Outstanding alumnus recounts Aggie Ring odyssey in magazine

[James R. Thompson ’68] (http://www.arch.tamu.edu/community/formerstudents/outstanding-alumni/past-honorees/85/) , an outstanding alumnus of Texas A&M’s College of Architecture, shares a journey of discovery in the current issue of Texas Aggie [magazine] (http://www.aggienetwork.com/TexasAggie/) that began when he bought an Aggie Ring at a Waco auction house in 2008.

“I didn’t realize how much of my time, resources and energy I would spend over the next three years finding of who this Class of ’41 Aggie was,” said Thompson, founder of [James R. Thompson, Inc.] (http://www.jrtconstruction.com/JRTMain.html) , a commercial general contracting firm with offices in Dallas, Ft. Worth, and Houston.

The ring belonged to Alexander Henry Beville, who Thompson learned was commissioned as second lieutenant in the U.S. Army after his graduation, but was killed in World War II in Italy by a German mine.

Thompson eventually met Beville’s classmates and learned about his best friend, fellow cadet Paul G. Haines Jr. ’41, who also died in the war.

“This three-year journey has caused me, more than ever, to appreciate what the Aggie Ring represents,” said Thompson.

Active members in The Association of Former Students can read Thompson's article online at The Association’s [website] (http://www.aggienetwork.com/TexasAggie/) .