Hall of Honor

  

2024 Dr. Randall H. Williams 

• Williams was elected to two terms on the Board of Directors of the Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas (ATAT), during his time here at TAMUK, beginning in 1990, where he was on the BOD for four years. He was honored with an ATAT Lifetime Membership Award in July 2020.
• He was awarded the ‘Honorary American FFA Degree,’ the highest honor awarded by the National FFA Organization, November 1994, in Kansas City, Missouri.
• He was Elected as President of Faculty Senate in 1996-97, and again in 1997-98.
• He served as President of The Agricultural Consortium of Texas in 1997 – 1998 and TAMUK representative to the ACT for 10 years.
• He was on the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee for 12 years, serving as the Committee Chair for nine of those years.
• Appointed as a Member of the National Task Force for Development of the Agricultural Issues Career Development Event, and has continued to serve on this Committee for 30 years.
• He is the Superintendent of the Texas FFA Agricultural Issues Career Development Event, for the past 20 years.
• Appointed as a Member of National Task Force for the Global Competitiveness of American Agriculture, 1995 & 1996.
• Appointed as a Member of the National Task Force for Local Program Success-FFA, 1996.
• Earned the Honorary Lone Star FFA Degree, twice, and was awarded their Distinguished Service Award, nine times.
• Williams was selected as a National FFA Representative of U.S. Agricultural Educators, in 1997.
• The TAMUK Division of Student Affairs presented him with their “Faculty/Student Advocate Award, April 1998.
• He was appointed to The Texas A&M University System’s Regents’ Initiative for Excellence in Education, Cohort II, in College Station, in 2001.
• Randall was selected to the Who’s Who in The Texas A&M University System’s “The Academy for Educator Development,” in 2001.
• In 2007, Dr. Williams was appointed by then President Rumaldo Juarez as the University Presidential appointee as liaison to the NCAA and the Lone Star Conference, a capacity in which he served for nine years, (2007 – 2015).
• He was Named and Awarded the “Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture” by the Texas County Agriculture Agents’ Association (TCAAA), in July 2007 at The Woodlands, Tx.
• He was elected to the Texas FFA Association’s Board of Directors, and served six-years, from 2008 – 2014 in Austin, Tx.
• He served as the Superintendent, of the Texas State FFA Spanish Creed Speaking Career Development Event for 10 years, 2009 – 2019.
• He was the Honoree and recipient of the ‘Dr. E.R. Alexander Award’ in honor of “Outstanding Service to the Texas FFA Association,” in July 2019, in Ft. Worth, Tx.
• He is the Recipient of the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation, “Piper Professor of 2013” Award, naming him as a ‘Piper Professor’ (ten per year are awarded across the state of Texas).
• He was inducted into the Chancellor’s Academy of Teacher Educators (CATE), TAMU System, in the spring of 2016, in San Antonio, Tx.
• He was named a “Regents Professor,” TAMU System, as the TAMUK Recipient for 2017-2018.
• Doc Williams was designated as “Professor Emeritus” by the TAMU System, in May 2021.
• And finally, from his duties here at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, he was inducted into the “Hall of Fame” by the Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas in July 2023, in Dallas, Tx.

 One of his most cherished Service Awards was an Honorable Discharge, from the United States Navy, April 30, 1975, where he served in the Naval Security Intelligence Group during the Vietnam War and held a National Security Agency (NSA) Top Secret/Cryptographic Clearance. He is a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (Post 4747), and the American Legion (Post 336).

 Randall Williams probably served on nearly every College and University Committee in existence, too numerous to count, in his 30 years here at TAIU/TAMUK. From the countless thousands of students that enrolled into his teaching courses, he graduated and certified 298 as Agriculture Science Teachers into the Texas Public Schools System, and he chaired the Graduate Committees of 258 Masters of Science graduates. He was author, or co-author of seventeen publications, and garnered over $310,000 in grant funding. He received just over $33,000 in teaching awards while at TAMUK.

 

 

 

 2023 Drs. Patricia and Louis Harveson

Dr. Patricia Moody Harveson is a proud alumnus of Texas A&M University-Kingsville. She is a wildlife biologist with over 30 years of experience studying a variety of wildlife but her main focus is on large and meso-carnivores including mountain lion, black bear, jaguar, kit fox, coyote, ocelot, and bobcat.  She worked for 15 years, as a research scientist and professor at Sul Ross State University where she served as the former Davidson Endowed Chair for Conservation Biology with the Borderlands Research Institute. During that time, she led a comprehensive investigation of mountain lions of West Texas.

