Future Texas Legend Veteran Awards
Veteran Awards Program
The Future Texas Legend Veteran Award recognizes exceptional U.S. military Veterans who are building impactful businesses across Texas. This award celebrates Veteran entrepreneurs who exemplify leadership, resilience, and business excellence—individuals whose entrepreneurial success reflects a commitment not only to personal achievement but to strengthening Texas’s economic and civic landscape.
For more than 40 years, the Texas Business Hall of Fame has honored the state’s most transformative business leaders. Now in its seventh year recognizing Veteran entrepreneurs, the Future Texas Legend Veteran Award recognizes those who continue their commitment to service through business leadership and economic impact.
Each year, the Foundation awards $20,000 each to exceptional Veteran entrepreneurs who are invited to be honored by the Texas Business Hall of Fame. Award recipients have the opportunity to become lifetime members of this legendary network of entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Samantha Snabes
Co-founder: Catalyst at re:3D Inc
Dennis Cail
Co-founder and CEO at Zirtue
2026 Selection Process
The Future Texas Legend Veteran Award is highly selective and nomination-based. Members of the Texas Business Hall of Fame network are eligible to nominate outstanding Veteran entrepreneurs. Veterans who have questions about the process or who wish to be considered without a nomination may contact Patrice Bartlett at pbartlett@texasbusiness.org.
Nominated Veterans who align with the award criteria will be invited to submit supporting documentation for consideration by the TBHF review committee.
Selected candidates advance through a rigorous evaluation process and are invited to participate in in-person interviews with a panel of Texas Business Hall of Fame members every spring. Honorees are chosen based on entrepreneurial achievement, leadership, and alignment with TBHF’s mission and values.
Eligibility: Please carefully review the eligibility requirements document (linked below) before submitting nomination(s).
Timeline: Nominations are due to TBHF by February 1, 2026. Future Texas Legend Veteran Award Recipients will be announced in early May 2026.
Learn More: Please email Patrice Bartlett at pbartlett@texasbusiness.org with questions.
Jake Newbold
President and CEO at Trident 1
Brad Harrison
Founder/Managing Partner at Scout Ventures
Veteran Award Recipients
2025 Award Recipients
John Albers, Chairman and CEO, Albers Aerospace, U.S. Marine Corps
John Elmore, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Rise Association Management Group, U.S. Marine Corps
Brad Harrison, Managing Partner, Scout Ventures, U.S. Army
Joseph Kopser, President, Grayline Group, U.S. Army
Jake Newbold, President and CEO, Trident 1, U.S. Navy
2024 Award Recipients
Luke Barnes, CEO, Crux Security, U.S. Marine Corps
Dennis Cail, Founder and CEO, Zirtue, U.S. Navy
Frank Coppersmith, CEO, Smarter Reality, LLC, U.S. Air Force Reserve
Edward Crawford, Co-Founder, Co-CEO, Coltala Holdings, U.S. Navy
David Holland, Owner, Longtab Brewing, U.S. Army
Josh Lawton, Managing Partner, Squared Compass, U.S. Army
2023 Award Recipients
Craig Cummings, General Partner, Moonshots Capital, U.S. Army
Shane Faucheux, Business Development Manager – Electrification, Applied Fluid Power, U.S. Marine Corps
Michael Pleasant, CEO, Open Security Inc., U.S. Marine Corps
Jeremy Lowell, Founder and Managing Director, The KYO Group, U.S. Army
2022 Award Recipients
Bret Boyd, CEO, Sustainment, U.S. Army
Courtney King Gallagher, Co-Founder, Fishviews, Inc., U.S. Navy
Miguel Lopez, Owner, Congans, LLC, U.S. Marine Corps
Brendan Mullen, Founder and CEO, MKS2 Technologies, U.S. Army
2021 Award Recipients
Justin Bradshaw, Director of Discovery and Delivery, Performance Partnership, Danaher Corporation, U.S. Army
Steve Jimenez, CEO, Hives For Heroes | Heroes Honey, U.S. Marine Corps
Robert E. Strong, Jr., Founder/Owner/Chef/CEO, PTFAWG, LLC d.b.a. Pretty Thai®, U.S. Air Force
Travis P. Washington, Founder, La Vida Lux, U.S. Army
2020 Award Recipients
Anthony Gantt, Jr., CEO, At Ease Rentals Corporation, U.S. Marine Corps
Dyan Gibbens, Vice President and Founder, Trumbull, U.S. Air Force
Judson Kauffman, CEO, Sovereign Materials, Inc., U.S. Navy
Samantha Snabes, Co-founder: Catalyst, re:3D Inc., Air National Guard
Future Texas Business Legend Award Donors
Thank you to the generous donors who support the Veteran Awards Program.
Greg L. Armstrong
Legend Class of 2015
Doug Foshee
Legend Class of 2012
The Galloway Foundation
David B. Miller
Legend Class of 2024
John L. Nau, III
Legend Class of 2012
Bill Zartler
TBHF Director and
TBHF 1988 Award Recipient