April Monthly Lunch
US Foreign & Defense Policy
Feat. Prof. Richard Stoll, PhD, Rice University
Friday April 7, 2017: 11:30-13:30
- Agenda (times estimated)
- 11:30-12:00 Networking & margaritas
- 12:00 Seats, introductions, announcements, lunch orders
- 12:15 Guest Speaker
- 12:20-12:30 Lunch plate service during speaker
- 13:15 Speaker conclusion, final announcements B&G
El Tiempo Cantina Westheimer “1308” Annex (322 Westheimer Rd.)
- Lunch Menu Choice 1 of 3:
- Mixed beef + chicken fajitas + peppers & onions
- Las Vegas plate: cheese enchilada + crispy beef taco + chicken, beef or pork fajitas)
- Seafood plate: shrimp or crab enchilada + grill fish a la Mexicana
- Lunch includes chips & salsa, non-alcoholic beverage, & dessert
Prices
- $25 Member ONLINE purchase UPTO 1 week of event
- $30 Guest ONLINE purchase UPTO 1 week of event
- +$2: Member ($27) & Guest ($32) ONLINE purchases, week of event
- +$5: Member ($30) & Guest ($35) RSVP only, purchases at door
May Monthly Lunch: Special Edition
Feat. Ambassador Chase Untermeyer,
Former US Representative and Ambassador to Qatar
Friday May 5, 2017: 11:30-13:30
- Agenda (times estimated)
- 11:30-12:00 Networking & margaritas
- 12:00 Seats, introductions, announcements, lunch orders
- 12:15 Guest Speaker
- 12:20-12:30 Lunch plate service during speaker
- 13:15 Speaker conclusion, final announcements B&G
Tony Mandoa’s Gulf Coast Kitchen: 1212 Waugh Drive, Houston TX 77019
- Lunch Menu
- Choice of Starter: Sicilian Salad or Mama’s Gumbo
- Choice of Entree: Chicken John Kim, Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce, or Blackened Trout
- Choiec of Dessert: Chocolate Cake or Cheesecake
Prices
- Limited seats available
- $30 online advance pre-sale, through April 28
- ($25) Members get extra 15% discount with code @ check-out
- ($25) Members get extra 15% discount with code @ check-out
- $32 online pre-sale, after April 28
- ($27) Members get extra 15% discount with code @check-out
- $35 online RSVP only & purchase at the door
- Walk-ups (without RSVP) only allowed if seats available
- ($30) Members get extra 15% discount at the door
TxGC Chapter membership has its benefits…
- Members get 15% when they enter their promo code at check-out
- Contact John Augusto if you have questions or difficulties with tickets
The John Buckingham ’69 Scholarship
Your donation to the USNA Alumni Association, Tx Gulf Coast Foundation, makes a difference. As a 501(c)3, your donation is also tax deductible. Our current, spring campaign specifically goes towards the John Buckingham ’69 Scholarship, sponsoring young, bright, Naval Academy perspective candidates from the Houston area. These perspective candidates will be attending either the Naval Academy Admissions Department’s summer STEM or Summer Seminar (NASS) programs. Your donation goes to help fund a student who has been identified as financially in-need. Each year, the TxGC Foundation has been able to sponsor full tuition for some or all of the dozen-or-so perspective candidates from our area. These candidates can go on to become Midshipmen at the Academy, and future Naval Officers.
About NASS (Summer Seminar)
The US Naval Academy Summer Seminar is a fast-paced, six-day experience for high achievers who have completed their junior year in high school. Summer Seminar teaches you about life at the Naval Academy, where academics, athletics, and professional training play equally important roles in developing our nation’s leaders.
About Summer STEM
Engineering is all about creating, building, and making things better. So what does it take to be an engineer? If you like math and science, you are off to a great start. If you enjoy discovering new things, solving problems, and learning how things work – even better. Creativity, persistence, and the desire to make the world a better place are also important qualities. Becoming an engineer requires hard work and a good education. The Naval Academy’s summer program is a great start to a career in science and engineering.
Click “Buy Tickets” (green button above) to secure your sponsorship level
Sponsorship Levels
- Flagship Sponsor – $2,500
- Exclusive sponsorship role; All marketing material will recognize your organization as the title sponsor
- Beneficiaries will also promote your organization through their marketing channels, social media, websites
- Official activity sponsor or goods give away sponsor (glasses, headbands, shirts, etc).
- Opportunity to address the audience at the final event (silent auction)
- Opportunity to set up a marketing booth or display at the event
- Free admission for 10 people into the event
- Red Sponsor – $1,000
- Your organization’s logo is displayed at the event and in marketing materials (including social media)
- Official activity sponsor or give away sponsor (glasses, headbands, shirts, etc.)
