AggieJohn
07-12-2005, 01:50 PM
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Updated July 12, 2005 5:21 AM
Eagle Staff Report
Tommie Vaughn, a member of Texas A&M’s 1939 national championship football team, died in Houston on Friday.
Vaughn, who was the team’s center and defensive captain, was 87.
Vaughn attended Texas A&M on an athletic scholarship, graduating in 1941 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and finance. While at A&M, he achieved the rank of Cadet Major in the Corp of Cadets as a Battalion Commander.
Upon graduating, Vaughn entered the Army as an infantry officer and later transferred to the Army Air Corp where he became a pilot. He was discharged in 1945 with the rank of captain.
Vaughn opened a Ford dealership in 1946 in Granbury, moving it to Glendale, Calif., in 1950.
In October 1956, he opened Tommie Vaughn Ford in Houston where the dealership remains. He was chairman of the Houston Automobile Dealers Association, a member of the Ford Dealer Council and was honored by Time magazine as one of the nation’s most distinguished automobile dealers.
He also was a member of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and was elected to the board of directors in 1961. He served as vice president from 1969-71 and president and chairman of the board from 1972-78.
A memorial service is planned for Tuesday at 11 a.m., at The New Church of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston. A private graveside service will follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery
Updated July 12, 2005 5:21 AM
Eagle Staff Report
Tommie Vaughn, a member of Texas A&M’s 1939 national championship football team, died in Houston on Friday.
Vaughn, who was the team’s center and defensive captain, was 87.
Vaughn attended Texas A&M on an athletic scholarship, graduating in 1941 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and finance. While at A&M, he achieved the rank of Cadet Major in the Corp of Cadets as a Battalion Commander.
Upon graduating, Vaughn entered the Army as an infantry officer and later transferred to the Army Air Corp where he became a pilot. He was discharged in 1945 with the rank of captain.
Vaughn opened a Ford dealership in 1946 in Granbury, moving it to Glendale, Calif., in 1950.
In October 1956, he opened Tommie Vaughn Ford in Houston where the dealership remains. He was chairman of the Houston Automobile Dealers Association, a member of the Ford Dealer Council and was honored by Time magazine as one of the nation’s most distinguished automobile dealers.
He also was a member of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and was elected to the board of directors in 1961. He served as vice president from 1969-71 and president and chairman of the board from 1972-78.
A memorial service is planned for Tuesday at 11 a.m., at The New Church of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston. A private graveside service will follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery