Blinn College Alumni and Friends names Gus Mutscher the 2017 Person of the Year

Luncheon celebrates the induction of Mutscher, Sharp, Alfred, Krebs, and Tate to the Blinn College Hall of Honor

October 27, 2017

From left: Dr. Mary Hensley, Chancellor of the Blinn College District; Jim Kolkhorst, Past President of the Blinn College Alumni and Friends Association; and the 2017 inductees to the Blinn College Hall of Honor: Gus Mutscher, Ron Alfred, Becky Krebs, John Sharp, and Milton Tate.

The Blinn College Alumni and Friends Association named former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Gus Mutscher its 2017 Person of the Year, and also inducted four community leaders to the Blinn College Hall of Honor.

Mutscher, Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, businessman and former Blinn College Foundation Board President Ron Alfred, Blinn College alumna and Administrative Assistant to the Chancellor of the Blinn College District Becky Krebs, and City of Brenham Mayor Milton Tate each were inducted into the Hall of Honor. The Hall of Honor recognizes Blinn’s most distinguished alumni, local business leaders, and those who have made a significant impact in their communities or professions.

Mutscher was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1960, and was elected Speaker of the House in 1969. During his tenure, the House increased state financial support for higher education, mental health, and other state social services. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Brenham Assisted Living facility and in the creation of the Star of the Republic Museum at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site.

Following his service in the Texas House, Mutscher was appointed in 1976 to serve as Washington County Judge – a position he held for 14 years.

“Gus Mutscher’s incredible friendship to Blinn College and the Star of the Republic Museum had a tremendous impact on education in the State of Texas,” said Dr. Mary Hensley, Chancellor of the Blinn College District.

Sharp has served as Chancellor of the Texas A&M System since 2011. Under his leadership, the Texas A&M System and the Blinn College District have engaged in numerous partnerships, including the RELLIS Campus, an innovative educational community that combines a major university system with a community college at a single physical location in Bryan. The campus will allow Blinn College students to study in a state-of-the-art educational building and later seamlessly transfer to A&M System universities that also will have a presence at RELLIS. These students will be exposed to cutting-edge research by public and private entities in fields such as robotics, driverless vehicles and smart grids.

Prior to his appointment as Chancellor, Sharp served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives, the Texas Senate, and the Texas Railroad Commission, and he twice was elected to serve as state comptroller.

Formerly the President/CEO of the Brenham National Bank and Brenham Bancshares, Alfred now serves as Vice-Chairman of the Board and remains active on numerous bank committees. An active community leader, he has been President of the Brenham Noon Lions Club, The Washington County Texas Ex-Students Association, and the Brenham Country Club. He is past Chairman of the Economic Development Foundation of Brenham and of the Texas Bankers Association Lending Committee. He is a past Board Member of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas, District Councilman of the University of Texas Ex-Students Association, Board Member and officer in the Washington on the Brazos State Park Association, Director of the Washington County Chapter of the American Heart Association, Director of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, Director of the Texas Association of Business, Treasurer of the Endowment Committee at the first United Methodist Church, and Secretary-Treasurer of the Brazos Valley Bankers Association.

Alfred’s relationship with Blinn began as an instructor teaching real estate and business courses on the Brenham Campus. More recently, he has served several terms on the Blinn College Foundation Board, and held the position of President in 2015.

Alfred is a life member of the Alumni and Friends Association. His wife Deanna (Dippel) also is a Blinn graduate, and their sons Corby and Kurt attended Blinn before transferring to the University of Texas.

Krebs has worked with Blinn College for 23 years, serving as the assistant to four Blinn presidents and the current Chancellor. After graduating from Burton High School, Krebs attended Blinn, where she earned her Associate of Arts in business administration, then transferred to Texas A&M University to major in business administration.

As Assistant to Chancellor of the Blinn College District Dr. Mary Hensley, Krebs interacts with state, county, and local officials, works cooperatively with staff to carry out the District’s mission and vision, manages and maintains schedules, appointments and travel arrangements, arranges and coordinates meetings, and supervises student workers.

Krebs is a lifetime member of the Alumni and Friends Association, an O’Donnell Seat Patron, a Kruse Paver donor, former member Blinn Professional Association, and a former Blinn representative to the National and State Associations of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education (NAPHE). Krebs has coordinated, assisted, or participated in all the presidential searches at the College and worked with the trustees in various capacities.

Tate has served as Mayor of the City of Brenham since he was elected in a special election in 2003.

He was the first person from Washington County to serve on the Board of Directors of the Lower Colorado River Authority, and held all offices, including chairman. He served as chairman of the Texas State Bar Grievance Committee, was on the Brenham Industrial Foundation Board of Directors for 25 years, and served as Brenham Board of Community Development Chair. He was one of the founders and served on the Board of Directors of Texas National Bank, served as a Brenham Rotary Club member and officer, and served as past president of the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park Association board. He currently serves as First Vice President of the Brazos Valley Council of Governments.

In recognition of his commitment to civic service, Tate was named the Washington County Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 1996.

For more information regarding the Blinn College Alumni and Friends Association, visit www.blinn.edu/alumni.