Gerald W. Thomas, former dean of the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources had a vision for the college to connect with and honor its industry partners. Davis College Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Tracee Murph, said Dean Thomas focused on three mantras—agricultural production, agribusiness and public service. 

“He was very much about industry partners and training our students to be good industry stewards,” Murph said. “Those are the three things that he focused on, not only as a dean, but as an industry partner himself.”  

When Dean Thomas retired, the Davis College established the Gerald W. Thomas Outstanding Agriculturalist Awards in his honor in 1969. Three awards were created, one for each of Dean Thomas’ mantras.

Today, previous award winners vote for award nominees in ballot style. From there, an internal committee selects the winner from the top three voted candidates for each category. 

Attorney David K. Waggoner, J.D., was named the 2024 recipient of the agribusiness award. Based in Hillsboro and Corsicana, Texas, Waggoner focuses his legal practice on agriculture and real estate law. 

A Davis College alumnus, Waggoner was highly involved during his time at Texas Tech University before earning his animal science degree in 1983. He participated in the livestock and horse judging teams, served in Mortar Board, and Block and Bridle, and played a key role on the Davis College Ag Council, where he helped organize the annual Pig Roast. 

“It was always just a fun event because it brings back a lot of the alumni, all the award winners,” Waggoner said, “and then of course recognizing a lot of the judging teams.” 

Before beginning his law career, Waggoner built an impressive resume in both academia and public service. While earning his master’s degree, he coached the livestock judging team at Virginia Tech. He later completed an MBA from George Washington University, while also working in Washington, D.C., first for a congressman and then as a special assistant to the secretary of agriculture under President George H. W. Bush. 

His time in Washington sparked a deeper interest in agricultural policy and legal issues, ultimately leading him back to Texas Tech to pursue a law degree and begin his career as an attorney. 

“I decided that I like agriculture, but I think my interests are more in line with ag policy and some of the legal issues that are confronted,” Waggoner said. “That’s when I chose to go to law school versus a different type of graduate program.” 

Through all these experiences, Waggoner’s goal has always been to remain connected to agriculture. 

“The premise for everything I’ve done and been able to accomplish has been based on agriculture in some form,” he said. 

An individual with many accolades and accomplishments to his name, Waggoner is grateful for generous scholarships he received during his undergraduate studies at Texas Tech. 

“It was a necessity,” Waggoner said. “Like so many students, that was one of the primary reasons my twin brother and I went to Texas Tech… and without scholarships, it would have been extremely difficult to attend college at that time.” 

Layne Burnett, Lead Writer; Livie Sassenberg, Photo Director; Payton Schuette, Design Coordinator; Taylor Delong, Digital and Advertising Manager

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