Prior to her position at Sul Ross, Patricia was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the National Science Foundation Minority Fellowship Program. Patricia received her PhD in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University where she was a Doctoral Fellow in the Hispanic Leadership Program in Agriculture and Natural Resources. Her dissertation research focused on urban impacts on endangered Florida Key Deer. She received her MS in Range and Wildlife Management from Texas A&M University-Kingsville where she studied the use of GIS and soils in identifying ocelot habitat under Dr. Mike Tewes. She also received a BS in Biology from Tarleton State University. 

Patricia has published dozens of scientific and popular articles on carnivores and other wildlife.  She is a member of the Texas Wildlife Association, The Wildlife Society, and the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society from which she received the Educator of the Year Award in 2016.

 Currently, Patricia’s work focuses on the conservation of carnivores through research, education, art, and advocacy.  She is a coalition member of Texans for Mountain Lions and is serving as a member of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Mountain Lion Working Group where she is advocating for the science-based management of mountain lions in Texas. 

 Patricia is also a wildlife artist and uses her work to inspire conservation and promote the efforts of organizations working to preserve wildlife and their habitat.

 Dr. Louis A. Harveson is Associate Provost of Research and Development and is the founder and director of the Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University where he holds the Dan Allen Hughes, Jr., Endowed Directorship.  Since 1998, Dr. Harveson has served as a faculty member at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas and previously served as Chair of the Department of Natural Resource Management for 7 years. 

 Louis is a native Texan, growing up in Fort Worth and then Lubbock. His passion for the outdoors was fueled by family activities centered on camping, fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching across the corners of Texas. That passion for wild things and wild places led Louis to pursue multiple degrees in conservation.  Harveson received a B.S. in Wildlife Management from Texas Tech, his M.S. in Range and Wildlife Management from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and his Ph.D. in Wildlife Science from the Joint Ph.D. program at Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Texas A&M University. 

 Harveson’s research efforts have focused on the borderlands of Texas-Mexico including Gulf Coast Prairies, South Texas Brush Country, and the Trans-Pecos Mountains and Basins.  Harveson has mentored and completed 69 MS/PhD students; has secured >$25M in grants and gifts; and published >75 manuscripts and >50 popular articles.  An underlying theme to Harveson’s research has been on conservation of natural resources on private lands. 

 Harveson serves on numerous regional, statewide, and national conservation committees.  Since 2013, Harveson has served as Second Vice-President of Programs for Texas Wildlife Association. Harveson is a Professional Member of the Boone and Crockett Club and a Certified Wildlife Biologist by The Wildlife Society.  Harveson was named an outstanding alumnus by Department of Natural Resource Management at Texas Tech University in 2015, and was honored by the Texas Wildlife Association with the Sam Beasom Conservation Leader Award in 2011.  Harveson has won numerous teaching awards including the Outstanding Teaching Award at Sul Ross State University (2009), the Educator of the Year by the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society (2008), and was awarded the Presidential Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award at SRSU (2017).  In 2018, the Texas State University System selected Dr. Harveson as Regent’s Professor, their highest academic honor.

  

 75th Anniversary Diamond Level Honorees 2022

 

2022 - Diamond Level - James H. Clement, Jr.

James (Jamey) H. Clement, Jr. ended his tenure as Chairman of King Ranch in 2021 after 21 years as Chairman and over 40 years of serving the company and his family in a variety of roles, including interim CEO in 1994 while the company revitalized its strategic plan, updated its vision and mission, and conducted an executive search for a CEO. Prior to that he worked for First City National Bank in Houston, TX and later for Electronic Data Systems in Dallas. 

 Clement also served as Chairman of the Management Council of King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management since its inception in 2003, until 2021. The KR Institute was created as a partnership between TAMUK and King Ranch collectively working toward a vision to educate leaders and ensure our hard-earned ranching heritage is not lost. Jamey Clement’s leadership and influence has been instrumental in the success of 48 graduates of KRIRM that today manage more than 7 million acres of ranchland and wildlife habitat across North America.

 Beyond strategic initiatives at King Ranch he focused on engaging the next generation of family Shareholders in the business of King Ranch through a variety of initiatives ranging from summer jobs, learning opportunities, building family cohesion, and electing the first Director from the sixth generation of the King Ranch family. According to Jamey “Chairing the Management Council of the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management was a gratifying job as it was an extension of the effort to engage future generations in the King Ranch legacy.”

 Jamey also owns Los Hermanos Ranch with his brother Martín…and together they have worked to establish a sustainable cattle and wildlife operation for over 40 years in Brooks County, TX.

 Clement currently serves on the board of Merit Energy, Houston Trust Company, Carbon Neutral Coalition, as a managing director of Beggs Ranches, and on the advisory board of the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund. Previously, he served as a board member of Episcopal School of Dallas (where he chaired fundraising campaigns raising $16 MM), Madison Council of the Library of Congress, the Advisory Council of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy Law and Business at the University of Texas, The Texas State Historical Association, University of Texas Press and as chairman of the Tom Lea Institute in El Paso.

