Award Donors

Thanks to Our Philanthropic Partners and Award Donors

Interested in making a gift or supporting the award program?
Contact TBHF Executive Director, Meredith Walker
713-960-1820 or mwalker@texasbusiness.org.

2025 Veteran Awards

The Greg L. Armstrong Future Texas Legend Veteran Award

This award, given to a United States Veteran, is funded by Houston business leader Greg L. Armstrong, co- founder and former Chairman of Plains All American Pipeline LLC and 2015 Hall of Fame inductee.

The Douglas L. Foshee Future Texas Legend Veteran Award

This award, given to a United States Veteran, is funded by Houston business leader and Veteran Douglas L. Foshee, former TBHF Scholar and founder of Sallyport Investments, LLC and 2012 Hall of Fame inductee.

The Miller Family Future Texas Legend Veteran Award

This award, given to a United States Veteran, is funded by Dallas business leader, David B. Miller, co-founder of EnCap, and 2024 Hall of Fame Inductee.

Nau Future Texas Legend
Marine Corps Veteran Award

This award, given to a United States Marine Corps Veteran, is funded by Houston business leader, John L. Nau III, founder of Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P. and 2012 Hall of Fame inductee.

Future Texas Legend Army Veteran Award in honor of James Galloway

This award, given to a United States Army Veteran, is funded by the The Galloway Foundation, and recognizes a Veteran entrepreneur of excellence.

2025 Statewide Awards

AT&T Future Executive Leader of Distinction Award in honor of Randall Stephenson

Unlike our traditional awards that heavily focus on entrepreneurs, the Future Executive Leader of Distinction (FELD) Award awards $15,000 to an MBA student who is a member of a historically underrepresented group and shows record and promise in making impressive contributions in an executive leadership role in established organizations. This award is named in honor of Randall Stephenson, former Chairman and CEO of AT&T and 2021 Hall of Fame inductee).

Future Texas Business Legend Directors’ Award supported by Amanda & Robert Brock

New for 2025, this is an entrepreneurial award given to a student at a Texas institution of higher learning that does not have a named TBHF Award at one of our partner universities. Any junior, senior or graduate student at a degree-granting university in the state of Texas can qualify for this award. To see our 2025 Partner Universities, click here.

T.T. & W.F. Chao Chairman’s Award

Every year, the Future Texas Business Legend Awards Program recognizes one exceptional candidate to receive the T.T. & W.F. Chao Chairman’s Award for their outstanding innovative and entrepreneurial excellence. This award is named in honor of the Chao family, founders of Westlake Chemical and 2018 Hall of Fame inductees.

Shaun D. Kennedy Award of Excellence in Empathy and Innovation initiated by Harvey E. Najim

This award recognizes an entrepreneur who is building a company focused on solutions for those with physical and/or developmental disabilities. This award is named in honor of the late Shaun Kennedy, former TBHF Chairman and San Antonio business leader.

The Future Texas Business Legend Scholar of Exceptional Valiance Award

This is a statewide award established in 2025, anonymously, by a former Texas Business Hall of Fame scholar who faced a unique set of social and economic challenges in his education and entrepreneurial journey. The award is reflective of that scholar’s own journey and recognizes an entrepreneurial student who has demonstrated an ability to overcome exceptional circumstances or obstacles.

The Brett Wiggs Innovative Leadership Award

This award recognizes a CEO/Team Lead of excellence in a startup based in Texas. It is supported and named in honor of former TBHF scholar and CEO of Oryx Midstream, Brett Wiggs.

2026 Scholar Awards

The Carlos & Malú Alvarez Award

This award, given to a student at one of the following San Antonio universities (Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio Colleges, St. Mary’s University, Texas A&M San Antonio, Trinity University, The University of Texas at San Antonio, or University of the Incarnate Word), is funded by the late San Antonio business leader Carlos Alvarez, founder of The Gambrinus Company and 2010 Hall of Fame inductee.

