1978, Acklen was medically retired at the rank of captain, for physical disability resulting from the injuries he received in Vietnam. In 1989 he earned a computer science degree at the University of North Texas and went on to teach computer science at that university and wrote software programs for private companies and service organizations.
Acklen has been honored for his exceptional service and heroic actions with more than 60 military decorations, including a Silver Star, a Distinguished Flying Cross, six Bronze Stars, 40 Air Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, and a Purple Heart. In 2000, he was inducted into Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor. He was active in many veterans, historical, church and civic organizations, including the prestigious Society of the Cincinnati.
