The Curls’ first gift to the Texas A&M Foundation was rooted in Tom’s career. His admiration for his professors, mentors and the agricultural journalism program inspired him to strengthen its future by providing funds that encourage more students to enter the field. “When I was enrolled, there were only four other students in the major,” Tom said. Today, that same program has grown to serve more than 220 current students. “My goal in paying it forward is to help develop the next generation of agricultural journalists and communicators.”
As the Texas A&M Foundation’s flagship scholarship program, President’s Endowed Scholarships (PES) provide students with four years of financial support. Tom and Lynda established their PES to extend the same opportunities Tom once received, and today, students like Ruben Barrera ’28, a horticulture major from Roma, Texas, are reaping the benefits.
Growing up on the Texas-Mexico border, Barrera frequently interacted with the USDA, sparking his curiosity about pest control and plant pathology. That early exposure led him to pursue Texas A&M’s horticulture program, where he also hopes to minor or double major in entomology. “The Curls’ PES has allowed me to focus on my academics without the constant worry of financial strain,” Barrera shared. “While I may never be able to repay the Curls directly, I strive to continue their efforts of ‘paying it forward’ to future Aggies.”
Lynda’s uncle, Dr. W. Elmo Crenshaw, had a close relationship with Tom and left a meaningful legacy at Texas A&M. Originally from Edcouch, Texas, he ran a veterinary practice in Weslaco before moving to College Station, drawn by Aggie traditions and sporting events.
He served as a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and, in the 1980s, launched a program where he took three senior veterinary students on a weekly trip to Austin to gain real-world clinical experience. This award continues that legacy by making education more accessible to underrepresented communities, with preference for students from the Rio Grande Valley who want to pursue a veterinary medicine degree at Texas A&M.
“This scholarship is for students who face the same challenges we once did, coming from the Rio Grande Valley without the budget for college,” Lynda explained proudly.
The Curls contributed a significant amount to the ALEC Grand Vision project, supporting the construction and operations of the new Agriculture and Life Sciences Building that houses the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications. Their funds ensured the department had the resources to expand its initiatives. Today, the Curls’ name is etched in the walls of the building — literally. The Curl Media Lab is an interactive learning space equipped with state-of-the-art technology, providing students with the tools to sharpen their media skills and prepare them for professional careers.
Tom’s mother, Mary Alice Curl, and Lynda’s mother, Kathleen Bowers, both exemplified dedication to education. At a time when women faced limited career opportunities, they graduated from high school and enrolled in college, only to pause their studies to marry, raise children and support their families. Later, both returned to the classroom, earned their degrees and became teachers.
Building on their belief in the power of education, the Curls chose to honor them through a scholarship. “We have the utmost respect for our mothers and the value of education,” Tom said. “It was only appropriate that we named this scholarship after them — one that will support students who want to become teachers.”
Universal education is a value Tom and Lynda steward through their contributions to the Norman Borlaug Endowed Research Scholars Program at Texas A&M, which advances discoveries with global impact. Their generosity also reaches Rotary International, where they sponsor schoolchildren in Guatemala. “We believe that international barriers and cultural expectations should never prevent children from receiving an education,” Lynda emphasized. Both in Aggieland and abroad, the Curls’ commitments reflect a shared Borlaug-inspired spirit of making education accessible.
Tom and Lynda honored Lynda’s friend and former 4-H peer, Dr. Joe Townsend ’67, by contributing to the Dr. Chris and Dr. Joe Townsend ’67 Chair in Leadership Education and Student Excellence. Townsend wasn’t just a peer; for decades, he advanced leadership at Texas A&M, serving as associate dean for students and associate vice president for student development, as well as teaching in the ALEC department. He was instrumental in developing the agricultural leadership degree and in inspiring generations of students through the Townsend Leadership Fellows Program.
