BLINN ALUMNI & FRIENDS ASSOCIATION INDUCTS NEW HALL OF HONOR MEMBERS

  

The Blinn College Alumni and Friends Association celebrated four individuals today (Friday) for the impact they have made on Blinn College and their communities. 

James Grimm, the late Billy Jay Mills, Casey Oldham and Dr. Robert Wright were inducted into the Hall of Honor during a ceremony at the Blinn College Student Center Banquet Room, recognizing their leadership, service and professional accomplishments. 

James Grimm attended Blinn for two and a half years and has spent decades supporting agriculture, education, and opportunities for future generations.

After serving in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Grimm worked for the Texas Department of Agriculture for 20 years, rising to Chief Inspector. He later served as Executive Vice President of the Texas Poultry Federation and played an important role in the growth of the Texas poultry industry.

Grimm helped develop AGVENTURE exhibits at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, and Rodeo Austin and has served in numerous state and national advisory roles.

His support for Blinn includes a significant contribution to the Rankin Agricultural Complex, where the James and Walline Grimm Classroom bears the couple’s name. He has been active with the Blinn Alumni and Friends Association for more than 12 years and has helped support educational opportunities through scholarships and fundraising efforts.

Click below to hear Grimm's full acceptance speech.

Billy Jay Mills attended Blinn on a football scholarship beginning in 1971 and was part of the 1972 Buccaneer team that finished 11-0 and ranked second in the nation. He earned his Associate of Arts degree from Blinn in December 1973 before continuing his education at Baylor University.

After graduating from Baylor, Mills joined Head Coach Grant Teaff’s football staff and spent nine years with the Bears. He later joined his family’s business, Modern TV & Appliance in Killeen, where he helped guide the company’s continued growth.

Mills also served in numerous civic and professional leadership roles, including positions with the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce, Association of the United States Army, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, and Killeen Independent School District.

Click below to hear comments from Karen Boehnke Thornton, Michael Griffin and Floyd Hogan on behalf of Mills.

Casey Oldham has helped shape the Brazos Valley business community through more than two decades of leadership in real estate, investment, development, and community service.

He is Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Oldham Goodwin Group LLC, a Texas-based real estate firm he founded in Bryan in 2004. The company has expanded into markets across Texas, with a portfolio that includes hotels, multifamily developments, retail properties, life sciences, and master-planned communities.

Oldham earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University and has served in numerous business and community leadership roles, including with American Momentum Bank, the Brazos Valley Community Foundation, Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation, and Texas A&M University.

Click below to hear Oldham's complete acceptance speech.

Dr. Robert Wright made history at Blinn while helping expand educational opportunities for students throughout the region. He joined Blinn in 1984 as administrative assistant to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, becoming the first African American to serve in an administrative role at the College. He was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs in 1991.

In that role, Wright helped implement Blinn’s off-campus programs at area high schools, laying the foundation for what is now the College’s Dual Credit Program. He also administered Blinn’s correctional facilities program, which provided college-level courses at correctional facilities.

A retired U.S. Air Force major and Vietnam veteran, Wright has remained deeply involved in Washington County through numerous civic and service organizations. He also has been a longtime advocate for veterans and has worked with the VFW and Blinn College Foundation to provide scholarships for Washington County students.

Click below to listen to Dr. Wright's full acceptance speech.

Each year, the Hall of Honor ceremony celebrates distinguished alumni and friends, local business leaders, and those who have made significant contributions in their communities or professions. 

(Biographies courtesy Blinn College)