In 1998, the Texas A&M Foundation Board of Trustees established the Sterling C. Evans Medal to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Texas A&M University’s philanthropic efforts. Recipients must exhibit a long and distinguished record of supporting philanthropy at Texas A&M, both through exemplary giving and volunteer leadership. The award, named for Sterling C. Evans ’21, is a sterling silver medallion custom designed by James Avery Craftsmen of Kerrville, Texas.

Recipients

2008—Henry “Bartell”Zachry Jr. ’54

Zachry is a 1954 graduate of Texas A&M with a degree in civil engineering. He is chairman of Zachry Group Inc., a collection of companies including Zachry Construction Corp. and the Zachry Foundation. Bartell Zachry and his wife, Mollie, are long-time supporters of Texas A&M and their generosity to his graduating department is unrivaled. The Department of Civil Engineering was named in honor of the Zachry family in 2005 in appreciation of their loyal support, and he also was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the College of Engineering. Zachry is an avid supporter of the Corps of Cadets, funding two endowed General Rudder Corps Scholarships. It was his gifts and inspired thinking that were the catalyst for the formation of the Corps of Cadets Leadership Excellence Program, a progressive four-year curriculum at Texas A&M that develops leaders of character. As a result of his excellence of character and support for the Corps of Cadets, he is an inductee of the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor. He has also funded two President's Endowed Scholarships in memory of his father, and along with his family, company and foundation, he has created faculty chairs, professorships and fellowships, and has funded many scholarships for exceptional civil engineering students.

2006—George P. Mitchell ’40

Mitchell is a 1940 graduate of Texas A&M with a degree in petroleum engineering. He is former chairman and chief executive officer of Mitchell Energy & Development Corp., which was one of the largest independent gas and oil producers in the nation. Mitchell Energy merged with Devon Energy in 2002. He also founded The Woodlands, where he has resided for more than 20 years, and the Houston Advanced Research Center. He and his wife, Cynthia, are among the most financially supportive benefactors in Texas A&M’s 129-year history, and their involvement spans decades. Their gifts to the Texas A&M Department of Physics in the past three years total nearly $45 million and have played a leading role in the department’s skyrocketing rise to national prominence. The Mitchells have been major benefactors of Texas A&M’s marine-oriented branch campus in Galveston. Among other gifts for Texas A&M University at Galveston, he donated the 135 acres where its main campus is located and which carries his name. They also provided major funding for Texas A&M's petroleum engineering department and the new tennis center, which also bears the Mitchell name.

2005—Jon L. Hagler ’58

The 2005 award is especially meaningful as Jon L. Hagler was the lead donor to the headquarters of the Texas A&M Foundation. He ushered in a new era in Foundation history through his vision of the Jon L. Hagler Center as an investment in Texas A&M’s future. A resident of Dover, Massachusetts, Hagler is director of a Boston-based investment firm. He was a member of the Foundation’s board of trustees for seven years, serving as chairman in 1999. In recognition of his dedication and leadership, the Foundation in 2003 named him “trustee emeritus,” only the second such honor it has bestowed in its 50-year history. Among his numerous gifts to Texas A&M University are a $5 million commitment to the One Spirit One Vision Campaign and funding of 92 Foundation Excellence Award scholarships. Hagler was a leader in A&M’s landmark strategic planning initiative, Vision 2020, serving as co-chair of the Executive Committee and later as co-chair of the Advisory Council. Recently, he made a considerable gift to the College of Education and Development that will bolster its Sports Management Program.

2004—Minnie Belle and
            Herman F. Heep ’20

In the decade before his death, Herman Heep devoted himself to advancing Texas higher education. Crucial to Texas A&M was his service on the Texas A&M College Development Fund. As a director of the fund, Heep played a lead role in launching what is now the Texas A&M Foundation. The Heeps gave the fledgling foundation $250,000 between 1956 and Herman’s death in 1960. And for decades after that, Minnie Belle continued giving through the foundation. The culmination of their devotion came in 1986, when Minnie Belle funded the Heep Foundation. At Minnie Belle’s death in 1993, the Heep Foundation provided more than $20 million for the benefit of Texas A&M and its agriculture and engineering agencies. The Heeps are the first couple, and Mrs. Heep the first female, to receive the award.

2002—H.R. “Bum” Bright ’43

H.R. “Bum” Bright ’43, former owner of the NFL Dallas Cowboys, made a $25 million “unrestricted” commitment to Texas A&M in 1997. His giving is funding a matching program that has helped other donors endow 25 new faculty chairs and numerous Corps scholarships. In 2000, Bright pledged another $5 million to support construction at Kyle Field. Bright is also an Endowed Diamond Century Club member. He chaired the TAMU System Board of Regents from 1981-85 and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 1991. He currently serves as an honorary chair of Texas A&M’s One Spirit One Vision Campaign.

2001—Leslie L. Appelt ’41

Real estate developer Les Appelt ’41 of Houston and Bastrop has given almost $3 million to Texas A&M, including $1 million for the university’s Appelt Aggieland Visitor Center. He also pledged $5 million during the “Capturing the Spirit” Campaign. His pledge, which will be fulfilled through his will, will benefit the Visitor Center, Private Enterprise Research Center (PERC), Office of Student Affairs and undergraduate programs. Appelt has supported PERC, which he helped found, and The Association of Former Students, which he served as president in 1971. Appelt was a founding donor of the President’s Endowed Scholarship program. He is a Texas A&M Foundation’s trustee emeritus and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 1977.

2000—John H. Lindsey ’44

John H. Lindsey's giving to Texas A&M spans more than 50 years. As national chairman of “Capturing the Spirit,” which raised $600 million-plus for Texas A&M, Lindsey inspired countless gifts to the university. Lindsey, who lives in Houston, also served as a Texas A&M Foundation trustee and regent of the TAMU System. Behind the scenes, Lindsey worked tirelessly to garner support for a co-educational Texas A&M, to establish a University Press, and to influence the selection of Texas A&M as site of the Bush Presidential Library. He and his wife, Sara H. Lindsey, have made numerous gifts, including three faculty chairs, nine scholarships and a $3 million “Capturing the Spirit” Campaign commitment.

1998—Sterling C. Evans ’21

The first to receive the Evans Medal was Sterling C. Evans himself. Owner of the U-Ranch in Brackettville, Texas, Evans was a founding trustee of the Texas A&M Foundation in 1953. He also served as president of the university’s board of directors in 1963. Over the years, Evans has committed almost $10 million to Texas A&M. Sterling Evans remains active in foundation affairs and is the pinnacle example of a lifetime commitment to progress and excellence at Texas A&M. Evans’ efforts have not been limited to personal gifts and interests. He also devotes his energies to getting others involved, constantly seeking new contributors and people who are willing to work for Texas A&M.

1998—William C. McCord ’49

The other first-year Evans Medal recipient was the late William C. McCord of Dallas. Bill McCord left a legacy of leadership that is worthy of modeling by Aggies of all ages. He held a long list of significant leadership positions at Texas A&M and gave more than $1 million to the university. Particularly significant was his service on the Target 2000 Project, the development councils for engineering and business, and the board of trustees of the Texas A&M Foundation. McCord crowned a lifetime of service to the university by taking a lead role in “Capturing the Spirit,” a campaign which raised $637 million for Texas A&M. His widow, Kay Moran McCord, accepted the award on his behalf.