Emanuel Glockzin Jr. ’72 created a professorship in Texas A&M's poultry science department that continues to support its faculty holder and bolster Texas A&M's poultry judging team.
Despite being two generations apart, Emanuel Glockzin Jr. ’72 and Kyle Brown ’16 talk about Texas A&M’s poultry judging team with the same degree of fondness.
“It was one of the best times of my life,” said Glockzin, who joined during his junior year and graduated with a degree in poultry science. “I remember sitting in the front seat of a brand-new station wagon headed to the national competition in Arkansas with three of my teammates in the backseat. We laughed and told stories the whole way.”
As a tribute to his time at Texas A&M and to one special professor in particular, Glockzin gave a $150,000 endowed gift in 1998 to ensure that future poultry science students like Brown have similar opportunities to participate on the judging team.
“Being a member of the team pushed me outside of my boundaries and led me to pursue new academic goals,” said Brown. “Through the experience, I achieved my dream of being part of a nationally ranked organization and met amazing people along the way.”
Humble Beginnings
Glockzin grew up in Bryan, Texas, where he became involved in 4-H—and poultry judging specifically—at a young age. Through competitions, he learned how to judge laying hens, identify poultry parts, and grade eggs and ready-to-cook poultry. Because he had to defend his judging decisions verbally, he also grew confident in public speaking. Between poultry and hay sales, Glockzin scraped up enough money to pay for Texas A&M tuition, which at the time was only $250 per semester.
A two-year member of the poultry judging team, he earned third-high individual at the national competition in 1971. He attributes his success in poultry judging back then and in business today to one man: Dr. W.F. “Doc” Krueger, who served as a faculty member for Texas A&M’s poultry department for 57 years and was head of the department during Glockzin’s time at Texas A&M.
“Dr. Krueger was just one of those guys,” Glockzin said. “He always knew the right thing to say, and he had the most admirable work ethic. He worked well into his 80s!”
Upon graduation, Glockzin planned to enter the ranching business but soon realized how hard it would be without land of his own. Now, in what he considers a great irony, he owns Brazos Valley Construction, a business he started in 1979, and retains land all over Brazos County.
“I got my first big break after building an apartment complex in Hearne that houses 16 units,” Glockzin said. “The price of land was cheap back then and even though I didn’t have a background in construction, I decided I could make a life out of this.”
Together, he and his wife Elaina decided that their family would live off of her income and save all proceeds from Glockzin’s business. Their financial plan left them in the perfect position when they decided to give back to Texas A&M in honor of Dr. Krueger.
Texas A&M is home to a nationally ranked poultry judging team.
Opening New Doors
In May 1998, the couple established the Elaina and Emanuel Glockzin Jr. ’72 Professorship in Poultry Science. Its first holder was none other than Dr. Krueger.
“If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know where I’d be,” Glockzin admitted. “The professorship was the perfect way to show my appreciation for Dr. Krueger and the poultry science department at Texas A&M.”
The professorship is awarded to the faculty member that manages the poultry judging team, while other funds from the endowment support judging team activities such as travel to national competitions, student jackets and awards.
“With its family feel and nationally ranked judging team, Texas A&M’s poultry science department was at the top of my list,” said Brown, who has also been a two-year member of the poultry judging team under the direction of Dr. Jason Lee ’00. Brown earned second-high individual at the 2013 national poultry competition.
“The poultry judging team steered my life toward a new path,” Brown said. “I grew interested in undergraduate research and decided to continue my education through a graduate program.”
Now a doctoral student in poultry science, Brown too can say he owes part of his success to his time at Texas A&M, to the poultry science department and to one special person: Emanuel Glockzin.
