About the Awards
The Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation’s mission is to celebrate and champion the business leaders of Texas, both present and future. For almost 40 years, the Texas Business Hall of Fame has honored the most transformative business leaders in our state through its annual induction dinner and ceremony. Each year, the Hall of Fame awards a select number of emerging business leaders to join us for that historical event and to receive prestigious awards for professional and entrepreneurial excellence.
Winners are interviewed and selected by Hall of Fame Legends and Board of Directors. In addition to a financial award of $15,000, recipients are invited to become a permanent and active member of the Hall of Fame network. Collectively, this network represents the exceptional entrepreneurial nature of our state and the commitment of our top business leaders to civic duty and professional excellence.
Types of Awards
FUTURE TEXAS BUSINESS LEGEND AWARD
The Future Texas Business Legend Awards Program recognizes excellence in student and veteran entrepreneurs across the state of Texas. Recipients are selected through our 24 higher-education universities and our veteran innovation partners for their innovative and entrepreneurial excellence. Nominated applicants will be considered for the university-specific awards and statewide awards. Recipients can only receive one award. For a full list of awards, please see below.
The application period is now closed. Stay tuned for details about the 2023 application process.
For more details, please click here.
University Specific Awards
THE CARLOS AND MALÚ ALVAREZ AWARD
This award, given to a student at one of the following San Antonio universities (Our Lady of the Lake University, St. Mary’s University, Texas A&M San Antonio, University of Texas at San Antonio, or University of the Incarnate Word), is funded by San Antonio business leader Carlos Alvarez, founder of The Gambrinus Company and 2010 Hall of Fame inductee.
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 LUCY BILLINGSLEY FUTURE TEXAS BUSINESS LEGEND AWARD
This award, given to a student at Southern Methodist University, is funded by Dallas business leader Lucy Billingsley, founder of Billingsley Company and 2017 Hall of Fame inductee.
T.T. & W.F. CHAO AWARD
This award, given to a student 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 AND KATHLEEN COLLINS & 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 Robert Dedman Trust, founder of ClubCorp and 1987 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 DOUG & MARTHA HAWTHORNE FAMILY FUND AWARD
This award, given to a student at Trinity University who is pursuing a career in administrative healthcare, is funded by Dallas business leader Doug Hawthorne, founder of Texas Health Resources and 2014 Hall of Fame inductee, and his wife Martha.
THE H-E-B AWARD
This award, given to a student at The University of the Incarnate Word, is funded by H-E-B a 2013 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 partially funded by The McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M.
THE MCLANE COMPANY READING PROGRAM AWARD
This award, given to a student from Texas Tech University’s Free Market Institute, is funded by Grady Rosier, former CEO of McLane Company and 2015 Hall of Fame inductee.
THE MITCHELL FAMILY FOUNDATION AWARD
This award, given to three students at Dallas Baptist University, the University of Dallas, and the University of Texas at Dallas, is funded by the family foundation of Dallas business leader Lee Roy Mitchell, founder of Cinemark and 2011 Hall of Fame inductee.
THE STEWART MORRIS AWARD
This award, given to a student at Houston Christian University, is funded by Houston business leader Stewart Morris, former Chairman of Stewart Title Company and Chairman Emeritus of Stewart Information International and 1995 Hall of Fame inductee.
THE MIKE A. MYERS AWARD
This award, given to a student at The University of Texas at Austin, is funded by Dallas business leader Mike A. Myers, President and CEO of Myers Bancshares, Inc. and 2008 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.
THE PEFANIS FAMILY AWARD
This award, given to a student at Texas Tech University, is funded by Houston business leader Harry Pefanis, President and Co-Founder of Plains All American and 2015 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.
THE KELCY WARREN GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP FOR ENGINEERING
This award, given to a student from The University of Texas at Arlington, is funded by Dallas business leader Kelcy Warren, Executive Chairman of Energy Transfer Partners and 2014 Hall of Fame inductee.
THE WILLIAM ZARTLER FUTURE TEXAS BUSINESS LEGEND AWARD
This award, given to a student from The University of Texas A&M, is funded by TBHF Director Alum, Bill Zartler, Executive Chairman of Aris Water Solutions.
FUTURE TEXAS BUSINESS LEGEND AWARD
This award, given to an eligible student, is funded by the Texas Business Hall of Fame and recognizes a student entrepreneur of excellence.
veteran Awards
The application period is now closed. Stay tuned for details about the 2023 application process.
Each year, TBHF award four veteran entrepreneurs. These applicants may come through our university partners, innovation centers, or veteran incubators programs. Veteran applicants do not need to be currently enrolled in a university program.
THE GREG ARMSTRONG FUTURE TEXAS LEGEND VETERAN AWARD
This award, given to a United States veteran, is funded by Houston business leader Greg 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.
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 VETERAN AWARD
This award, given to a United States veteran, is funded by the Texas Business Hall of Fame and recognizes a veteran entrepreneur of excellence.
StateWide Awards
The application period is now closed. Stay tuned for details about the 2023 application process.
Nominated applicants of the Future Texas Business Legend Award may also be considered for the following statewide awards of distinction. These awards do not require a separate application and are not in addition to the university-specific Future Texas Business Legend Awards.
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 inductee.
AT&T FUTURE LEGEND FIRST IN FAMILY AWARD
In honor of Richard Fisher, The Future Texas Business Legend Awards Program recognizes an exceptional student entrepreneur who is also the first in their family to attend college. Richard Fisher was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
THE BRETT WIGGS INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Future Texas Business Legend Awards Program recognizes a CEO/Team Lead of excellence in a startup based in Texas to receive the Brett Wiggs Innovative Leadership Award. This award is supported and named in honor of former TBHF scholar and CEO of Oryx Midstream, Brett Wiggs.
AT&T FUTURE EXECUTIVE LEADER OF DISTINCTION AWARD
Unlike our traditional awards that heavily focus on entrepreneurs, the Future Executive Leader of Distinction 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).