tarleton alumni aSSociation honorS outStanDing alumni, Faculty, FrienD

Association Honors Outstanding Alumni, Faculty, Friend

The Tarleton Alumni Association presented its annual awards for Outstanding Alumnus, Outstanding Young Alumnus, Distinguished Faculty and Distinguished Friend at the 2017 Gala Celebration in January.

Outstanding Alumnus A. Dwain Mayfield

A. Dwain Mayfield graduated from Tarleton State College with an associate’s degree in 1957, going on to earn his bachelor of science degree and a master of civil engineering from Texas A&M University.

Professionally, Mayfield served as a senior advisor for Lockheed Martin’s fighter and transport business initiatives.

He has made a lasting mark on Tarleton through his support of students, scholarship and philanthropy, and his service in volunteer capacities. He is the immediate past president of the Tarleton State University Foundation, Inc.

Mayfield and his wife, Lynda, established an endowed scholarship at Tarleton in engineering. He is a member of the College of Science and Technology’s Dean’s Circle, and teaches as advisor for the Tarleton Aeronautical Team.

Outstanding Young Alumnus Dr. Jonathan Rios

A staff scientist for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, Dr. Jonathan Rios began his trek to a career in life-changing healthcare research as an Outstanding Graduate of the Class of 2003.

After earning his doctorate in genetics from Texas A&M, Rios completed a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.

Rios joined the institution’s Division of Molecular Genetics in 2011 and is Assistant Professor in Pediatrics. Additionally, he holds secondary appointments in the McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development and Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

His research includes the discovery of genes causing pediatric musculoskeletal and developmental conditions.

Distinguished Faculty Dr. Linda Jones

Dr. Linda Jones, Tarleton’s first female dean, wore a variety of hats and achieved many milestones during her 22-year Tarleton tenure.

Among her accomplishments, she co-chaired the transition team that successfully guided the opening of the Tarleton University System Center in Killeen and served there as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs.

A certified home economist, Jones has been honored as Woman of the Year by the Texas Association of Extension Family and Consumer Sciences.

Jones received her bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Louisiana University, her master’s from Louisiana State University and her doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin.

Distinguished Friend Alpha Building Corporation

Alpha Building Corporation is an award-winning general contractor headquartered in San Antonio, with local project offices across Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Tennessee.

Founded in 1969, Alpha Building Corporation received its first contract for The Texas A&M University System in 1992 and is responsible for many of the construction projects at Tarleton. Alpha was the lead contractor for the Alumni Island project and donated the funds for the John Tarleton bronze statue.

Alpha has won several Excellence in Construction Awards from the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., including the Eagle Award, the industry’s premier annual awards program honoring the nation’s most innovative and high quality construction projects and safety programs. Two of the award-winning projects are the Pedestrian Malls at Tarleton and the Rudder Auditorium at Texas A&M. Alpha was named General Contractor of the Year twice by ABC.

As CEO, Kathleen Acock provides corporate oversight, including developing the third-generation ownership and management team. Alpha supports the Tarleton Alumni Association, the Texan Club and President’s Circle. Ms. Acock is a member of the Tarleton Construction Engineering Advisory Council and the Texas A&M Construction Industry Advisory Council.

The Tarleton Alumni Association honored (from left) TAA board president Dr. Luke Lawson, Alpha Building Corporation CEO Kathleen Acock, A. Dwain Mayfield, Dr. Linda Jones, Dr. Jonathan Rios and Tarleton President F. Dominic Dottavio. teXanS 17