Denver
Texas A&M Club

2024

Susan N. “Sue” Owen ’94

Communications manager, The Association of Former Students

In the 1910s, Silver Taps included cadets carrying their friend’s remains to Texas A&M train depot. Before the 1940s, Aggie Muster wasn’t called “Muster” – it tended to feature boisterous “April 21st parties.” And part of the Aggie War Hymn medley comes from a French opera!

These are stories Sue Own ’94 has uncovered as part of her work for The Association of Former Students, writing about Texas A&M history and traditions. Other stories include Aggie Ring history; visiting the facility where Reveilles retire; helping host away yell practice at Aggie games across the country; learning about pilots’ precise timing of Aggie football flyovers; and
more.

Sue has visited Texas A&M Clubs from coast to coast, been active in the Capitol City, Williamson, and Brazos County A&M Clubs, and serves as a proud Class Agent for the Class of ’94. She is a communications manager for The Association of Former Students.

2019

Dr. John Adams ’73

Author of “Softly Call the Muster”, “Keepers of the Spirit”, and “Aggies at War”

Dr. John Adams ’73 received a Bachelor’s, Masters, and PhD in history from Texas A&M. During his time at Texas A&M Adams was a member of the Corps of Cadets as well as a member of the Ross Volunteer Company’s First Platoon. As a current resident of College Station, Adams maintains connections with the current student population specifically in the Memorial Student Center as well as the Student Government Association.

Adams, an avid Aggie author, has written three books concerns Aggie history including The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Keepers of the Spirit: The Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University, 1876-2001 and Softly Call the Muster: The Evolution of a Texas Aggie Tradition.

Dr. Adams has consistently proven throughout his career as a student and a professional his undying love for Texas A&M as well as upholding its core values.

2018

Brandon Leone ’06

Former Texas A&M Football Player

Brandon Leone, former Texas A&M Football player, was raised by a single mother and move frequently throughout his childhood. During his football career at Texas A&M, Brandon played as a safety and running back while earning a bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Development. After college Brandon started at AT&T in San Antonio and served as a Sports Analyst at TexAgs for a brief period. Brandon currently works in Houston, Texas as an insurance agent with his beautiful wife Megan. Brandon’s story is a true testament to the lasting impact that our time at Texas A&M has on the rest of our lives as well as how powerful an attitude of determination and faith can be.

2017

Cliff Dugosh ’86

Motivational Speaker

A native of San Antonio, Cliff Dugosh has spoken to thousands of individuals throughout Texas and several states in the past twenty years. Having done almost 1000 speeches, Cliff’s audiences have ranged from kindergartners to corporate executives. With a passion for college students, Cliff has spoken to students at Texas A&M, Stanford, TCU, SMU, West Point, United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, and the University of Texas.

Cliff has a bachelor’s degree in health education and a master’s degree in adult education from Texas A&M University. Cliff was one of twenty seniors to receive the Buck Weirus Spirit Award and was also named the Phi Delta Kappa Outstanding Senior in the Department of Health and Physical Education. Following graduation, Cliff was actively involved in educational affairs and youth ministry throughout San Antonio.

From 1999-2006, Cliff served as the assistant director for leadership training and development for Texas A&M’s Memorial Student Center. In this capacity he worked with Texas A&M’s top student leaders. Cliff has spoken at over 75 Aggie Mom’s and A&M Clubs and 29 Muster ceremonies. In 2000, he was honored as a Fish Camp namesake.

Since 2007, Cliff has spent time speaking throughout the nation and spending time at O’Connor High School in San Antonio.

For the past 23 summers, Cliff has volunteered as a counselor at Dream Street, a camp in southern California for children with life threatening or terminal illnesses. He was honored by San Antonio’s Northside Independent School District as its 2006 Pillar of Caring.

2016

Bill Toler ’76

Chair elect, texas a&m foundation

Mr. Bill Toler retired from The Procter & Gamble Company on September 1,
2009 after 29 years of service where he held a broad range of executive
leadership positions in every region of the world. His last role was Global
Vice President and General Manager for Oral Care Profession (Crest,
Oral-B, Fixodent, blend-a-med, Scope, Glide, etc. brands). Mr. Toler joined
Swift Communications, Inc. on September 8, 2009 as the Chief Executive
Officer and he assumed the additional responsibility as Chairman of the
Board of Directors in November 2011. Swift Communications is
headquartered in Carson City, Nevada and its affiliated companies include
40 newspapers, magazines, and web sites, as well as internet marketing
ventures in 7 western states. After graduating from Texas A&M University
with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and serving 4 years on active duty
in Germany in the US Army as a Field Artillery Officer with Airborne Ranger
qualifications, he joined Procter & Gamble (P&G) and began a career built
on creating new visions and leading successful organizational change. His
passion for envisioning and leading change began as a mid-level manager
in 1989 when he helped pioneer P&G’s industry changing, multi-disciplined
joint business development approach with its major retail trade customers
as the inaugural Marketing Manager for P&G’s Wal-Mart Customer Team.
Mr. Toler then went on to be the key architect of P&G’s worldwide
transformation to Customer Business Development and elimination of its
traditional sales department. Prior to his Global Oral Care role at P&G, he
served as the Vice President and General Manager for P&G Pet Care
(Iams & Eukanuba) in Japan, Asia, Australia and Latin America.

