Published: May 14, 2009 03:42 pm      

A&M-C donors inducted into Mayo Society

The Greater Texas Foundation and the Texas A&M-Commerce Alumni Association have been inducted into the prestigious Mayo Society for their giving to the university.

Both have donated more than $1 million to A&M-Commerce.

Having inductees into the Mayo Society is a first for the university, said KETR program director Jerrod Knight, who announced the inductees at the recent Donor Dinner on campus.

The Greater Texas Foundation has awarded approximately $1.5 million in grants to the institution. The Greater Texas Foundation was represented by board directors Dr. John Moss and Dr. Alonzo Sosa.

The A&M-Commerce Alumni Association was inducted into the Mayo Society for their gift of the Alumni Center Building to A&M-Commerce.

The Alumni Center, represented by Director of Alumni Relations Derryle Peace and chair of the Alumni Association Dwight York, was conceived by members of the Alumni Association and was built to be a focal point of activity to strengthen the bond among the 60,000 graduates.

Inducted into the Rayburn Society with cumulative gifts of $100,000 to under $499,000 in giving were John and Nelba Armstrong of Emory, Alton and Louise Biggs of Commerce, and Barbara and Brian Cullen of Quinlan.

Nelba and John Armstrong attended school at A&M-Commerce as well as their two children.

The Armstrongs have established an endowed scholarship in their name that provides junior and senior level students the opportunity to pursue their undergraduate degrees in business-related fields.

Louise and Alton Biggs are educators who have had fulfilling careers. Both know how hard it is to pay for a college education.

A science teacher, textbook author, and test item author, Biggs said he and his wife, a high school art teacher, credit the university with helping them to succeed. The Biggs have also established an endowed scholarship that alternates between art and biology students.

The Cullen Family Foundation, represented by Barbara and Brian Cullen and their five children, were inducted into the Rayburn Society for their giving, which honors the field of space exploration.

Brian and Barbara Cullen were so moved by the space shuttle Columbia disaster that they established the Columbia Crew Memorial Scholarship at A&M-Commerce.

Also inducted into the Rayburn Society were Brent Dyer of Greenville and Mary Beth Tuck of Commerce. The Dyer Family endowment provides scholarships to students at A&M-Commerce.

Tuck has been a Commerce resident for 39 years. A retired A&M-Commerce faculty member, she and several of her siblings attended the university.

Tuck has established a scholarship for single mothers.

Named to the Heritage Society for cumulative gifts of $50,000 to $99,999 were Betty and Dale Bedgood of Commerce, Susan and Jerry "Jace" Carrington of Dallas, Ruth and Jan Norton of Oklahoma City, Eula and Kenton Kenton Ross of McKinney, Pam and Dwight D. York of Wylie, and Tommy M. Lovell of Farmersville.

Inducted into the Founders Circle for cumulative gifts of $25,000 to $49,000 were Wanda and Wayne Galyean of Sulphur Springs, Sydna and Donald Gordon of Garland, Janis and Stephen Sullivan of Dallas, Wanda and "Mick" Trusty of Sulphur Springs, Harry and Rheba Martin Icenhower of Commerce, and Ida and Gerald Deats of Dallas.