 Jamey Clement has a BA in economics from Tulane University and MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

 In 1979, he married the former Judy Beggs of Ft Worth and they live together in Dallas. They have three children: Capera Norinsky who lives with her husband Igor and their three children in Houston, Major James Clement, III USMC who lives in Kingsville with his wife and son (Side Note:  James holds a Certificate in Advanced Ranch Management from the KRIRM), and Major Gregory Clement USMC, who is a former FA-18 Fighter pilot currently enrolled at Wharton for his MBA.  Gregory lives in Philadelphia with his wife.

  

2022 - Diamond Level - Neal Wilkins

Neal Wilkins is the President and CEO of the East Foundation.  The East Foundation is a private foundation based in South Texas whose mission is to support land stewardship through ranching, science, and education.  Land stewardship is at the heart of our College’s mission, as are ranching, science, and education.  These parallel missions form the basis of a strong partnership between the East Foundation and our College.

Neal earned a BS in Forestry from SFA, learning about working lands in a profession that takes the long view.  He studied grazing effects on quail for his MS in Wildlife from Texas A&M.  His study site was just up road at La Copita, near Ben Bolt.  Neal then went to the University of Florida for his PhD, studying the effects of vegetation management in timber cuts.

The East Foundation, under the guidance of Neal, has impacted the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources in many ways.  The Foundation supports graduate research in both CKWRI and KRIRM.  It provides learning experiences and internships for our College’s undergraduate students.  The East Foundation has partnered faculty positions in KRIRM and CKWRI, helping fill critical needs in both of these programs.  Finally, the East Foundation has hired graduates from the College to fill key research and management positions.

 

2022 Diamond Level - Dale Murden 

Dale Murden is a 4^th generation Texan. Murden began his career in the citrus industry right out of high school in 1980, and as they say…never looked back.

He has served in many industry roles over the years and today Murden is the President of Texas Citrus Mutual and also serves the industry as the Executive Director for the Texas Citrus Pest and Disease Management Corporation.

In his spare time, Murden, still owns and operates a grapefruit orchard for the fresh fruit market, and strongly believes in advocating for agriculture and the citrus industry.

 

  

2020 Dr. G. Ali Esmaeili

Dr. Ali Esmaeili currently serves as the Dean of Mathematics, Science, and Bachelor Degree Programs and University Relations for South Texas College, and has 26 years of experience in higher education.  Dr. Esmaeili provides leadership to committees on the development of institutional effectiveness, budgeting, recruitment, persistence, and graduation.  He has served as a Mathematics Instructor, Department Chair for Mathematics, Division Director, Campus Administrator, Professional Development Coordinator, and Associate Dean for Bachelor's Degree Programs.

Dr. Esmaeili was instrumental in the development, implementation, and evacuation of four unique Bachelor of Applied Science degree programs at South Texas College.  Under his leadership, the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) and Accelerating Developmental Education programs have been developed and implemented at South Texas College.  He serves as a Board Member for the National Community College Baccalaureate Association and the Rio Grande Valley Council of Teachers of Mathematics.  He is a former Board member for South Texas Educational Technology School District and holds an Affiliate Doctoral Membership on the Texas A&M University Graduate Faculty.  He is also a member of the Competency-Based Education Network, the Texas Affordable Baccalaureate team (TAB LAB), and is Honorary Member of National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) for several years.

Dr. Esmaeili has presented at several conferences including NISOD, the League for Innovations, and the Community College Baccalaureate Association.  During his tenure at South Texas College, Dr. Esmaeili has developed his division into a strategic embodiment of South Texas College's Mission and Vision.  Dr. Esmaeili has earned a Doctorate in Bilingual Education, Master of Science in Agricultural Mechanization, Master of Education in Adult Education, and a Bachelor or Science Degree in Agricultural Mechanization (all) from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Texas.  He holds certification in DACUM and Emotional Intelligence.

 

2019 Benny Martinez

Benny Martinez is a 1999 honors (Cum Laude) graduate of Texas A&M University-Kingsville with a Bachelors in Science in Agriculture.

His professional career includes employment with King Ranch where he was the Administrative Assistant for Cattle Marketing, Kingsville Feed Yard and the Gonzales Feed Yard as well as Feedmill Manager. For the last 20 years, Benny has been employed with Dow AgroSciences, now Corteva Agrisciences, the Agriculture Division of DowDupont as the Territory Manager for South Texas. He has served as the Specialist for Crops, Soil Fumigants, PhytoGen Seed and is currently the Range Pasture Specialist. 

Mr. Martinez has been the recipient of two District VIP awards and the Dow Chemical Pinnacle Award, awarded to the top 5% of performers within the company.  He has served as President of the South Texas Ag Chem Association and Chairmen of the Board for the Texas Ag Industry Association.  He is a member of the Texas Ag Industries Association, Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Ag Aviation Association and the Texas Wildlife Association.  He is married and has two sons, one of which is a student for Texas A&M University-Kingsville.  He enjoys hunting and fishing with family and is an avid bow hunter.

