Mays Business Online

The past, present, and future of Mays Business School were embodied in the three guests of honor as the Benton Cocanougher Chair in Business was dedicated at a luncheon on October 23. Special guests by invitation of Dean Jerry Strawser were in attendance, as well as the men of the hour: Lowry Mays ’57, founder of Clear Channel Communications and benefactor of Mays Business School; Benton Cocanougher, dean of Mays Business School from 1987 to 2001 and current dean emeritus and professor emeritus at Texas A&M; and Luis Gomez-Mejia, professor of management and inaugural holder of the Cocanougher Chair.

The Benton Cocanougher Chair in Business will be dedicated this Friday, October 23, at Mays Business School. The inaugural chair holder is Luis Gomez-Mejia, professor of management. The chair was funded by a gift from the school’s namesake, Lowry Mays ’57, who recently provided $7.5 million with matching funds to create a $12 million gift; this gift is dedicated to faculty support and will provide six faculty chairs and three eminent scholar chairs.

Doing the right thing is at the core of the business philosophy at Blue Bell Creameries. Recently, Blue Bell CEO and President Paul Kruse ’77 announced that he and the company would jointly support another Texas icon: Texas A&M University. The gift of $500,000, matched by funds from Peggy and Lowry Mays ’57, will establish the Blue Bell Creameries Chair in Business at A&M’s Mays Business School in the total amount of $1 million.

BKD, LLP, the 10th largest accounting and advisory firm in the U.S., is continuing a long-established relationship with Mays Business School at Texas A&M University with a recent gift of $25,000. These funds will establish the BKD, LLP Accounting Education Endowment, which will impact several areas of accounting education at Mays.

Founder of Clear Channel Communications Lowry Mays ’57 and his wife Peggy have announced their continued support for the college that bears their name, Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. Their recent $7.5 million gift will support the creation of an endowed chair and eminent scholar chair as well as matching funds to create additional endowed positions at Mays Business School.

In 2003, the graduating class of MBAs at Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School made an ambitious commitment. Despite the fact that they hadn’t yet received their first post-graduation paycheck, they pledged to give $75,000 to create a scholarship endowment for future A&M MBA students.

From Fish Camp scholarships to endowed faculty fellowships, Gina and William (Bill) Flores ‘76 invest in many areas of the Texas A&M University experience. The couple was recently honored by Mays Business School with a luncheon for their continuing support, which includes two endowed faculty fellowships in the Department of Finance at Mays.

Though James Royce Whatley ’47 was a brilliant businessman whose successful career spanned four decades, it is not his financial acumen he is remembered for. Instead, Whatley’s legacy is a history of philanthropy that has touched the lives of countless thousands, including students at Texas A&M University.

L.C. “Chaz” Neely ’62 credits his A&M education with much of his success over the past three decades. For that reason, Neely and his wife, Trisha, have continued their ongoing support to Mays Business School with a recent gift of $500,000, which will establish an endowed scholarship fund for Business Honors students.

Bill R. Brooks ’54 has recently given $50,000 to Mays Business School to establish the Mr. and Mrs. Bill R. Brooks ’54 Dean’s Endowed Scholarship.