The Sam E. Curl Agriculture Leadership Endowment was established by Sam and Mary Curl in 2003. These scholarships are to be used to support students participating in the Government Internship program within the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources.

Sam E. Curl graduated from Sam Houston State University in 1959 with an undergraduate degree. In 1961, he graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Master of Science in Animal Genetics. He then continued on to Texas A&M University to receive a Ph.D. in Animal Physiology. He was a U.S. Army officer completing his service with the rank of Captain. Dr. Curl completed an American Council on Education Academic Administration Internship at Oklahoma State University in 1972-73 as Special Assistant to the President and was President of Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma from 1976 to 1979.

Throughout his career, he authored or co-authored three books and 95 scientific or technical publications. He was a past president of the Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists, the Southern Region Administrative Heads, and the Lubbock Economic Council, was past Chairman of the Board of the Mid-America International Agricultural Consortium, and received Distinguished Alumnus awards from the University of Missouri and Sam Houston State University.

Dr. Curl served a total of 31 years at Texas Tech University, including three years as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. He was Dean of the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources at Texas Tech from 1979 to 1997. From 1997-2004, he was Dean of the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University, Director of the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, and Director of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. After retiring from full-time service in July of 2004, he engaged in professional consulting, working for Tarleton State University as Executive Assistant to the Provost and Special Assistant for Research and Development to the Dean of Agriculture and Human Sciences. He also worked in a consulting capacity for Ag Workers Mutual Auto Insurance Company in Fort Worth.

His interests included spending time with his children and grandchildren, a lifelong love of fishing, playing and watching sports of any kind, traveling, and enjoying musical theatre. He was a member of Acton United Methodist Church. Dr. Curl passed away in August of 2016.

To support this scholarship, please visit the Sam E. Curl Agriculture Leadership Endowed Scholarship gift page.

Contact

Alex Yack
Alex.Yack@ttu.edu
Senior Director of Development
806.742.2802

Matt Williams
matt.williams@ttu.edu
Associate Director of Development
806.742.2802

Tanner Rex
tanner.rex@ttu.edu
Assistant Director of Development
806.742.2802