Feb. 22, 2007 - Charles E. Lake ’52 is well versed in a variety of life’s roles. But his lead role is family man who values education. Lake’s appreciation of the foundation that Texas A&M University provided for him is immense—and now he’s laying the groundwork for others to have that same opportunity.
Lake and wife Joyce have created the Joyce and Charles E. Lake ’52 Endowed Scholarship Fund with a gift of $25,000. The fund was made in conjunction with Lake’s former employer, Texas Instruments, and will support scholarships for full-time students pursuing a degree at Mays Business School.
“This scholarship will have a tremendous impact on the student who is fortunate enough to receive it,” said Mays Dean Jerry Strawser.
At Texas A&M, Lake was a member of the Army Security Agency in the Corps of Cadets. Upon graduation with a degree in statistics in 1952, he served as an officer during the Korean War, primarily in Okinawa. In 1960, Lake and his family moved to Richardson, Texas, where he spent the majority of his professional career as a data processing systems analyst at Texas Instruments.
Lake is the author of “Grabbing Operas by Their Tales,” a book that summarizes and flippantly retells the plots of 15 of some of the world’s most popular operas. Lake is not a musician, but the improbable plots of operas provided a setting for his irreverent sense of humor.
Joyce Lake was a secretary who became a homemaker raising four children, two of whom graduated from Texas A&M. Now grandparents of eight, this couple—married 51 years—enjoys traveling, supporting their church ministries, and occasionally playing in bridge tournaments.
“Texas A&M has always been known as a fine engineering and agriculture institute, but I’ve always wanted to see them have the same recognition in the business school,” Charles Lake said. “Our modest contribution is a way to help fund students and say ‘thank you’ to A&M.”