also included his dream of flying . With no path to graduate as an Aggie cadet , but the immediate opportunity to serve his country , my Dad dropped out of Texas A & M . He joined the Army Air Corps and took a train to Santa Maria , California ( leaving Houston from what is now Minute Maid Park , home of the Houston Astros ). At Santa Maria , he learned to fly in a Stearman Biplane . My Dad loved flying and serving his Country . He called it a “ Higher Calling ” with a wry smile on his lips . He served his Country for twenty-four ( 24 ) years and retired as a Colonel in the United States Air Force . In World War II , he was a Commander of a B-29 Bomb Group . The picture ( preceding page ) is of my Dad and his B-29 flight crew on an island in the South Pacific in 1945 .
My other favorite Aggie is someone far more familiar to you : Melissa Kibler . Suave and sophisticated Melissa is a Texas A & M Aggie true and true . After growing up in Midland , Texas , Melissa went to Texas A & M to play Division 1 Tennis for the Aggies . She started her brilliant career as a restructuring professional in Houston . As a bankruptcy professional , Melissa has not been content to simply represent her clients ’ interest . No , if there is a volunteer job to be done for no pay and long hours , she raises her hand if it involves serving our profession and her community . Melissa has served on the Board of the Uniting Voices Chicago ( formerly the Chicago Children ’ s Choir ) for almost twenty years ; serving as Chair for two ( 2 ) years . ( Oddly , I have never heard Melissa sing . She must save that for the Aggie War Hymn !).
Closer to our profession , Melissa served as President of ABI and now serves as Chair of the College . As President of the College , I have a front row seat to observe how and when Melissa enthusiastically serves the College . I don ’ t think there is a day when I
don ’ t receive an email from Melissa or talk to her on the phone about some aspect of College business . Service to the College is her mantra and we ’ re all better for her . Melissa ’ s leadership led the College to create the DEI Commission and the DEI Committee . Melissa ’ s voice led to reforms in our by-laws to inculcate DEI principles . And , she did all this while working her day job and raising three fine young men .
Melissa ’ s steadfast service to the College is an example to all of us on how to serve and improve the College and our communities . While my Dad and Melissa are not the only folks who have tirelessly served their communities , they remind all of us that service to our communities is an opportunity to do good . Each of you as Fellows became Fellows not only because of your excellent professional credentials but because of your service to your communities . As we start the nomination process for leadership in the College in 2024 , I hope you raised your hand during our nominating process for a leadership position in the College . If you didn ’ t , please consider doing so next year or get your feet wet working on a College Committee and say , “ How can I help ?” While we can ’ t all be Aggies , we can all serve the College and our communities .
Happy New Year !
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