Two graduates of Texas Tech’s Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources – Joe Imamura and Dan Taylor – have been named recipients of the Texas Tech Alumni Association’s 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards, one of the university’s highest honors recognizing professional excellence, civic contribution and loyal support of the university.
"We congratulate Joe and Dan on this well-deserved recognition” said Davis College Dean Clint Krehbiel. “Their extraordinary achievements and dedication exemplify the spirit of excellence and service. We are proud to celebrate their dedication and contributions to agriculture, national resources, and landscape architecture."
The awards were presented Friday, Nov. 14, during a recognition dinner at the McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center. Nominees were submitted by alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the university, with eligibility limited to those who attended Texas Tech.
“Dr. Imamura’s work demonstrates how landscape architects can shape policy, stewardship, and the long-term health of our nation’s built environment,” said Leehu Loon, chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture.
“We’re immensely proud to call him a distinguished alumnus whose career reflects the design excellence, stewardship, and public service that are at the heart of our landscape architecture program,” Loon said.
Imamura, of Fairfax, Virginia, holds four degrees from Texas Tech, including a master’s in landscape architecture and bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in architecture. He currently serves as the Special Delegate of the Architect of the Capitol, representing the Architect on key national boards and councils that shape historic preservation, planning and land use.
In this role, Imamura helps guide national policy through the U.S. Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, emphasizing the environmental, cultural and economic importance of historic resources. He was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees for the National Building Museum and previously served as Regional Chief Architect for the U.S. General Services Administration in New York City.
Earlier in his career, Imamura directed the design and construction of more than 25 national, state and tribal veterans’ cemeteries for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2025, he was also named the Department of Landscape Architecture’s Distinguished Alumnus.
“Dan’s generosity and commitment to student success are evident in every aspect of his involvement with the university,” noted Matt Williams, Davis College Senior Director of Development. “He has funded scholarships that have helped deserving students pursue their education with fewer barriers, and he has supported academic and campus initiatives that strengthen the university’s mission.”
Taylor, a native of Ropesville, Texas, earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural education from Texas Tech in the 1960s. He began his career teaching agriculture science at Lubbock-Cooper High School before turning his focus to agribusiness.
In 1983, Taylor became owner and manager of Buster’s Gin, transforming it into a state-of-the-art cotton ginning operation known for its quality and innovation. He expanded the facility to include an educational space where the public could experience the cotton ginning process firsthand — a reflection of his lifelong dedication to agricultural education.
Taylor’s career has been marked by numerous accolades, including the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership Alumni Association’s 2014 South Plains Agriculture Leadership Award, the National Agricultural Alumni & Development Association’s 2008 Volunteer Service Award, and the 1998 Davis College Distinguished Alumni Award.
A longtime supporter of Texas Tech, Taylor has served on the Davis College Advisory Board, the Chancellor’s Council, and as president of the Texas FFA Foundation Board. His leadership and mentorship have left a lasting impact on the agricultural community across the South Plains.
CONTACT: Clint Krehbiel, Dean, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or Clint.Krehbiel@ttu.edu
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