Friday, April 17, 1987/The Battalion/Page 3 State and Local New Aggie Parents of the Year capture honor with generosity ;r Fudd or ft: ner. I never: even thoujl runner, and; ■'udd. Instead, jgle because ever happe ist felt som rerv episode’* ild some conn m the Acmei d calc'll 'itoadi ie'd end up k ; at (he bottot as true of Els ■nt home e untingseas By Jennifer Friend Reporter Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Abbott Sr., the new 1987-88 Aggie Parents of :he Year, are “timegivers, not moneygivers.” This is one of the main reasons the Abbotts won the title, said Renee Dix, chairman of the Student Gov ernment Parents of the Year Selec- ion Committee. The committee’s decision was an- lounced at the Parents’ Weekend wards ceremony last Sunday with !,220 in attendance at Rudder Audi- orium. The Abbotts were surprised when hey won the title. “We were at the ceremony, but we ad no idea of what was about to appen,” Joanie Abbott said. “We *ere videotaping the ceremony be- ause we are making a tape of our ion Frank’s senior year.” Frank, the Abbotts’ youngest son, is a fifth-year civil engineering ma- f" 1 “When they announced our Bames, Mr. Abbott just kind of put Bie camera down,” she said. “One of our boys said later, ‘Dad, you kind of propped the camera!’ ” I The Abbotts have lived in Long- Hew for 24 years. I Neither attended Texas A&M, Inor did their eldest son, David, who went to Trinity University in San Antonio. I The Abbotts’ two younger sons did attend A&M. Preston was the Corps commander in 1984, and ■rank was the Corps operations ofFt- licei in 1986. I Frank nominated his parents for Rggie Parents of the Year by submit- iing an explanation of why he thought his parents were worthy of the title, and 10 letters of recom- Photo Courtesy of Office of Public Information Frank G. Abbott Sr. and Joan Abbott of Longview accept the honor of being named Aggie Parents of the Year for 1987. mendation from people who know the Abbotts. “What they lack in the ability to give large sums of money, they more than make up for in both time and spirit,” he said in his four-page es say. “They have come to love this University as much as you and I, and their support for the Corps of Ca dets is never-ending.” One letter was from John J. Kol- dus, vice president for student serv ices. “Over the years, they have carted a portable barbecue pit back and forth between Longview and College Station to all of the major events happening on campus,” Koldus said in his letter. “Tney’ve provided many fine meals to many people, but most important, they’ve snared their love with all whom they have come in contact.” Each year, the Abbotts host a bar- beque for high-school students from the Longview area who have chosen to go to A&M, Joanie Abbott said. “The kids are able to meet people that they will recognize when they go to A&M, and they can get all their questions about the school an swered,” she said. “For the past three years we’ve had the head yell leader at the barbeque. “We only cook occasionally — ei ther for five or 300 people!” Another letter of recommenda tion was from Denis Lee Davis, the 1985-86 MSC president. “An encouraging statement and a well-intended piece of advice are a guaranteed part of any conversation with Mr. & Mrs. Abbott,” she said. “Even though we are collegiate young adults — cooking our own meals in our own hotpots — we still need some parenting.” Renee Dix said the Abbotts are very involved in the University. “If there’s something happening on campus, they want to know all about it,” she said. The Abbotts’ four-page list of ac tivities greatly influenced the Par ents of the Year Selection Commit tee, she said. Joanie Abbott is the seventh vice president of the Federation of Aggie Mother’s club, and has been the president of the Deep East Texas Aggie Mother’s club. Frank Abbott is an Aggie Club member and a board member of the East Texas Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Abbotts are active in the lo cal, regional and national levels of the Presbyterian Church, and re cently have started their own broker age service. “Our boys got us involved in A&M,” Joanie Abbott said. “The school is kind of an extended family. “So many people have touched our lives — it’s fun to be able to give to others.” 8 LD LJL 13 -XI CJ o .y v_ CL 0) ^ -D O O ^ >\ CD C > CU — V4_ CD O ■—'