Mr. Toler currently resides in Aspen, Colorado with his wife Melanie, Class
of 1976, and spends a considerable amount of time in Bryan/College
Station. He has two children, Courtney, Class of 2017, and Michael, Class
of 2019. He serves as a Chair-Elect for the Texas A&M Foundation which is
responsible for managing the University’s gifts and endowments for
academic excellence, scholarships, and faculty support, and will serve as
Chairman beginning July 1, 2016. He also serves as a member of the
Board of Directors for Engage3, a technology start-up company based in
Davis and San Francisco, CA. He previously served a four-year term on
the Association of Former Students Board of Directors and the Texas A&M
University President’s Vision 2020 Advisory Council. He has guest lectured
at the Community of European Management Schools Graduate
Conference (Vienna), Kellogg School of Management- Northwestern
University and Lowry Mays College and Graduate School-Texas A&M
University.

2015

Mickey Batsell ’67

CLU, CASL, MBA, FLMI, CLTC, CSA

Mickey graduated from Texas A&M in 1967. He was a proud member of Squadron 11 and served as Executive Officer his senior year. He was a member of the Fish Drill Team, the Aggie Gymnastics Team and the Intercollegiate Marketing Team. He has continued his involvement with Texas A&M by serving as co-class agent for over 40 years and on several committees and task forces for the Association of Former Students. He is a former member of the Board of Directors for the 12th Man Foundation and past president of the Coppell A&M Club. Mickey has delivered Aggie Muster addresses at countless
A&M clubs. He is a retired Lt. Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserves, served in the USAF Special Operations on active duty and as a Deputy Commander of Resources in the USAFR.

Mickey Batsell is an experienced financial services professional, specializing in long-term care, retirement planning and surrounding issues including Medicare, Medicaid, home healthcare, nursing homecare, wealth transfer, and the selection of long-term care facilities. With over 40 years of professional, and more importantly, personal family experiences, Mickey has an in-depth understanding of the challenges his clients face. As a protector of people’s independence and dignity, he currently represents industryleading, financially sound companies and assists families, groups, and associations throughout the United States.

Mickey has a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and an MBA in Accounting. He is a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), a Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL), a Fellow of Life Management Institute (FLMI), Certified in Long Term Care (CLTC), and a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), Mickey takes an active role in his industry, community and church. He served on the national boards of directors for the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI), Society of Financial Services Professionals (SFSP) and the Alliance of Financial Management Professionals (AFMP). He is a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and the past President of the National Insurance Marketing Executives (NIME), has served as chairman of the Society of Certified Senior Advisors Certification Council, and is currently an instructor for the Certified Senior Advisor Certification Review Class.

Mickey and Nancy have four children, ten grandchildren, and two great grandsons. If he isn’t with family, you can find him in his garden in the spring and on the football field in the fall as a Texas high school football official. He has officiated three state championship games and the 2013 and 2015 East/West High school All American Bowl at Reliant Stadium and the Citrus Bowl.

2013

R. C. Slocum

Football Coach

R.C. Slocum is the winningest football coach in Texas A&M’s history. After his last season at A&M in 2002, he had compiled a career record of 123-47-2 (.721). The 123 victories in his first 14 years ranks eighth all-time and puts him in the company of coaching legends such as Barry Switzer (137), Tom Osborne (137), Steve Spurrier (132), Joe Paterno (131), LaVell Edwards (129), Amos Alonzo Stagg
(128), and Bud Wilkerson (124).

Slocum won six championships as head coach of the Aggies; three SWC titles, two Big 12 South Division titles, and the 1998 Big 12 Conference Championship. He was league Coach of the Year four times and was runner up for National Coach of the Year honors in 1994. His teams went to 11 bowl games with five of those being New Year’s Day bowls. On 10 occasions, the Aggies, under Slocum, finished ranked in the AP Top 25 and three times finished in the Top Ten. During Slocum’s tenure, the Aggies were especially hard to beat at home where they won .854 of their games at Kyle Field. At home, the Aggies compiled 22 and 29 game winning streaks. In conference play, A&M compiled a Southwest Conference record unbeaten streak of 29 games; four straight seasons without a loss. As Texas A&M closed out the Southwest Conference era, Slocum’s winning percentage of .865 (44-6-2) was the best in league history besting the .797 percentage set by the legendary Darrel Royal of the University of Texas.

