TEXAS AGGIES       GO TO WAR

James E. Rudder, Class of 1932

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Born May 6, 1910 • Passed away March 23, 1970

From Rudder’s Rangers to Visionary for a 20th Century University

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James Earl Rudder confronted challenge head on throughout his life from the harsh landscape of far West Texas, to the sands of Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge and back home to Texas to hold key statewide leadership positions for both the state of Texas and ultimately president of his alma mater Texas A&M University.

For his service in time of war, Rudder, who rose to the rank of Major General, earned the Distinguished Service Cross, Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, French Legion of Honor with Croix de Guerre and Palm, and Order of Leopold (Belgium) with Croix de Guerre and Palm.

In 1959, Earl Rudder became the 16th president of Texas A&M and set the course for the institution to take its place on the national and world stage. He recognized that in order to keep the University competitive change was needed. Under his leadership, the school changed its name from Texas AMC to Texas A&M University, opened enrollment to female and black students, and made participation in the Corps of Cadets optional.

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