MILITARY
HERITAGE
CENTER
- BOARD BIOGRAPHIES -
John D. White
Chairman of the Board
John has more than 40 years of experience as a fund manager, operator and lawyer. His main focus over the years has been in the energy industry. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Exothermix, and has been on numerous boards of directors throughout the years. Of significance to him are two stints -- as appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry -- on the Texas A&M System Board of Regents, one from 2003-2009 and the other from 2011-2015. During part of his first tenure, he served as the board's chairman. John is a member of Texas A&M University's Class of 1970, and was part of the school's Corps of Cadets and its Ross Volunteers while earning a Political Science degree. He also has a degree from the University of Texas School of Law. He served in the United States Air Force in the Judge Advocate General's Corps.
John A. Adams Jr.
Board Member / Executive Director
John graduated from Texas A&M in the Class of 1973 and holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees and a PhD in History from the university. The Aggie cadet and Ross Volunteer served in the United States Air Force. John was also educated at Southern Methodist University's Southwestern Graduate School of Banking. He served as a delegate to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, an advisor to the World Trade Organization, and chairman of the U.S Department of Commerce's Industry Sector Advisory Council for trade policy review. John was also president of Enterprise Florida, Inc., a statewide economic development group. He's the author of numerous books about his alma mater and its military history.
John E. Anderson
Board Member
Since 1973, John has been with Merrill Lynch. He currently serves as a vice president for the Bryan/College Station area, where he's lived since not long after starting with the company. A graduate of Texas Western University (now the University of Texas-El Paso), John followed in his father's footsteps and joined the United States Army. Much of his military service was spent as a pilot in the Vietnam conflict. Beyond his business work, John is an active volunteer, having served on the boards of a wide range of organizations in Bryan/College Station including the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Board. In 2016, the B/CS Chamber of Commerce named John its Citizen of the Year for his numerous contributions to the community.
Jarrell Gibbs
Board Member
Jarrell is the former president of TXU, a Fortune 500 electric company. He first joined the company in 1980 and served in various senior positions over his 22 years with the organization. Jarrell graduated from Texas A&M University in the Class of 1960 with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. The cadet in A&M's Corps went on to serve more than two decades in the United States Army, which included time in Vietnam. Jarrell also has a Master's in Management and Administration from A&M, who he gave back to through time spent on a wide range of boards. Among his contributions, he served as the chairman for the A&M Research Foundation and the Aggie Spirit Development Council, and as a director of the university’s Private Enterprise Research Center.
Jill S. Giroir
Board Member
Jill practiced law for 15 years, most recently in the business litigation section of the Dallas law firm of Strasburger & Price. While living in the Washington, D.C. area from 2004 to 2008, Jill worked for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund as a consultant in the early stages of developing their $100 million campaign to build an Education Center on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. She also provided research and strategy to the World Headquarters of the USO as they worked to match fundraising to the rising needs of those serving their country in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Beginning in 2013, she served as co-chair of the newly formed task force coordinating the Texas involvement in the exhibit "From Texas to Bastogne: Texas Aggies Go To War." Upon the recommendations of this task force, she helped found the non-profit organization From Bastogne to Texas, Inc.
Donald R. "Buck" Henderson
Board Member
Following his graduation from Texas A&M University in the Class of 1962, Buck served in the United States Army. Stops in Vietnam and Germany were part of his 21-year career in which he earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After his military career, Buck returned to A&M, where he had earned a Bachelor's in Sociology and a Master's in Educational Psychology. At the Association of Former Students, he was the director of facilities and assistant executive director of programs. For the Corps of Cadets, he was the director of the Sanders Corps of Cadets Center, an assistant professor of military science, and an assistant commandant in the Office of the Commandant. Buck has also served on a number of A&M-related boards and committees.
William M. Huffman
Board Member
Bill spent parts of five decades in private legal practice in Marshall, Texas. He also served as the chairman of the city's elected government commission. Bill is a member of Texas A&M University's Class of 1953, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Poultry Science. He joined the United States Army out of college, then attended the University of Texas School of Law, passed the Texas Bar Exam in 1959 and began practicing. During his legal career, he represented individuals to large companies. Bill has been a major donor to his alma mater, including with a President's Endowed Scholarship. Hundreds of graduating Aggies have had their first year in the Association of Former Students paid for by Bill. He also has served on the board of CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System, including as chairman.
Edmond S. Solymosy
Board Member
Following his graduation from Texas A&M as part of the Class of 1960, Ed served in the United States Army, attaining the rank of Brigadier General. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam and held command and staff position in Germany and Greece during his tenure. He earned numerous honors for his service, including the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. Following his time in the Army, Ed worked in international business and real estate asset management in Houston. Among the many boards he has served on, he currently is a director for The Mint National Bank. Born in Budapest, Hungary and a naturalized American citizen, Ed spent a decade as the Honorary Consul for The Republic of Hungary.
J. Malon Southerland
Board Member
Malon capped off 35 years at Texas A&M University as the school's vice president for student affairs. He graduated from A&M in the Class of 1965 with a Bachelor's degree in Management and went into the United States Army. By 1968, he had the opportunity to return to his alma mater as the Corps of Cadets' counselor. While working at A&M, Malon earned a Master's and a PhD in Education Administration. He served as an assistant to the university president, then as Associate Vice President of Student Affairs before becoming the V.P. in 1993. The university has bestowed numerous honors on Malon for his work for the school. Dozens of students have received Southerland Aggie Leader Scholarships, which were named by A&M and the A&M Foundation after Malon.
Linda R. Williams
Board Member
Growing up the daughter of Gen. James Earl Rudder, Linda was inspired to have a personal interest in World War II history and realized the importance of providing opportunities for others to learn about our country’s military history. Linda received a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Education from Texas A&M University, the school her father led as president. This led to Linda's 28-year professional career in the Texas Public School System as a teacher and educational diagnostician. After retiring in 2011, she has enjoyed time with her grandchildren, traveling and being on the Military Heritage Center board. Being active on this board gives her an opportunity to combine her love of education and her interest in military history.
- IN REMEMBRANCE -
Joseph V. Tortorice Jr.
Board Member
Joe was an early supporter of the Military Heritage Center and its mission. He died in August 2019 at the age of 70.
Joe was the founder of Jason's Deli, which has 275 locations in 28 states as of mid-2018. Joe graduated from Texas A&M University in the Class of 1970 with a Marketing degree. He was a cadet in the Corps and a member of the Ross Volunteers. Joe also earned a Master's in Business Administration from Lamar University, and was a United States Air Force veteran. He opened the first Jason's Deli in Beaumont in 1976. Before the end of the decade, he had opened additional locations in that area, and in 1988, the first franchise opened in Arizona. Still family-owned and operated, Joe made it a focus for Jason's Deli to be a community-oriented business. He also served as the chairman of MidSouth Bank and Lamar Bank. In 2019, Joe was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M University. He was also a Mays Business School Outstanding Alumnus among numerous honors.