2018 Dr. Tyler Campbell

Tyler Campbell has been the Chief Program Officer and Principal Scientist with the East Foundation since April 2013, providing leadership and oversight to the Foundation’s charitable program of research, education, and outreach throughout South Texas.

Tyler was born in Lincoln, Nebraska and was raised in Olathe, Kansas, where he developed his appreciation for the outdoors working on a dairy farm and a Christmas tree farm during his high school years – when he wasn’t fishing.

Dr. Campbell graduated from Texas Tech University with a BS degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management in 1996, from Texas A&M University-Kingsville with a MS degree in Range and Wildlife Management in 1999, and from the University of Georgia with a PhD degree in Forest Resources in 2003.  During his formal schooling, Tyler conducted research on everything from small mammals to snakes and lizards to desert kit foxes to white-tailed deer nutrition, antler development, and movement ecology.

Tyler met his future wife, Stephanie Peterek, during graduate student orientation at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.  She was a horticulture MS student within the Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences studying a soil-borne pathogen that impacted cantaloupes.  Her field plots were adjacent to the deer pens where Tyler worked and Stephanie and Tyler quickly discovered that…deer love cantaloupes…and the rest is history.  Stephanie and Tyler wed in Fredericksburg in December of 1998.

In August 2004, Tyler was selected as the Field Station Leader for the National Wildlife Research Center’s (USDA APHIS Wildlife Services) new field station located on the campus of Texas A&M University-Kingsville.  From 2004 to March 2013, Tyler led a project devoted to developing solutions to resolving wild pig damage to a variety of resources for the Center, in both Texas and Florida.

Tyler is an active member (serving in elected positions and on various committees) of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Texas Section Society for Range Management, and the Texas Wildlife Association.  Tyler has worked closely with more than 40 graduate students completing their graduate research programs and countless undergraduate student volunteers and field technicians supporting these efforts.  Tyler has authored or co-authored more than 75 peer-reviewed publications or book chapters and maintains adjunct faculty status at Sul Ross State University, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Tyler and Stephanie have three wonderful and very active children – Wes, Morgan, and Aubrey, and they reside in San Antonio.

2017 Jerome Tymrak

Jerome Michael Tymrak was born September 30, 1946 to John and Elizabeth Tymrak of Jourdanton, Texas.  Jerome, the oldest, grew up on the family farm with 5 brothers and two sisters in a row-crop and livestock enterprise system. 

At the age 10, his dad would put him on a Model A John Deere “popping Johnny” tractor plowing the fields all day.  His dad would tell him, “Don’t stop till it runs out of gas.”  Agriculture was embedded into Jerome while growing up and it continues today as a teacher and a producer.

Jerome began his university studies at Texas A&I University the spring semester of 1965.  During that time, he was a member/officer in the Aggie Club, Collegiate FFA and made the Dean’s List his senior year.  Jerome had great admiration and respect for University professors like President Jernigan, Dean Turner, F.B. Wines, Dr. Neher, Dr. Bailey, Dr. Howe and especially Mr. Paul Chilen (Ag Mechanic Prof.).  Mr. Chilen and Mr. Mac are responsible for Jerome’s success as an Ag mechanics teacher today.

1969 was a big year for Jerome.  He received his BS degree in Agricultural Education from Texas A&I University, began his teaching career at Rio Hondo ISD (Rio Grande Valley) and married Ruth E. McAda of Campbellton. 

Another big year was 1977, his daughter Beth was born in May and he earned his Master Degree in Agricultural Education.  Jerome taught Ag Science three years at Rio Hondo and the remaining 27 years at Banquete ISD.   During his tenure at Banquete, he was responsible for his students receiving many awards, scholarships and accolades.  During that time, five of his students served as State FFA Officers.  He served on many local, state and national ad-hoc committees.  He was part of the team responsible for developing the new computerized record book program for Ag Science/FFA programs in Texas.  He served 17 years on the VATAT Board of Directors; 25 years on the Nueces Co. Livestock Board of  Directors and 8 years as Board President.  In January, the Nueces Livestock Show dedicated the show in his name and he was presented this award by county and state officials.

His university teaching experiences began in 2000 at Coastal Bend College in Beeville as a welding instructor during the spring semester.  Then that fall semester, he began his teaching career at Texas A&M University-Kingsville as the Ag Mechanics instructor.  During his tenure at the University, he represented the College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Science by serving a three-year term on the Faculty Senate and a member of the Faculty Senate Resolution & Bylaw Committee.  He received several teaching awards – received the College of Agriculture “Advising Award” twice and was a five-time semester recipient of the Texas A&M University System Chancellor’s “Outstanding Teaching Award.” He also earned the University’s Senior Lecturer status.  Jerome has retired from teaching Ag Mechanics but continues to teach two courses and is still a part of the faculty family.  

