In 2010, Marijo and Bob English '46 established a charitable gift annuity, with the help of the Texas A&M Foundation, to benefit the Corps of Cadets and their family.
For the late Bob ’46 and Marijo English, giving back was never a question. Their commitment to Texas A&M University spanned a 12-year period, during which they funded five scholarships for current students, including one endowed scholarship, two General Rudder Corps Scholarships and two Sul Ross Scholarships.
In 2010, the Englishes decided to make a charitable gift annuity that would benefit students after their lifetimes. This planned gift provided Corps of Cadets 21st Century (Corps 21) Scholarships and created a Corps of Cadets Leadership Excellence Program Fund.
When the Englishes passed away, their legacy at Texas A&M remained strong. Their planned gift was realized and began funding four-year scholarships for students in the Corps. Their charitable gift annuity also created the J.R. English Jr. ’46 Family Corps of Cadets Leadership Excellence Program Fund, which enhances activities for Corps leadership programs. One of the first students to benefit from the couple’s generous gift is Ryan Dailey ’19, an applied mathematics major.
Creating Opportunities for Cadets
Ryan Dailey, far right, is a recipient of the Englishes' Corps 21 scholarship. He is also a member of Company E-2, a sophmore cadet company who handles Reveille.
Originally from Flower Mound, Texas, Dailey grew up hearing about the traditions and spirit of Texas A&M and immediately knew he wanted to join the Corps. This past year, Dailey was a member of Company E-2 and will serve as first sergeant for Company S-2 during the 2017-2018 academic year.
“I thought, ‘What better way to experience all that this university has to offer than to join the organization that’s been here since day one?’” Dailey said.
But with four other siblings in his family, finances were an issue. The Englishes’ Corps 21 Scholarship covers Dailey’s tuition for four years, lessening the financial burden on his family and ensuring education is his primary concern.
“The scholarship allows me to focus on bigger things than finances,” said Dailey. “I can go the extra mile and make an impact in the Corps. It gives me the freedom to pursue anything I want, and I’m thankful for that.”
The Aggie Joke Discount
Bob’s support of Texas A&M was apparent well before he and Marijo started making gifts through the Texas A&M Foundation. In the 1970s, when his business was just starting out, English coined the nickname “Aggie Bob” from a gimmick he used in his store. The endearing nickname lasted until his passing years later.
To expand his customer base, English paid $1 to any person who could share an Aggie joke in his paint store. What started out as an endeavor to sell car batteries became a large-scale automotive paint company, and today, English Color and Supply Inc. has more than 51 stores.
The Englishes funded their last gift through a charitable gift annuity, giving both Bob and Marijo lifetime payments, a generous tax deduction, significant payout rates and a choice of payment intervals. A charitable gift annuity is a contract between an individual and the Texas A&M Foundation. An individual makes a gift to the Foundation, and the Foundation, in turn, makes fixed payments back to the individual for the rest of his or her lifetime. The remainder goes to support Texas A&M.
The couple’s generosity gives cadets the ability to make their own mark at the university.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned in the Corps is that Aggies help other Aggies,” Dailey said. “Whether it’s your buddies helping you survive freshman year or former students who give back, there is always someone willing to lend a hand. This scholarship allows me to focus on my education, my legacy and my impact at Texas A&M.”
