Olson, Jarvis inducted into Ag Economics Honor Registry

Media contact: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, b-fannin@tamu.edu

COLLEGE STATION – Mark Olson (’71) and Britt Jarvis (’85) are the newest inductees into the Texas A&M University Department of Agricultural Economics Tyrus R. Timm Honor Registry.

The Honor Registry is named after Tyrus R. Timm, who led the department for 20 years during its rise to prominence in teaching, research and extension. Timm was a 1934 graduate of the department in agricultural administration.

“We are extremely pleased to honor these former students who have not only excelled professionally, but have exhibited leadership and outstanding achievement in both business and local communities,” said Dr. Mark Waller, acting department head. “They exemplify what this registry is all about and reflect the core values of Texas A&M: excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service.”

Olson’s career has been in the financial services industry. He currently serves as a management consultant to the securities, banking and insurance industries. He began his career in 1978 as a registered representative with Shearson Lehman in Amarillo.

He later became national sales director at Kemper Financial Services. Olson advanced to become chairman and president at Invest Financial Corporation before joining Allstate as vice president of distribution. He held positions of executive vice president of Allstate Financial Services and national sales director of Allstate Life Insurance and CEO of AFS LLC, Allstate’s broker/dealer.

Later in his career, he became president of Brewer Investment Group, a Chicago-based financial services company before retiring from the company in 2010.

Olson and wife, Linda, reside in The Villages, Fla.

Jarvis, of Spearman, is a lawyer and operates various agricultural enterprises in the Panhandle. In his law practice, he specializes in estate planning for clients and assisting with planning of agricultural operations. A U.S. Army veteran, he received a Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement while serving in Vietnam.

He is a longtime supporter of many youth programs, including Boy Scouts of America, a 30-year member of Spearman Lions Club and a longtime supporter of the Hansford 4-H Club. He and his wife, Linda, received the District Services Award for their dedication to the program.

Jarvis attends Aggie Muster every year and assists with the organization of the event.

For more information about the Tyrus R. Timm Honor Registry and its honorees, visit the website at http://tyrustimmregistry.org/ .