R. C. is a native of Orange, Texas where he was an All-District end at Stark High School. He attended college at McNeese State University in Lake
Charles, La. There, he was a four year letterman and set school records for receiving as an end. Following his senior season he was named Most Valuable Lineman. R.C. received his undergraduate degree from McNeese and was a member of Blue Key National Honor Fraternity. He also received a Master of
Education Administration. In 2002, he was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus and in 2003 was inducted into the McNeese Athletic Hall of Fame

Lake Charles High School, in 1968, was the first stop in R.C.’s coaching career. He was there two seasons before moving to Kansas State University where he coached the 70 and 71 seasons. In 1972, R.C. started a long association with Texas A&M as an offensive assistant with new head coach Emory Bellard. In 1973, he moved over to the defensive side of the ball as defensive ends coach. Later he would coach the linebackers and become defensive coordinator for the 79 and 80 seasons. The next stop, in 1981, was the University of Southern California where R.C. was the defensive coordinator under John Robinson. Slocum’s defense led the Pac-10 Conference that year and the team played in the Fiesta Bowl. In 1982, R.C. returned to Texas A&M as defensive coordinator with new head coach Jackie Sherrill. Prior to the 1985 season, Slocum was promoted to Assistant Head Coach. That season saw the Aggies lead the SWC in defense and win the conference championship. The first of three straight
championships and foundation of the reckless style of defensive play that later led A&M’s defense to be called the “Wrecking Crew”. In 1989, R.C. Slocum was named head football coach at Texas A&M.

He coached in the East/West Shrine All Star game, the Japan Bowl, and the Hula Bowl and has been involved in many charities including the Children’s Miracle Network, the Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children, the Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo, and Special Olympics. R.C. has also served as a Trustee of the American Football Coaches Association and is currently the President of the American Football Coaches Foundation. Since 2002, R.C has served as a Special Advisor to the President of Texas A&M. In February 2006, Coach Slocum was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. In 2012, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and was selected to be a member of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. His hobbies include golf, horseback riding, hunting and fishing.

Slocum is married to the former Nel Jennings and has two sons, Shawn Slocum, an assistant football coach with the Green Bay Packers and John Harvey Slocum, who is in the oil field services business. Nel has a son, Randy Jennings who is a senior geology major at Texas A&M.

2012

Roger Creager ’93

Musician

Roger aspired to become a country music singer since he was six years old. He started learning how to play piano in the second grade, but didn’t learn guitar until he was a student at Tuloso-Midway High School. He was always found singing to himself during his early years, since he was shy around others. After high school, Roger attended Sam Houston State University and earned a degree in business. Roger went on to Texas A&M University in College Station to earn a degree in agriculture in 1993. In College Station, the Texas Music Revolution helped Roger become a successful musician. Since the release of his first album in 1998, Roger has become a fixture on the Texas Music scene, becoming known for his high energy performances and cult following.

Today, Roger Creager is an adventurist; he does not like to sit still while the world passes by. Whether it’s climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, jumping off his boat to snorkel with wild dolphins, snow skiing in the Rockies, catching tuna 100 miles from shore, piloting his airplane to far-off concerts, spear-fishing around oil rigs, scuba diving coral reefs, surfing in Costa Rica, or playing music through the Italian countryside, he tries to get the most out of what the world has to offer. All of this finds its way into Roger’s music and live shows. His passion for life invigorates everyone around him including his fan base. Those who get hooked on his charisma and high energy come back show after show, year after year, and record after record. Creager’s newest record may be his best work yet.

“Surrender”, released Jan 2012, was produced by Lloyd Maines and marks a “back-to-basics” approach for Roger. As always, Roger creates an interesting collection with songs that are very different from each other and will keep the listener’s attention start to finish. He co-wrote all songs except “Redemption Song”, a Bob Marley classic.

Roger is very fortunate that his music career allows him this lifestyle. But he gives it back by putting his life experiences and his infectious high energy and zeal for adventure right back into his songwriting and performances. Creager may travel the world, but he never strays far from his smalltown South Texas roots and his music encompasses all of him.

2011

Coach Jackie Sherrill

Texas A&M Football Coach 1982-1988

A native of Duncan, Oklahoma, Coach Jackie Sherrill later lived in Biloxi, Mississippi where he starred on the Biloxi High School football team earning the distinction of All American and MVP.

At the University of Alabama, he played fullback and linebacker positions from 1962-65, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in 1966, and becoming grad-assistant coach under football legend Bear Bryant. The following year, he
joined Arkansas under Coach Frank Broyles. He then held coaching positions at Iowa, and the University of Pittsburgh from 1973-75. One year later, Coach Sherrill was named head coach at Washington State University. He returned to Pittsburgh the following year as the Panthers head coach. His five-year stint at Pitt resulted in a 50-9-1 record, five-straight postseason bowl
games, and four, Top-10 national rankings. From 1979-81, Coach Sherrill’s final three Pittsburgh teams achieved a 33-3 record, and ended their seasons in the Fiesta, Gator and Sugar Bowls.

