Texas A&M renames department of hospitality for Buc-ee’s founder Arch H. “Beaver” Aplin III ’80
New name reflects expanding leadership in hospitality, hotel management and tourism
The Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has announced a new name for its rapidly growing Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism.
The department, now the Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism, is named in honor of Buc-ee’s founder and former Texas A&M University student Arch H. “Beaver” Aplin III ’80, whose gift is helping advance hospitality education at Texas A&M.
Aplin originally committed $50 million in 2022 to create the Aplin Center, support hospitality education and name the Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He later added another $10 million in 2025 to support retail education and name the Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Marketing at Mays Business School. The total $60 million gift was committed through the Texas A&M Foundation.
The center will house a variety of immersive learning labs for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Mays Business School, including for fermentation, dairy, meat science, coffee, floral design and enology, as well as sensory, culinary and product development kitchens, and retail. Another major component will be a restaurant that will allow students to gain hands-on food service and management experiences.
Shaping the future of hospitality
Discover how the Aplin Department of Hospitality is redefining innovation, research and education in one of the world’s fastest-growing industries.
“What we’re doing inside the building will be incredible for Texas A&M, for former students, for students and for all our visitors,” said Aplin, who majored in construction science but found success in the hospitality industry through his emphasis on exceeding customer expectations at 54 Buc-ee’s stores in nine states.
“The Texas A&M culture and friendships influenced me and my business career in many ways,” he said. “I’m just giddy about being able to do something to give back. I’ve never seen anything like what we’re creating here.”
The department’s naming reflects Aplin’s vision, support and connection to Texas A&M. Aplin’s chain of travel centers, Buc-ee’s, have changed the nationwide travel experience through their spotless facilities, exclusive items and signature Texas hospitality. The same pioneering spirit is evident in the department’s commitment to innovation and to the science of enhancing human experiences, said department head Brian King, Ph.D.
“Our department is receiving incredible support from our stakeholders and the hospitality industry, and nowhere is that more apparent than in our recent renaming to the Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism,” King said. “We are ideally positioned to extend our science-based approach to creating and enhancing hospitality experiences in one of the fastest growing and friendliest places on earth – Texas.”
Continuing a legacy of innovation
The department was first renamed in 2023, building on the foundation of the former Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences and reflecting a revised academic focus on hospitality, hotel management and tourism.
Its current name was adopted two years later, following Aplin’s transformational gift. The renaming coincides with the groundbreaking of the Aplin Center, a 211,724-square-foot immersive learning facility under construction on Texas A&M’s West Campus.
Slated for completion in 2028, the Aplin Center will unite programs in hospitality, retail and marketing education. The three-story mass timber facility will be a first-of-its-kind learning hub and welcome center.
“We want to create a learning, gathering space on the A&M campus that exemplifies hospitality,” Aplin said. “A place where people come together. A place where the Aggie culture can thrive — a happy place.”
Advancing the science of hospitality
The department adopts a global approach to hospitality, hotel management and tourism education while staying rooted in the University’s commitment to service and impact across all corners of Texas, King said.
Faculty and students explore how people connect with the places and spaces around them through research, education and innovation, focusing on human connections and enhancing the quality of life.
By combining scientific inquiry with practical experience, the department prepares students to lead and innovate in a fast-growing industry — shaping destinations, experiences and communities across Texas and beyond.
“Our department is incredibly thankful to Mr. Aplin for his generous gift, and we are excited for all that lies ahead with the Aplin Center,” said King. “What a time to be studying hospitality and hotel management at Texas A&M. Our students are developing the skills and mindset to show leadership in a world where human connections matter more than ever.”
