Writer: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, b-fannin@tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Ed Rister, 979-845-4911,e-rister@tamu.edu
SAN ANTONIO – Six new members were inducted into the Tyrus R. Timm Honor Registry in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University recently at a dinner and reception in San Antonio.
The inductees are Virgil Keith Barlow (1976), Justin P. Bierschwale (2002), Paul E. Bierschwale (1975), Charles E. Gilliland (1979), Tom Goen (1970) and Clay Pollard (1981). The registry recognizes outstanding former students for meritorious accomplishments in their fields. It is the highest departmental honor and is named after Tyrus R. Timm, who led the university’s agricultural economics department from 1953 until 1973, a time when it rose to national prominence in teaching, research and Extension. Timm was known for his knowledge of finance and agricultural banking.
The induction ceremony was held at Ernesto’s restaurant in San Antonio and featured Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples (1984) as the keynote speaker.
Staples was joined by Dr. Larry Boleman (1968), associate vice chancellor for Texas A&M AgriLife and special assistant to the president at Texas A&M. Brian Weiner (1965) and Dr. Ivan Schmedemann (1966), professor emeritus in the department of agricultural economics at Texas A&M provided remarks prior to the inductions. Dr. Ed Rister, associate department head for agricultural economics and Texas A&M AgriLife Research professor, served as master of ceremonies.
“We are extremely pleased to recognize this distinguished group of former students in the Tyrus R. Timm Honor Registry,” said Dr. Parr Rosson, head of the department of agricultural economics at Texas A&M, who presented plaques to each recipient. “These individuals have not only excelled professionally, but have exhibited leadership in both business and local communities. 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.”
Barlow, owner of Barlow Appraisal Associates, worked for the real estate appraisal firm Charles R. Rhodes and Associates in Amarillo from 1976-1978 before becoming an independent real estate appraiser in January 1979. He also taught rural appraisal at West Texas A&M University. He later went on to become an independent contractor with Doane-Western and moved to Midland as office manager. In 1983, he opened Barlow Appraisal Associates, which continues in operation today. Barlow has served as a member of the City of Midland Planning and Zoning Commission (2000-2007) as vice chairman and chairman, as well as serving on various committees.
Justin Bierschwale is a partner in the firm Bierschwale Land Company LLC, a full-service appraisal, brokerage and consulting firm in Junction. He has served on many levels of committees within the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and is currently serving as chairman for the National Education and Accreditation Committee for ASFMRA. Bierschwale is a co-author for the association’s “Wind Powered Generators and their Impact on Land Ownership” seminar. He is also actively involved with both the agricultural economics department and land economics and real estate programs at Texas A&M.
Paul Bierschwale is part owner, real estate appraiser and broker with Bierschwale Land Company LLC. He has spent his career actively involved with professional organizations and the appraisal industry. He was elected president of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers in 2005, serving until 2007. He has also served on the board of trustees of The Appraisal Foundation, and served as chairman of the board – one of the highest positions of trust one can attain in the appraisal industry. He went on to be elected to the Board of Regents of the Alliance for Valuation Education and was elected that entity’s first chairman. He has also been an active member with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Gilliland is a research economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M in the Mays Business School and is an adjunct associate professor of agricultural economics at Texas A&M. Additionally, he is the Helen and O.N. Mitchell Fellow of Real Estate and a clinical professor of finance, and teaches real estate investment analysis for the Master of Real Estate program in the Mays Business School. Gilliland has developed the center’s research program studying Texas land markets. Current published reports provide information on Texas market developments since 1996. He has received the Golden Quill Award from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, and was inducted into the Farm Credit Bank of Texas Academy of Honor. Gilliland has contributed expert testimony before the U.S. Senate, Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives.
Goen is currently a fee appraiser for Holtkamp Realty Consultants. Previously, he spent 14 years working for the Texas A&M and the Real Estate Program, purchasing and selling of properties using donations and easements to the University. Prior to that, he worked for the General Land Office of Texas as chief appraiser, in addition to serving as president of multiple real estate committees and programs. He was also actively involved in leadership activities with the Land Economics Real Estate program at A&M. Early in his career, Goen worked for the city of Bryan in the tax office. His duties there included assisting in reappraising all of the property in Brazos County.
Pollard manages field activities for all contract landmen in the Giddings field for Clayton Williams Energy. He achieved this position after many years of overseeing leasing duties and creating a land software system for reporting and mapping designed to give feedback for land management. The system was implemented throughout the company. Pollard has also served as vice president of sales for ClayDesta Communications, a digital long distance communications network, where he was responsible for sales budgets, commission plans, and revenue and cost reduction targets. He later became business development manager for Database Consultants Inc., where he was responsible for the sales of Oracle database consulting services and Oracle software products. Pollard was also promoted to director of Oracle Sales and was later hired by Oracle Corporation as regional sales manager, managing the sales effort in the southwestern U.S. before joining Clayton Williams Energy.
Additional information regarding the Tyrus R. Timm Honor Registry and its members may be found at http://tyrustimmregistry.org/.
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