- Opportunity to address the audience at the final event (silent auction)
- Opportunity to set up a marketing booth or display at the event
- Free admission for 6 people into the event
- White Sponsor – $500
- Your organization’s logo is displayed at the event and in marketing materials (including social media)
- Official activity sponsor or give away sponsor (glasses, headbands, shirts, etc.)
- Allowed to address the audience at their sponsored event
- Opportunity to set up a marketing booth or display at the event
- Free admission for 4 people into the event
- Blue Level – $250
- Your organization’s logo is displayed at the event and in marketing materials (including social media)
- Free admission for 2 people into the event
presented by ALF Technical Services
Click “Buy Tickets” (green button above) to secure your donation amount
Help make the Top Gun Annual Benefit a Success and donate today
- Donations made on this site, to the USNAAA Tx Gulf Coast Foundation (a 501(c)3 organization) are tax deductible
- Donations made here go directly to the USNAAA Tx Gulf Coast Foundation, ear-marked, with the specific intent of benefiting the Top Gun Annual Benefit
- Funds are used to help ensure the event’s success (set up costs), and all net proceeds will go directly to the event benefactors (all of which are 501(c)3 organizations)
- USNAAA Tx Gulf Coast Foundation (Buckingham scholarship, Smith-McCool fund, general fund)
- Team Red White & Blue
- Lone Star Veterans Association
EVENT CANCELLED
Credit card payments made for tickets are being refunded and should post within 5-7 days
October Monthly Lunch:
Buddy Wellborn’s Navy Football Update
As you may recall, our September monthly lunch, originally featuring Buddy Wellborn’s Navy football kick off was cancelled due to Hurricane Harvey. Buddy, a resident of Dickinson, sustained flood damage. As a result, we’re fortunate to have Buddy as our October lunch speaker. Please join us for our October lunch, as this is our only lunch, in this format, for the fall season.
Friday October 6, 2017: 11:30-13:30
- Agenda (times estimated)
- 11:30-12:00 Networking & margaritas
- 12:00 Seats, introductions, announcements, lunch orders
- 12:15 Guest Speaker
- 12:20-12:30 Lunch plate service during speaker
- 13:15 Speaker conclusion, final announcements B&G
El Tiempo “1308 Annex”: 322 Westheimer Rd
- Lunch Menu
- Chips & salsa, guacamole, & queso
- Choice of Entree:
- Chicken or beef fajitas
- Seafood enchiladas
- Las Vegas platter
Prices
- Limited seats available
- $30 online advance pre-sale, through September 29
- ($25) Members get extra 15% discount with code @ check-out
- ($25) Members get extra 15% discount with code @ check-out
- $32 online pre-sale, after September 29
- ($27) Members get extra 15% discount with code @check-out
- $35 online RSVP only & purchase at the door
- Walk-ups (without RSVP) only allowed if seats available
- ($30) Members get extra 15% discount at the door
TxGC Chapter membership has its benefits…
- Members get 15% when they enter their promo code at check-out
- Contact John Augusto or Rich Bulger if you have questions or difficulties with tickets
About Buddy Wellborn USNA ’59
Buddy Wellborn is a native Texan and graduated from USNA with the Class of 1959 winning the Thompson Trophy for Athletics. For all three of his varsity years, he played on Navy football teams with
winning seasons: 1956 (6-1-2); 1957 (9-1-1); and, 1958 (6-3). He was on
the Navy’s 1956 team that beat Notre Dame (and Heisman Trophy winner Paul Hornung) 33-7 in Baltimore, and then the next year he was AP’s Back of the Week for scoring all three touchdowns in Navy’s victory over Notre
Dame in South Bend. He shared the rushing honors for the Navy team that shutout Army (Anderson and Dawkins) 14-0 in 1957, and then beat Rice 20-7 for the Cotton Bowl Championship in 1958. The next season he
scored the winning touchdown in Navy’s 20-14 victory over Michigan in the “Big House.”
After commissioning, he married the girl of his dreams from Cartersville Georgia, and Houston’s prima ballerina, the beautiful Gladys
Camilla Hamby. They had three sons, R. Burke, Jr. (USNA ’85), Robert Guy (TRF Kings Bay), and John Paul (Savannah). Unfortunately for this
“Dream Team,” Gladys suffered from renal tubular acidosis that took her life 16 March 1993.
In July 1959, he first served in USS FRANK KNOX (DDR-743) deployed to WESPAC on patrol in the Formosa Strait off the islands of
Quemoy and Matsu. All in all he served thirty years on active duty logging over seventeen years at sea, half of which was in submarines. He had four commands at sea during the 70’s and the 80’s deploying with 2nd Fleet to
the North Atlantic and Arctic (Lofoten Islands); with 7th Fleet to the Western Pacific (YANKEE Station) and an excursion into the Indian Ocean
(Persian Gulf); and, with 6th Fleet to the Mediterranean. During his last deployment he commanded USS DETROIT (AOE-4)
and was the Battle Group’s Logistics Coordinator for OPERATION ELDORADO CANYON, the US air strike on Libya during the early
morning darkness of 15 April 1986– again, “…to the shores of Tripoli.” He received his MSEE from NPGS in 1969, and his MA from NWC in
1976. He was the Director of ASW Programs for the Naval Sea Systems Command, and managed the first installations of the Navy’s advanced
Tactical Towed Array Sonar (TACTAS) system. He has authored several professional papers, including Seaman’s Eye– Seaman’s Mind; RAS– the Multiplier; TRIXS– Tactical Readiness Information Exchange System; The Decibel—an Acoustic Primer; Again “…to the shores of Tripoli;”
The Efficacy of Submarine Warships; THREAT-21—Radical Islam; et al.
