The Daniel Brackeen Davis College Scholarship Endowment was established in 1987 by Mr. Daniel L. Brackeen, to provide scholarships to students pursuing any agricultural degree with the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Preference is given to High School graduate students from Carson County; to include cities of Panhandle, White Deer, and Groom.              

Daniel L. Brackeen graduated from Texas Tech in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in Dairy Management and continued on to receive his Master of Science in Food Technology. He worked as an ice cream processor and lab technician at the Texas Tech Creamery while attending school. He was enrolled in army ROTC and was a distinguished military graduate.

Daniel began his professional career by interning with The Kroger Company as a manager trainee. Although The Kroger Company hired him as a result of his internship, he started at the bottom as a third shift foreman processing fluid milk and by-products. In April 1970, the U.S. Army commissioned him as a second lieutenant.  After a year at Ft. Lee, Virginia, he served one year at Ft. Hood, Texas before serving 10 months in Vietnam.

Daniel's next professional position was with Knowlton's Dairy Company, San Antonio, Texas, as the assistant plant superintendent for milk processing. During his two years with the company, he became superintendent of their ice cream manufacturing division. He then moved to Dallas where a small family business, Arthur's Ice Cream Specialties, Inc., offered him an ownership opportunity. As owner, Daniel founded a new product in 1976—Arthur's Frozen Yogurt Mix. He sold the yogurt mix to “This Can't Be Yogurt" that later became "TCBY-The Country's Best Yogurt." He helped build TCBY into a premier yogurt business. Arthur's Yogurt became Americana Foods, Inc., in 1983 under Daniel's direction.

He founded Heritage Family Specialty Foods, Inc., Grand Prairie, Texas, in 1991. Heritage Family Specialty Foods produces retail niche products as well as restaurant and food service products. On the institutional side, the company produces items for national restaurant chains such as mayonnaise for Chili's and salad dressings for Cheddars.

Daniel served on the Dean's Advisory Committee for the College and received the College's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1988. He was a member of the Food Technology Endowment Committee and the Institute of Food Technologists and is involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Daniel married Cheryl Anderson Brackeen in 1967. They have three daughters; Angela, Amy and Jill. Angela Brackeen Moss graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in English and Amy Brackeen Keller graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Allied Health Clinic Lab Sciences.

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Contact

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

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

Shelbey Havens
shelbey.havens@ttu.edu
Assistant Director of Development
806.834.1108