Coach Gary Blair Honored With Congressional Veteran Commendation
Texas A&M women's basketball head coach Gary Blair was honored with the TX-17 Congressional Veteran Commendation Thursday. The award is given annually to 15 veterans who reside in Texas' 17th Congressional District for admirable service to the nation and the community by U.S. Representative Bill Flores.
Blair, who served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, has made a tremendous impact both on and off the basketball court during 15 seasons in Aggieland. He is a frequent speaker at local civic and student groups, and has helped raise over a million dollars for Special Olympics Texas through Coach Blair Charities.
The Dallas native was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, and led the Aggies to the 2011 NCAA National Championship. He ranks eighth among active coaches with 765 career wins, and has guided the Aggies to each of the past 13 NCAA Tournaments.
2017 TX-17 Congressional Veteran's Commendation recipients:
Gary Blair of Bryan U.S. Marine Corps; Vietnam War
Jonathan Cassens of Bryan U.S. Army
Charles "Chuck" Clark of College Station U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force Reserve and Texas Air National Guard; Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom
Luther G. Crum, Jr. of College Station Korea and Vietnam Wars
Robert B. Ellis of Bryan U.S. Army; Vietnam War
Larry E. Fikes of Bryan U.S. Air Force Reserve and U.S. Army Reserve; Vietnam War
Royce H. Hickman, Jr. of College Station U.S. Army; 1964-1970
John Carl Hince of Bryan U.S. Army; Vietnam War
Everlyn White (Trate) Humphrey of Bruceville U.S. Air Force; 1981-2001
Thomas Andrew Marty of College Station U.S. Air Force; Lebanon and Grenada conflicts
Caton O. Milstead of Bryan U.S. Army; Bosnia and Kosovo conflicts, and Iraq War
Charles J. Opersteny of Bryan U.S. Air Force; Korean War
Miguel Orozco of College Station U.S. Army; Korean War
Maurice Reyes Ramon of Waco U.S. Army; Vietnam War
Michael Lee Russell of Woodway U.S. Army; Bosnia conflict and Iraq War
Texas A&M women's basketball head coach Gary Blair was honored with the TX-17 Congressional Veteran Commendation Thursday. The award is given annually to 15 veterans who reside in Texas' 17th Congressional District for admirable service to the nation and the community by U.S. Representative Bill Flores.
Blair, who served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, has made a tremendous impact both on and off the basketball court during 15 seasons in Aggieland. He is a frequent speaker at local civic and student groups, and has helped raise over a million dollars for Special Olympics Texas through Coach Blair Charities.
The Dallas native was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, and led the Aggies to the 2011 NCAA National Championship. He ranks eighth among active coaches with 765 career wins, and has guided the Aggies to each of the past 13 NCAA Tournaments.
2017 TX-17 Congressional Veteran's Commendation recipients:
Gary Blair of Bryan U.S. Marine Corps; Vietnam War
Jonathan Cassens of Bryan U.S. Army
Charles "Chuck" Clark of College Station U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force Reserve and Texas Air National Guard; Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom
Luther G. Crum, Jr. of College Station Korea and Vietnam Wars
Robert B. Ellis of Bryan U.S. Army; Vietnam War
Larry E. Fikes of Bryan U.S. Air Force Reserve and U.S. Army Reserve; Vietnam War
Royce H. Hickman, Jr. of College Station U.S. Army; 1964-1970
John Carl Hince of Bryan U.S. Army; Vietnam War
Everlyn White (Trate) Humphrey of Bruceville U.S. Air Force; 1981-2001
Thomas Andrew Marty of College Station U.S. Air Force; Lebanon and Grenada conflicts
Caton O. Milstead of Bryan U.S. Army; Bosnia and Kosovo conflicts, and Iraq War
Charles J. Opersteny of Bryan U.S. Air Force; Korean War
Miguel Orozco of College Station U.S. Army; Korean War
Maurice Reyes Ramon of Waco U.S. Army; Vietnam War
Michael Lee Russell of Woodway U.S. Army; Bosnia conflict and Iraq War