Publishing Her Passions
Aside from being a dedicated gift planning officer for the Texas A&M Foundation, Amy Bacon ’91 is the proud author of two books about Texas A&M history, both published by Texas A&M University Press. Her first book, “Building Leaders, Living Traditions,” explores the history of the MSC and its programs as a campus centerpiece from 1950 onward.
The second book, “Life in Bronze: Lawrence M. Ludtke, Sculptor” provides an inside look into the life of prominent Texas sculptor Lawrence Ludtke. After meeting Ludtke as a student, Bacon immediately became fascinated by his work and felt inspired to write about his contributions to sculptures on Texas A&M’s campus and throughout the country. His work on campus includes the James Earl Rudder sculpture, Danger 79er to honor Lt. Gen. James F. Hollingsworth ’40, Arch 406, which depicts an architecture student and his dog, and the bronze bas reliefs of the Aggie Congressional Medal of Honor recipients in the Sanders Corps of Cadets Center.
Aggies Abroad
As the Bacons began thinking of areas to support, they reflected on their own time as students and how much they attribute their success to their MSC involvement. Amy studied abroad as a student while at Texas A&M and served on the MSC Council, developing leadership skills as an undergraduate. Although Robert didn’t study abroad, he saw how positively international experiences impacted Amy and gained a passion for travel as well. Both decided to link this appreciation for international experiences with their love of the MSC and the global community focus of these two programs.
The Bacons also recognize that international experiences can set students apart in the competitive workforce, something Robert has seen the benefits of directly through his position as the site and operations manager at the ExxonMobil Chemical - Baytown Technology & Engineering Complex. They hope their scholarships encourage more students to take advantage of these opportunities. “We hope that the Aggies who receive our scholarships enter the world as confident young adults ready to make their own Aggie connections,” Robert said.
Staying Engaged
MSC Director Luke Altendorf knew Amy and Robert as students and wasn’t surprised to see them giving back. “They have always valued interactions with different cultures and supported the MSC’s mission,” he said. “Their gift is a tangible way for the MSC to continue producing leaders.”
Knowing that their future gift will benefit the development of students like their daughter, who has also been involved in the MSC, is extremely fulfilling. “We are passionate about promoting international experiences because when combined with the values of leadership instilled in every Aggie, it leads to impactful future leaders,” Amy said. “For us, giving back not only gives us the opportunity to show our gratitude for the impact of those experiences, but also the opportunity to stay engaged with the university and most importantly, benefit students.”
To learn more about making a planned gift through your estate, contact Angela Throne ’03 at athrone@txamfoundation.com or (979) 845-5638.