He was the recipient of the “Teacher of the Year Award”; Texas Outstanding Leadership in Agri-Science Education Award; Texas Agriculture Outstanding Service Award; Texas State Outstanding Area Coordinator Award, Honorary American FFA Degree Award; Texas FFA Eagle Award for Outstanding Efforts in Agriculture Leaderships and many other awards.  Jerome retired from teaching high school at Banquete ISD in 1999 and within the same year was elected to serve two three-year terms on the school board and two years as Board President.   He was a charter member and past president of the Banquete Lions Club for 10 years.

For Jerome, retirement means continuing to serve students and agriculture.  Currently, he teaches two courses at the University, serves on the State FFA Board of Directors, is the State Swine Validation Chair, Area X FFA Coordinator, State FFA Advanced Degree Award, & Scholarship Coordinator and judges many Ag Mechanics project shows across Texas.  However, his greatest joy is teaching his two grandsons the love of agriculture and working with them on the family ranch.

2016 Mrs. Jane Trant Dodds

Jane Dodds is a leading citizen in the Kingsville Community and is selected as the college’s Hall of Honor Alumna.  She is well known for her dedication to, and support of, family, A&M-Kingsville, athletics and community service. 

Having graduated from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 1975, she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics and was later employed at Epiphany Episcopal School and Sarita Elementary School.  Jane is married to Scott Dodds, the love of her life.  They are dedicated to each other and to their son, Ed.  She has also had a long and devoted relationship with the King Ranch Family.

Community involvements have included: Brahma Booster Club, Women’s Club of Kingsville, Navy League of Kingsville, South Texas Charity Weekend, American Cancer Society, and Kingsville Garden Club. Moreover, she has supported A&M-Kingsville through her affiliations with the President’s Circle, President’s Legacy Ball Steering Committee, Marc Cisneros Center for Young Children Advisory Council and Javelina Booster Club, for which she served as Fundraising Coordinator of the Annual Silent Auction and was a part of the Football Javelina Sack Club.

2015 Guadalupe "Lupita" Gracia

Guadalupe "Lupita" Gracia is a Supervisory Plant Protection and Quarantine Officer with the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine. 

Ms. Gracia graduated from Lyford High School in 1991 and Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Agriculture Business.  She began her career as a COOP student with the USDA and, upon graduation, accepted a promotional position as a Plant Protection and Quarantine Officer.  In her position, she oversees and safeguards American agriculture at United States-Mexico ports of entry.  As a supervisor with the agency, her accomplishments include contributing to the eradication of a serious South Texas pest, the Mexican Fruit Fly.  Lupita believes in and supports new breakthrough methodologies and leading-edge techniques that have strengthened the agency. 

She is currently involved in supporting and inspiring college students by offering and encouraging internships for them to gain hands-on experience within the federal service, which will facilitate and open pathways towards their careers in agriculture.

2014 Thomas R. Lansford III, DVM

A native of south Texas, Thomas R. (T.R.) Lansford, III, DVM, grew up near Tilden. He attended Texas A&M University-Kingsville prior to attending Texas A&M University in College Station, where he earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

Upon graduation, Lansford practiced veterinary medicine in a mixed animal veterinary hospital in Hondo. He then began employment with the State as a supervisory circuit veterinarian with the Texas Department of State Health Services Meat Safety Assurance (MSA) Unit. Lansford spent five years in that capacity while headquartered in Midland and then College Station. For six years after that, Lansford served as the program’s assistant State director in Austin. He served as the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) Region 5 Director, headquartered in Beeville, prior to being named Assistant Executive Director (AED) over Animal Health Programs headquartered in Austin. As AED, he oversees animal health and emergency management programs for all Texas livestock, including: cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, goats, equine animals, and exotic livestock.

Dr. Lansford is married to Christy and they have two sons, Thomas R. (Buddy) Lansford, IV and Byron James Lansford. In their spare time, they are involved with their families’ ranches in the south Texas brush country and in the mountains of southwest Colorado.

2013 Dr. Susan Wyatt Sedwick

Dr. Susan “Susie” Wyatt Sedwick, a native of Tilden, Texas, received her BS degree in home economics in 1976 from Texas A&I University graduating summa cum laude and her MS degree in human sciences from Texas A&M University-Kingsville.  She received her Ph.D. in higher education administration from Texas A&M University.

