January/ February 2007

While we will all miss him, his vision and courage has set Mays on a remarkable path to continued excellence.

Friendships at Mays

This past month, Mays Business School recognized the recipient of the Kupfer Distinguished Executive Award. Normally, the story around events such as this revolves around the recipient; this is not surprising, since past recipients of the Kupfer Award (such as Mary Kay Ash, Gordon Bethune, Michael Dell, Herb Kelleher) and this year’s recipient, Clayton Williams, have remarkable, well-known stories in business and personal success. However, the Kupfer Award is special for another reason...the two great friends of Mays that bring this event to life, Gerald Ray and Don Zale.

Gerald and Don established the Kupfer award to honor their dear friend, Harold Kupfer. It is this loyalty and this demonstration of life-long friendships that make Texas A&M and Mays special institutions. Gerald and Don have given so generously to our school, in so many ways. From the Ray Auditorium, to the Center for Retailing Studies, to the Aggies on Wall Street program, it would be difficult to study or work at Mays without being touched by their generosity. However, their biggest gift may be the example they are setting for our students for the friendships they can make and the relationships they can establish during their years of study. They are shining examples of what makes Mays a special place to study business.

I hope this edition of Mays Business Online finds you and yours well. As your travels bring you to College Station, please stop by and let us know how you are doing.

Best regards,

Jerry Strawser '83
Dean


January/ February 2007
While we will all miss him, his vision and courage has set Mays on a remarkable path to continued excellence.	Friendships at Mays This past month, Mays Business School recognized the recipient of the Kupfer Distinguished Executive Award. Normally, the story around events such as this revolves around the recipient; this is not surprising, since past recipients of the Kupfer Award (such as Mary Kay Ash, Gordon Bethune, Michael Dell, Herb Kelleher) and this year’s recipient, Clayton Williams, have remarkable, well-known stories in business and personal success. However, the Kupfer Award is special for another reason...the two great friends of Mays that bring this event to life, Gerald Ray and Don Zale. Gerald and Don established the Kupfer award to honor their dear friend, Harold Kupfer. It is this loyalty and this demonstration of life-long friendships that make Texas A&M and Mays special institutions. Gerald and Don have given so generously to our school, in so many ways. From the Ray Auditorium, to the Center for Retailing Studies, to the Aggies on Wall Street program, it would be difficult to study or work at Mays without being touched by their generosity. However, their biggest gift may be the example they are setting for our students for the friendships they can make and the relationships they can establish during their years of study. They are shining examples of what makes Mays a special place to study business. I hope this edition of Mays Business Online finds you and yours well. As your travels bring you to College Station, please stop by and let us know how you are doing. Best regards, Jerry Strawser '83 Dean