amy.thompson

Easley 1916 enrolled in Texas A&M as a 2nd Lt while in the Texas National Guard. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the U.S. Army after graduation in 1916 and received his degree in Architectural Engineering. He served as 1st Sgt of Company G and on Regimental (Corps) Staff. Easley was a Ross Volunteer, Business Manager for the 1916 Longhorn, and President of the Senior Rifle Club. He served with General “Black Jack” Pershing’s Expedition to Secure the Texas Border and attended Infantry School, Command and General Staff School, and the U.S. Army War College. Easley was Captain of the Infantry Rifle and Pistol Teams and was Army World Champion Marksman. He served as General Staff in the War Department, Deputy Commander of the 96th Infantry Division, fought on the Island of Leyte, and in the Battle of Okinawa. He was killed on the 81st Day of the 82-day campaign and awarded the Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Two Purple Hearts, and an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law From Texas A&M.

LtCol Beckcom ’65 received his B.A. in History from Texas A&M and M.A. from Plattsburgh State University. He was a member of Squadron 16, Third [Wing] Staff, and Squadron 3. He was on the football team for two years and a Ross Volunteer. Commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the U.S. Air Force in 1965, he served as a Navigator-Bombardier on the B-52 and FB-111, a Senior ROTC Instructor, and an Air Staff Officer. He flew 200 combat missions with 1,300 combat hours in Sea and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and 11 Air Medals. Beckcom then taught Junior ROTC and worked over 20 years as an Aggie Corps Recruiter. He has been responsible for seven Endowed Scholarships; five of which are Corps Sul Ross Scholarships. Beckcom was a founding member of the Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets Association, is an Associate Member of the Lettermen’s Club, and a Member of the Lighthouse UMC.

Goehring ’57 received his B.S. in Geology and Business from Texas A&M. He was a member of Squadron 24, Class Officer, and on 2nd Wing Staff. He lettered in football under Coach “Bear” Bryant, earning All Conference 1955-56 and All-American in 1956. He was a pilot in the Air Force, assigned to fly B-47s in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and the Reserves. He returned to the Bryan/College Station area, where he joined Community Savings & Loan as Executive VP, and later organized the Bank of A&M, of which he served as President and Chairman. He was President of the College Station Economic Development Foundation Before Starting Netnearu, a company engaged in pioneering fiber-optic internet. In 1994-2014, he served as President of the Bryan Economic Development Foundation, known for its development of Traditions and A&M Medical School. Goehring is a former President and Hall of Fame Inductee to the Letterman’s Association, former MSC Advisory and member of the Sul Ross Board of Directors. He is currently active as a Class Agent for the Association of Former Students, Chancellor’s Century Council, and 12th Man Foundation—all very prestigious, A&M-affiliated organizations.

Colonel Blueitt ’81 attended Texas A&M on a 4-year Air Force ROTC Scholarship as a member of the Corps’ fourth fish class of Women in W-1. She was a member of the Women’s Drill Team, and served as 1st Sgt and Commanding Officer of Squadron 14. She received a B.B.A. in Management from A&M and Master of Health Administration from Washington University. Commissioned a Distinguished Graduate, Blueitt served 28 ½ years as an Air Force Healthcare Administrator and was the First African-American Female to attain the rank of Colonel in the Air Force Medical Service Corps. She is a member of the Corps Board of Visitors, School of Public Health Development Council/External Advisory Committee Chair, and the Medical School Military Advisory Committee. She and Her Husband, Odis R. Blueitt ’82, are School of Public Health Endowed Scholarship Donors and were Inaugural Recipients of the Black Former Student Network Aggie Impact Award.

Ambassador Valdez ’64 received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M, J.D. from Baylor Law School, and LL.M From Harvard Law School. He was a member of Company G-1, Cadet Lt. Colonel on First Brigade Staff and a Staff Officer in the Ross Volunteer Company. He was a Commencement Speaker at A&M in 1980 and 1994, a Board Member of the Association of Former Students, and a Distinguished Visiting Professor in 1981. During his military service, he served at the White House as a Military Social Aide to President Lyndon Johnson. He was appointed Administrator of USAID for Latin America with the rank of Assistant Secretary of State, U.S. Ambassador, and Chief of Protocol for the White House by President Jimmy Carter. Valdez was decorated by King Juan Carlos as a Knight Commander of Spain. He is President Emeritus of the Council of American Ambassadors and a Distinguished Alumnus of Baylor University. He practiced International Trade Law in Washington, D.C. and was an architect of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).