Dr. Sedwick is associate vice president for research and director of the Office of Sponsored Projects at The University of Texas at Austin, where she is responsible for both pre- and post-award financial administration units with oversight of over $60 million in annual sponsored projects expenditures. She is also a clinical professor in the Department of Educational Administration for the Higher Education Administration Program at UT Austin and is an adjunct faculty member at Rush University in Chicago.  She is a Certified Research Administrator (CRA) and a frequent speaker on the topic of research data security and export controls as they apply to universities. She authored the chapter on export controls included in the NCURA/AIS publication, Sponsored Research Administration: A Guide to Effective Strategies and Recommended Practices.

Dr. Sedwick received the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) Distinguished Service award in 2012, having served that organization as an at-large representative to the Board of Directors, as chair of the Professional Development Committee, as a member of the Nominating and Leadership Development and Membership Committees and as a traveling Fundamentals faculty member.  Dr. Sedwick is chair of Phase V of the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) and co-chair of the STAR METRICS working group.  She also has served on the FDP Strategic Planning Committee and as co-chair of the Membership Committee. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), on the Research Compliance and Administration Committee and is chair of the export controls working group.  She previously served on the COGR nominating committee and Contracts and Intellectual Property Committee.  She is frequently engaged as a workshop and webinar faculty member and presenter at both regional and national meetings for NCURA and the Society for Research Administrators (SRA).  She is a graduate of Leadership Texas, a past trustee for the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Foundation, and president of the FDP Foundation.

Dr. Sedwick has two daughters, Dr. Whitney Driver and Hailey Sedwick, and one granddaughter with a second grandchild expect in early April 2013.

2012 Eladio H. Cornejo-Oviedo

Eladio H. Cornejo-Oviedo completed a B.S. degree in 1987 with a major in forestry and a minor in agronomy from the Universidad Autonoma Agraria “Antonio Narro” located in Buenavista, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. 

He graduated from Texas A&I University in 1989 with a M.S. degree in Plant and Soil Science in the Agriculture Department.  His master’s thesis work at Texas A&I is entitled “Managing Immature and Mature Mesquite Stands for Hardwood Lumber Production and Pasture Management”,  under the direction of Dr. Peter Felker.  After graduating with a master’s degree, he worked as a researcher in Chapingo and Sonoro, Mexico.  He continued his higher education studies in the area of forest science and graduated with his Ph.D. from Oregon State University in 1999. 

Prior to and after graduating with his Ph.D., Dr. Cornjeo worked in the Forestry Department at his alma mater, the Universidad Autonoma Agraria “Antonio Narro”  located in Buenavista, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico with a research program focus in the “Ecophysiology of Pine Forests” through several regions of Mexico.  Dr. Cornejo is a professor at Antonio Narro, where he has been employed since 1991.

Dr.  Cornejo-Oviedo has created and taught 12 undergraduate and 10 graduate courses during his tenure as professor.  He has served as academic advisor for many undergraduate and graduate students, and has mentored and served as committee advisor to 52 undergraduate and 12 graduate theses projects related to pine forest mensuration, dendrochronology and ecophysiology.

Dr. Eladio Cornejo-Oviedo was elected Rector (President) of the Universidad Autonoma Agraria “Antonio Narro” in the Mexican state of Coahuila and is currently serves in this position from 2010 to 2014.  The Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness and Environmental Sciences is proud of the career accomplishments of Rector Eladio Cornejo-Oviedo and the recognition he brings to A&M-Kingsville as an alumnus.  Our institution looks forward to many years of collaboration between students from Mexico and Texas.

 2011 Ruben Cantu

Ruben Cantu graduated from Texas A&I University in 1980 with a BS degree in Range and Wildlife Science and again in 1982 with a MS in Wildlife Science.  After graduation he worked as a Rangeland Conservationist in the Panhandle the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

He began his career with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on October 1, 1984 serving as a regulatory wildlife biologist in San Angelo.  In October of 1989, Ruben was promoted to Technical Guidance Biologist for the Trans Pecos Wildlife District.  There, he worked directly with private land owners, formulating wildlife management plans on over 1.3 million acres throughout western Texas.  In January 1995 Ruben was the Wildlife Division's first legislative liaison and has served on and chaired numerous committees at state and national levels.

In December 1997, Ruben was promoted to Regional Director for Wildlife Region 1 (Trans Pecos and Panhandle Districts) in San Angelo where he supervises a staff of 43 wildlife biologist, fish and wildlife technicians, and support staff that oversee the state wildlife program in the western third of Texas.  This past year he and his staff have been instrumental in the largest in-state release of desert bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope restoration projects.

He is a certified wildlife biologist and has served as the President of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society.  Ruben was detailed to serve at Austin HQ in an acting leadership role in the Wildlife Division.  He is a strong advocate of hunting and the outdoor sports and especially the recruitment of new hunters having written several publications on these topics and presented to audiences at the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Hunters Heritage Symposium, Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, North American Wildlife Conference, and hunter recruitment and retention workshops. 

