It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of former President George H.W. Bush, an honorable leader who admirably demonstrated what it means for a life of service to be a life well lived.
For Christi and me, President and Mrs. Bush were not only exemplary pillars of our Nation and Aggie family, but close friends. We would not be who we are today if not for our personal relationship with them. As a graduate of the Bush School, I am honored to be part of President Bush’s living legacy and to carry forth the philosophy I learned there: a philosophy shaped by the core tenets by which President and Mrs. Bush lived. They taught me nothing is more important than faith, family, and friends, and that all our endeavors could be achieved through compromise, civility, and resilient thinking. I strive each day to make a life of meaning as they did.
Within our local community, we are proud to promote President Bush’s legacy through the Bush School of Government and Public Service, the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation, and the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. I am confident that President Bush would be very proud of how these institutions will continue to carry on his steadfast belief that public service is a noble calling.
Words cannot express our gratitude for President Bush’s myriad lifetime accomplishments, not only for the international and national impact he had as President, but also in his post-presidency work as an advocate and supporter of charitable causes, including at Texas A&M. Our university, and particularly the Bush School, has benefited tremendously from the Bush relationship. The Bushes always so admired our students, faculty, staff, and entire campus environment. I know they will both find comfort in being laid to rest in a place which filled them with a sense of optimism and promise for the future.
Let’s all pray for peace and comfort for the Bush family. May President Bush’s life serve as a constant reminder of how one Point of Light can inspire others to make a life of meaning in service to others.
With respect,
Tyson Voelkel
President, Texas A&M Foundation
