Mays Business Online

James M. Stark ’84, vice president of CB Richard Ellis, lives and works in Houston, but he finds himself regularly visiting College Station. “What Texas A&M did for me—I just don’t think my life would’ve been as great without it,” he said.

Stark recently pledged $105,000 to Mays Business School in the form of an estate gift, as well as an additional $105,000 to the 12th Man Foundation. This gift to Mays will establish the James M. Stark ’84 Scholarship, which will be used to recruit outstanding students.

“Mr. Stark’s gift will be instrumental in allowing Mays Business School
to continue to recruit and support the very best students as they prepare to become business leaders of tomorrow,” said Mays Interim Dean Ricky Griffin.

Mays Business School currently enrolls more than 4,000 undergraduate students and 875 graduate students. Mays is nationally ranked among public business schools for the quality of its undergraduate program, MBA program and the faculty scholarship of its 105 professors in five departments.

Stark grew up in the Memorial area of Houston, and returned to the same neighborhood after finishing both his degrees at Texas A&M. After graduating in 1984 with a BBA in marketing, Stark took a year off to work for the Texas A&M athletic department, and then finished his MBA at A&M in 1986. He’s worked for CB Richard Ellis for 19 years, selling and leasing industrial real estate.

When Stark visits Aggieland for business or pleasure, he often brings future Aggies with him to check out A&M. He can also be seen at just about every home football and basketball game and often travels with the teams for away games. “For someone to get two degrees from the business school and not want to give back just doesn’t make sense to me,” Stark said. “It’s my way of thanking Texas A&M and the business school because I know my experiences at A&M have been instrumental in my success.