Greg Arnold Entrepreneurship Legend Award

This award, open to a student at Stephen F. Austin State University, is supported by Greg Arnold and the Greg Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship. Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents approved the naming of a new academic center and facility in the university’s Rusche College of Business after Greg Arnold ’87, CEO of TAC – The Arnold Companies, whose significant donation is being used to establish the center.

T.T. & W.F. Chao Awards

These two awards, given to one student at Rice University and one at University of Houston, is funded by Houston business leaders the Chao Family, founders of Westlake Chemical Company and 2018 Hall of Fame inductees.

James & Kathleen Collins and Vantage Bank Texas Future Texas Business Legend Award

This award, given to a student at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, is funded by James Collins, Chairman of Vantage Bank and TBHF Director, and his wife, Kathleen Collins.

The Robert H. Dedman Award

This award, given to a student at Southern Methodist University, is funded by the estate of Robert Dedman, founder of ClubCorp and 1987 Hall of Fame inductee.

The Alan & Barbara Dreeben Future Texas Business Legend Award

This award, given to a student at Texas State University, is funded by San Antonio business leader Alan Dreeben, partner at Republic National Distributing Company and 2023 Hall of Fame inductee, and his wife Barbara Dreeben.

The Paul Foster Future Texas Business Legend Award

This award, given to a student at Baylor University, is funded by El Paso business leader Paul Foster, founder of Western Refining and 2013 Hall of Fame inductee.

The William E. “Bill” Greehey Award

This award, given to a student at St. Mary’s University, is funded by San Antonio business leader Bill Greehey, founder of NuStar Energy and 2002 Hall of Fame inductee.

The McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship Future Texas Business Legend Award

This award, given to a student at Texas A&M University, is funded by The McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M and the Galloway Foundation.

The Morton H. Meyerson Future Texas Business Legend Award

This award, given to a student at The University of Texas at Austin, is funded by Morton H. Meyerson, the former chairman and CEO of EDS and Perot Systems and 2020/2021 Hall of Fame inductee.

The Mitchell Family Foundation Award

This award is given at Dallas Baptist University, the University of Dallas, The University of Texas at Arlington, and The University of Texas at Dallas. It is funded by the family foundation of Lee Roy Mitchell, founder of Cinemark and 2011 Hall of Fame inductee.

The Harvey Najim Future Texas Business Legend Award

This award, given to a student at the University of Texas at San Antonio, is funded by San Antonio business leader Harvey Najim, founder of Sirius Solutions, LLLP and 2010 Hall of Fame inductee.

Gary R. Petersen Future Texas Business Legend Award

This award, given to a student at Texas Tech University, is funded by Houston business leader Gary Petersen, Co-Founder of EnCap Investments and 2025 Hall of Fame inductee.

The Ben J. Rogers Award

This award, given to a student at Lamar University, is funded by Regina Rogers, in honor of her late father, Ben J. Rogers, founder of Texas State Optical and 1991 Hall of Fame inductee.

The SWBC Foundation Award

This award, given to a student at Sam Houston State University, is funded by San Antonio business leaders Charlie Amato and Gary Dudley, co-founders of SWBC and 2013 Hall of Fame inductees.

Education Awards

Texas Business Hall of Fame Teacher of Excellence Award supported by Alan & Barbara Dreeben

This award recognizes an outstanding business educator in the greater San Antonio area for their dedication to teaching and inspiring the next generation of business leaders through their innovation and commitment in the classroom. The Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation seeks to award a business, career and technology, or entrepreneurial high school teacher (grades 9-12) who is devoted to a career as a classroom teacher.

Texas Business Hall of Fame Teacher of Excellence Award supported by Jason and Jean Signor

This award recognizes an outstanding business educator in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area for their dedication to teaching and inspiring the next generation of business leaders through their innovation and commitment in the classroom. The Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation seeks to award a business, career and technology, or entrepreneurial high school teacher (grades 9-12) who is devoted to a career as a classroom teacher.

The TBHF Alumni Association Outstanding High School Entrepreneur Award in honor of Coulter & Lily Rush Hoppess

This award recognizes a Texas high school student who has demonstrated an early inclination to entrepreneurship and business leadership.

Ishaan Thakur Outstanding High School Entrepreneur Award