In 1982, the Jackie Sherrill era commenced in Aggieland. During his seven-year stay in College Station, the Aggies posted a 52-28-1 overall record, 36-17-1 within the SWC. After three building seasons, A&M posted 10-win campaigns in 1985 and ‘87, and Sherrill was named Southwest Conference Coach of the Year both years. Those teams beat Auburn (36-16) and Notre Dame (35-10) in respective Cotton Bowls. He was named national coach of the year by PLAYBOY magazine in its 1988 preseason publication. His 1985-87 Texas A&M teams rolled to a 29-7-1 record, advancing to three
straight Cotton Bowls as champions of the Southwest Conference.

All Aggies know the tradition of the 12th Man and E. King Gill; and it was Coach Jackie Sherrill who started the now infamous 12th Man Kick-Off Team composed of regular students through open tryouts. This 12th Man Kick-Off Team performed very well and held opponents to one of the lowest yards per return averages in the league. Jackie now raises scholarship funds for A&M students through his 12th Man KOT Foundation (http://www.12thmankot.org/ ).

Jackie is one of a select group of head coaches in NCAA history to take three different schools to postseason bowl competition. Sherrill joins Lou Holtz, Ken Hatfield, Dennis Franchione, John Makovic and Mack Brown as the only active head coaches with that distinction. Sherrill is one of only two Division I-A head coaches ever to lead three different schools to 10 wins or more in a season. Among Jackie’s Career Highlights:

• Walter Camp Coach of the Year, 1980
• SWC Coach of the Year, 1985-1987
• Won over 180 games as a college head coach
• Posted 17 winning seasons in his 24 years as a college football head coach
• Inducted into the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame, 2002
• Appointed to the Athletic Committee, St. Jude Hospital, 2006
• Inducted into Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame, 2007

But far greater than the numbers is the effect he has had on his players through the years. He has coached the likes of Heisman Trophy candidate and former all-Pro quarterback Dan Marino, Lombardi Trophy and Maxwell Trophy winner Hugh Green, Outland Trophy winner Mark May and
former Pro Bowl regular Ray Childress. Over 100 of his pupils have advanced to careers in professional football and over 80 percent of his student-athletes have graduated during his career.

Jackie and his wife, Peggy, have five children — Elizabeth, Kellie Morse (son-in-law Owen), Bonnie, Justin (daughter-in-law Marcie) and Braxton. He also has one grandson, Daniel Alexander Morse. Peggy, Kellie and Owen all hold degrees from Mississippi State.

2009

Dr. John A. Adams ’79

Author of “Softly Call the Muster”, “Keepers of the Spirit”, and “Aggies at War”

Dr. Adams has participated in over 40 past Muster presentations world-wide, including serving as the 2008 Texas A&M main campus Muster speaker. He currently serves as president and chief executive officer of Enterprise Florida, Inc (EFI—the public-private organization responsible for leading Florida’s statewide economic development efforts.

EFI’s mission is to diversify Florida’s economy and create better-paying jobs for its citizens by supporting, attracting and helping to create businesses in innovative, high growth industries. The only public-private statewide economic development organization in the nation, EFI targets sectors including clean energy, defense and homeland security, life sciences, aviation and aerospace, information technology, financial and business services. EFI works with a network of state, regional and local economic development organizations to continually improve Florida’s business climate, attract foreign direct investment, and to ensure Florida’s global competitiveness.

During his career, Dr. Adams has provided leadership and expertise in economic development and international trade for several commercial banking and financial institutions. With a focus on strategic planning and regional marketing, he has made strides in fostering cross-border partnerships among local, state and international economic development organizations while pursuing workforce training, legislative advocacy and site selection inventory initiatives. He was a captain in the United States Air Force.

In addition to his career highlights, Dr.Adams’ background reflects a broad range of civic involvement and service to higher education and government. This experience includes his appointment to the United States Department of Commerce’s Industry Trade Advisory Council (ITAC-11) for trade policy review, which he chaired from 2000-2005. Adams’ leadership earned him multiple honors and awards including the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Exporter of the Year, for which he was recognized by President Ronald Reagan at a White House Rose Garden ceremony in May 1988.

Dr. Adams earned Ph.D., M.A., and B.A., degrees from Texas A&M University. While at Texas A&M, Dr. Adams was the Commanding Officer of Huslin 1 and a member of the Ross Volunteers. He went on to complete the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University with honors and he holds Certified Economic Developer (CED) credentials. In addition to the books noted above, Dr. Adams has authored eight books on international trade, economic development and history.