Leroy “Shafe” Shafer ‘67 named Distinguished Alumnus

Texas A&M and The Association of Former Students awarded Leroy “Shafe” Shafer ‘67 the Distinguished Alumni award, the highest honor a former student can receive. Shafer is also an FJSA Hall of Honor winner; he was inducted in 1999.

He was one of several Distinguished Alumni who were honored during halftime of the A&M-Mississippi State football game.

Credit: Association of Former Students.

From The Association of Former Students:

M. Leroy “Shafe” Shafer ’67 earned a bachelor’s in agricultural journalism from Texas A&M University. Commissioned into the U.S. Army, he spent four years on active duty where he served as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, earning the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster and the Air Medal six times.

Shafe spent the next 41 years with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, retiring as chief operating officer. Under his leadership, it grew into the largest event of its kind in the world, drawing over 2.5 million annual attendees and contributing monumental scholarship support to Texas youth, including more than 6,000 Aggies.

In 2015, Shafe was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He and his wife of 57 years, Nancy, have generously supported Texas A&M University through scholarships, internships and leadership gifts that benefit students across multiple colleges and programs. They are Endowed Century Club members of The Association of Former Students.