2010 Juan M. Garcia

Juan M. Garcia is the State Executive Director for Texas State Farm Service Agency. In July 2009, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack selected Mr. Garcia to serve the Obama Administration in this capacity.

As Executive Director for the Texas FSA, Garcia oversees all aspects of federal farm program delivery for an agency that employs nearly 1700 people and, on average, issues more than $1 billion annually in commodity, conservation, disaster and credit benefits to farmers and ranchers across the state.

In 1976, Garcia received a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from then Texas A&I in Kingsville. Prior to his selection as the APM, Garcia served as a District Director in South Texas as well as East Texas, and served earlier in his career as County Executive Director (CED) in Nolan, Hidalgo and Cameron counties.

A native of Lyford, in South Texas, Garcia was raised on his family’s 500-acre cotton, grain sorghum and livestock operation. The Garcia family farm, in operation since 1860, received the Texas Land Heritage Award (recognizing century farms and ranches) in 1976. The family farm is still in operation today.

During his 31-year career with USDA, Garcia has received numerous honors including twice receiving the FSA Administrator’s Award for Service to Agriculture. Outside of the Agency, Garcia has been an active member of several civic organizations.

 

2009 Dr. Maria T. (Vita) Canales

Dr. Maria T. (Vita) Canales, a native daughter of Kingsville, graduated Cum Laude from Texas A&I University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics. She proceeded to further her education at Texas A&I /A&M-Kingsville by earning a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education in 1983 and Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership in 2004.

Dr. Canales has held various positions in the field of education for the past 30 years. Her teaching positions in public school include both Home Economics and Pre-Kindergarten. She has worked as an Educational Consultant serving over 45 school districts in South Texas. Her administrative positions include; Elementary Principal, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and currently serves as Superintendent of Schools for Ricardo Independent School District.

Professional activities include:

• Texas Association of School Administrators
• Texas Council of Women School Executives
• Kingsville Rotary
• Brush Country CASA, past Board President
• Texas Association of Rural Schools
• South Texas Association of Schools

Dr. Canales continues her ties to Texas A&M University-Kingsville by serving as an adjunct professor in early childhood, a member of the Human Sciences Advisory Council, and as a member of several dissertation committees.

Being fond of life in the country, she loves to work in her garden, feed the wild turkeys and tend to Elena, Mia, Lizzy and Valentina (her four cows) and their young calves.

She and her husband, Daniel, live in Ricardo. They have two children: Victoria E. Canales-Nino and Daniel A. Canales.

2008 Dr. Mohammad Koohmaraie

Mohammad Koohmaraie received his B.S. degree in Animal Science from Pahlavi University in Iran. He received his M.S. degree from Texas A&M University at Kingsville (formerly known as Texas A&I University) in 1980 and his Ph.D. degree in Animal Science (Major: Meat Science and Muscle Biochemistry and Minor: Food Microbiology) from Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon in 1984. Fron 1984 to 1987, Dr. Koohmaraie was a postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) of USDA-ARS and Michigan State University. In 1987, he joined the staff at USMARC as a Research Physiologist. In 1991 he became the Research Leader of the Meat Safety & Quality Research Unit (MSQRU) of the USMARC. During his career as a Scientist and Research Leader of the MSQRU he focused his research efforts on the biological mechanisms regulating meat tenderness as well as addressing food safety issues facing the meat industry.

In September 2005, Dr. Koohmaraie was selected as the Director of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center. As Director, he had the responsibility for directing research and operation of the Center. The U.S. Meat Animal Research Center employs 260 staff members, including 64 permanent and temporary scientists. The operating budget for USMARC is about $25 million.

In April 2008 he became the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the IEH laboratories & Consulting Groups. Based in Seattle, WA, the IEH Laboratories & Consulting Group combines consulting with accredited testing laboratories for its partners in the food industry. IEH currently employs 320 staff including 52 Ph.D. level scientists and operates 31 laboratories in 16 states.

In recognition of his contributions to science and technology, Dr. Koohmaraie has received numerous National Awards including Agricultural Research Service Scientist of the Year Award in 1992 and 2001; USDA Secretary Award in 1995 and 2001; and Research Awards from the American Meat Science Association and the American Society of Animal Science.

Dr. Koohmaraie has published over 400 scientific publications and has give over 250 invited talks to US and International Organizations.

Dr. Koohmaraie has been married to Mrs. Sue Ann Koohmaraie since 1980 and has a daughter, Sarah, and twin boys, Bijan and Nema.

