Craig Shook ’75 was recently inducted into the Tyrus R. Timm Honor Registry in the Department of Agricultural Economics in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
The Timm registry is the highest department-level honor and recognizes outstanding former students in the Department of Agricultural Economics for meritorious accomplishments in their fields. It is named after Tyrus R. Timm, who led the university’s agricultural economics department from 1953 until 1973. Timm was nationally renowned for his expertise in finance and agricultural banking, and under his direction, the department gained national prominence in teaching, research and extension.
The induction ceremony was held recently on the Texas A&M campus in conjunction with the Texas Farm Credit Entrepreneurial Dreams Symposium.
“Craig Shook’s life has been that of a servant-leader whose actions exemplify integrity and excellence in all that he does,” said Clark Springfield, Ph.D., registry coordinator, professor of practice and director of the Weston AgriFood Sales Program. “He is an example of what Aggies are known for around the world and an excellent addition to the Tyrus R. Timm Honor Registry.”
Rudy Nayga, Ph.D., head of the Department of Agricultural Economics, said Shook “exemplifies the type of achievement this registry seeks to recognize and reflects the core values of Texas A&M — excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service.”
About Craig Shook
Shook graduated from Texas A&M in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics. In 1979, he began working as the director of farm and ranch, oil and gas operations for the Robert and Julia Driscoll and Robert Driscoll Jr. Foundation in Corpus Christi, where he remained until his retirement 39 years later.
During his career, he had roles on several committees and boards, including as president of the South Texas Cotton and Grain Association. Shook was also influential in implementing the Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation in Texas, serving as its vice-chairman and director from its inception in 1997. He was awarded the Epsilon Sigma Phi’s State Friend of Extension award in 1993.
Shook has worked with several state and national organizations during his career. He served on the Board of the National Cotton Council for 12 years and was an officer for six years. As a producer representative for the council, he traveled to many areas with cotton interests, including Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, Columbia, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Morocco, Egypt and Turkey.
As an industry stakeholder, he served on several search committees for key personnel at Texas A&M and collaborated in the areas of cotton entomology, soil and crop sciences, and plant pathology.
Shook also served on the board of the Plant Material Center at Texas A&M-Kingsville and actively worked in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Texas A&M plant pathologists toward finding a solution for high aflatoxin in cotton.
He continues to consult for the Driscoll Foundation and spends time in the Texas Hill Country, where he is involved with Frio Canyon Vineyard and Winery.
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