Buddy taught at Texas A&M Galveston in the 90’s but now only teaches part-time for ATI. For the last five years, he has posted reports of
Navy Football games on the internet for many USNA alumni groups that have acclaimed that his reports not only are exactingly informative but are reminiscence of the style of legendary sportswriter Grantland Rice.
In 2009, he was nominated to be a trustee for the NAAA.
Event Date
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Location
Start/Finish: Columbus Hall
GPS Address: 703 Columbus Rd, Wallis, TX 77485
Event Schedule
6:45 AM – Rider check-in & day-of registration begin
7:30 AM – Pre-ride ceremony begins
8:00 AM – Ride begins for all routes
Route Options
12 miles – view route
23 miles – view route
42 miles – view route
63 miles – view route
All courses are subject to change. Final queue sheets will be available the morning of the ride. Courses have fully supported rest stops and SAG support. All cycling levels are welcome, but please know your personal limits and register accordingly.
TxGC TEAM Registration Information (or Donate)
Salute to Veterans luncheon
presented by Rotary Club of Houston, West Point Society of Greater Houston, & the Naval Academy Alumni Assoc., Tx Gulf Coast Foundation
- November 9, 2017 – starts promptly at 11:30 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m.
- Location: Junior League of Houston, 1811 Briar Oaks, Lane, Houston, TX 77027
- Buying a ticket through us (TxGC Ticket) get’s you a seat at our VIP table
- SPEAKER:
- MG Tony Cucolo, former Commandant of the US Army War College, presently the Associate Vice Chancellor for Leadership Development & Veteran Affairs at the University of Texas System
- In addition to our distinguished speaker we are proud to announce that other special guests will include WWII, Korea, & Vietnam War Veterans plus active duty members of the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, and Air Force and some of their outstanding commanders; Your additional donation helps pay for our deserving guests!
Tickets at the TxGC Foundation table have ended; please consider buying a ticket via Rotary’s website, or at the door.
Thursday January 4, 2017: 10:30-12:30
- Agenda (times estimated)
- 10:30-11:00 Networking & margaritas
- 11:00 Seats, introductions, announcements
- 11:15 Lunch service
- 11:45 Speaker & presentation
- 12:30 Final announcements B&G
Taste of Texas: 10505 Katy Freeway
- Lunch Menu
- Dinner salad
- Choice of Entree:
- Grilled chicken
- Beef tip sirloin
- Wild rice pilaf
- Chocolate cake
TxGC Chapter membership has its benefits…
- Members get 15% when they enter their promo code at check-out
- Member’s promo code emailed out in newsletter
- $30 ($25 for members): Advance Purchase
- $35 ($30 for members): RSVP (pay @ door), day of purchases, walk-ups (if not sold out)
2018 Awardee: Midn. Michael D. Walker
Michael Walker is from College Station and a graduate of St. Joseph High School. At USNA, he is a Trident Scholar and Bowman Scholar studying Mechanical Engineering, with a focus in automotive engineering and vehicle dynamics. He is a member of the Marathon Team, SCUBA club, and Mountaineering Club, and is currently serving as the 14th Company Executive Officer. After commissioning, he will attend the Naval Postgraduate School and then join the Navy submarine force.
Keynote Speaker & Presenter: NASA Astronaut Chris Cassidy ’93
Christopher J. Cassidy (Captain, U.S. Navy) was selected by NASA in 2004 and is a veteran of two space flights, STS-127 and Expedition 35. During STS-127, Cassidy served as a Mission Specialist. For Expedition 35, Cassidy and the European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano had their unplanned spacewalk to replace a pump controller box cut short when Parmitano had cooling water leak into his helmet. Cassidy, a U.S. Navy SEAL, has been deployed twice to both the Mediterranean and Afghanistan and is a recipient of Bronze Star with combat ‘V’ and Presidential Unit Citation.
About the Smith McCool Sword Award
In January, each year, the TxGC Foundation awards the Smith-McCool Sword to the Midshipment from the Chapter area, with the highest order-of-merit, going into their First Class year. The sword, is named after astronaut Michael Smith ’67, who was lost in the Challenger disaster, and astronaut William McCool ’83, who was lost int he Columbia disaster.