Accomplishments:

1. He has been credited with playing a leading role in discovering the biological basis for the variation in meat tenderness
2. He was a leading scientist in the discovery that the calpain proteolytic system is responsible for postmortem proteolysis of key proteins that leads to meat tenderization.
3. He discovered that the m-calpain (low calcium requiring isoform) and not m-calpain (high calcium requiring isoform) is responsible for postmortem proteolysis.
4. He discovered that the inhibitor of the calpain system, calpastatin, rather the enzyme itself, is the determinant of the rate and extent of postmortem proteolysis and hence meat tenderization.
5. Based on his knowledge of the biology of postmortem tenderization process (infusion of carcasses or injection of cuts of meat with calcium chloride) to enhance meat tenderness.
6. He led a team of scientists to develop a non-invasive method for beef carcass grading. He then transferred the technology to a German-based firm (E+V) to produce an instrument based on the above method. He and his colleagues then worked with NCBA, meat packing industry and AMS to validate the instrument. The instrument is now approved by AMS and is installed in most large beef processing plants.
7. At the request of Safeway, he led a team of scientist to develop a line of guaranteed tender line of product. They then worked with Cargill to produce that line of product for Safeway.
8. He led a team of scientists to develop a non-invasive method of predicting beef tenderness at the chain speed. This NIR-based system accurately certifies a portion of the carcasses that can be guaranteed to be tender.
9. He led a team of scientists to demonstrate that the hide rather than feces is the major source of E. coli O157:H7 on carcass and in ground beef.
10. He led a team of scientists to develop a hide intervention of reduce/eliminate hide to carcass transfer of E. coli O157:H7
11. He led a team of scientists to conduct multiple projects over a decade to collect key information about the E. coli O157:H7. This information is the foundation for many subsequent discoveries by his team as well as the scientific community at large.

2007 Dr. Lynn Drawe

Dr. D. Lynn Drawe, a native son of Mercedes Texas, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M University-Kingsville) in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education. He proceeded to further his education by earning a Master of Science in Range Management in 1967 and Doctor of Philosophy in Rangeland Ecology in 1970. He was on our faculty from 1970 to 1974.

Presently, Dr. Drawe holds the position of Director of the Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation in Sinton, Texas, and has been affiliated with the Foundation since 1974.

Professional activities include:

• The Wildlife Society
• Society for Range Management
• American Society of Animal Science
• Soil Conservation Society of America
• Boone and Crockett Club
• Conference of Southwest Foundations
• Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative

Dr. Drawe has been honored by Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, Who’s Who Among Young Men in America, Alpha Zeta, Who’s Who Among Educators of the South and Who’s Who Among Scientists of the World. His honors and awards include Distinguished Conservation Award, Honorary State Farmer, Outstanding Alumnus (Texas Tech University) and Outstanding Achievement Award (Society of Range Management).

Continuing his interests and ties to Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Dr. Drawe holds an adjunct professorship with our university and serves on the management council of the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management. He was the major professor to nine MS students when he was on faculty and has been a member on 18 graduate student committees.

Being an avid sportsman, he enjoys fishing, hunting, wilderness camping and shooting. Farming, ranching, cattle and horses are included among his passions. His ‘weekend hobby herd’ includes 35 cows.

Our honoree is married to wife, Kay. They have two daughters: Kimberly and Pamela. Their four grandchildren are Colton, Lauren, Caleb and Eliana.

2006 Robert J. Underbrink

Robert J. Underbrink receives AgNRHS 1st Annual Distinguished Alumni Award

Robert J. Underbrink, a native son of Riviera, graduated cum laude from Texas A&I University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business. Since that time, in ever-increasing management roles, Robert has directed the agricultural operations of King Ranch, Inc.

He has served as Vice President of King Ranch, Inc. Farming Operations since 1998-2010. South Texas Operations include 56,000 acres of cotton and milo, a cotton gin, and ag flying service. Florida operations include 20,000 acres of sugarcane and sod and 50,000 acres of citrus, through Consolidated Citrus Limited Partnership, owned and managed by the King Ranch.  He has since been promoted to CEO of King Ranch, Inc.

Having served as president and CEO for Consolidated Citrus from 1999 to 2005, our honoree now is director of the company. Consolidated Citrus is owned and managed by King Ranch, Inc.

Hired by King Ranch in 1984 as a management trainee, Robert traveled to various operations in the United States and throughout South America and Australia. He assumed responsibility as general manager of Florida operations in 1987. The company acquired citrus groves in 1994 as part of an expansion of the Florida operations.

His other activities include:

• Director, Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida
• Member, American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
• Member, Florida Citrus Mutual
• Chairman, Florida Land Council
• Trustee, South Florida Fair. The fair’s Youth Market Program encourages young people to pursue careers in agriculture.

Robert continues his ties to Texas A&M University-Kingsville by delivering speeches as well as interviewing and hiring our students for positions within King Ranch operations.

He and his wife, Laura, make their home in Houston, Texas. They have three children: Krystal A. King, Katelyn A. Underbrink, and John T. Underbrink.