In Memory of Leslie L. Appelt '41 Texas A&M Foundation Trustee Emeritus
April 25, 2007
A memorial service is planned on campus Friday (April 27) at 11 a.m. in Auditorium B of the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center. A reception with family members will follow the service in 1011 B & C of the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Texas A&M, Appelt served in World War II as operations officer of the 371st Engineers Construction Battalion. Following the war, he began a long and distinguished career in commercial real estate development and property management in Houston, founding several successful companies and managing limited partnerships in Texas, Louisiana and Alabama.
Texas A&M has been the major beneficiary of Appelt’s public service. This includes serving on the Texas A&M Foundation Board of Trustees from 1972 until 1989, with two terms as chairman and an appointment as trustee emeritus in 1989. Only one other Foundation trustee—Jon L. Hagler ’58—holds that title. Appelt successfully transformed the Texas A&M Foundation from an asset management organization to the major-gift arm of Texas A&M, with assets increasing from $400,000 to $160,000,000 during his tenure.
Appelt is one of only nine Aggies recognized by the Texas A&M Foundation with the Sterling C. Evans Medal for his outstanding contributions to Texas A&M’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.
He also served a term as president of The Association of Former Students; was responsible for conception and development of the Appelt Aggieland Visitor Center in Rudder Tower; and served as founder and chairman of the board of directors of Texas A&M’s Center for Private Enterprise Research. He served on the President’s Council and numerous other university-wide committees, and was a founding donor to the President’s Endowed Scholarship program. Appelt was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 1977 and two years later he was awarded Houston’s Outstanding Aggie of the Year. Appelt Hall, a campus dorm, is named in his honor.
In 2000 he was inducted to the Corps Hall of Honor for living a life that exemplifies the Texas Aggie spirit and possessing the values on which the Corps is founded: honor, loyalty, service, pride, patriotism, faith, leadership and honesty. Appelt’s most recent gifts to the Texas A&M Foundation, given in 2006 to benefit the Corps of Cadets.
Les is survived by his four children, six step-children, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Texas A&M Interim President Ed Davis issued the following statement upon hearing of his death, citing his long and distinguished service to, and support of Texas A&M:
"Speaking on behalf of Texas A&M’s 55,000 students, faculty and staff, I am saddened to learn of the passing of Les Appelt, one of the university’s most dedicated former students—one who was always willing to give generously of his time and resources, financial and otherwise. Our heartfelt condolences go out to members of Mr. Appelt’s family in their great loss—a loss shared by everyone associated with Texas A&M. He was a great Aggie, a great Texan and a great American. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten."
By Paige Tomas
With information from Aggie Daily
Texas A&M Foundation
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