McCombs School Honors Three Texans Who Mean Business
The McCombs School of Business established the Hall of Fame 25 years ago in recognition of The University of Texas at Austin’s centennial celebration. The Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made outstanding professional contributions to the business community and who, through their exemplary civic, philanthropic and educational activities, have advanced humanity. The Hall of Fame award is the highest honor given by the McCombs School of Business. McCombs recognized the following individuals at the 25th anniversary reception and dinner Oct. 24.
JOHN D. McSTAY
John D. McStay, managing partner of John McStay and Associates, is a native of Vernon, Texas. He earned his BBA and MBA degrees from The University of Texas at Austin. Later he was a Ph.D. candidate while working full time in Austin. McStay received his chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation in 1972. He is a member of the Advisory Committee for the MBA Investment Fund and the McCombs School of Business Advisory Council.
In 1966, McStay began as an analyst for the Republic National Bank in Dallas. McStay later joined Underwood Neuhaus as an investment analyst, and in 1974, he moved to the University of Texas System in Austin. In 1977, McStay joined Mercantile National Bank at Dallas as senior vice president and trust investment officer. From the trust investment department a new company named Mercantile Securities Corp. was formed, and McStay was selected as president, CEO and chairman of the Investment Policy Committee. In 1983, he founded John McStay Investment Counsel, where the financial assets soon grew to $6 billion. The company was sold to American International Group (AIG) in 1999.
McStay is active in the CFA Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, serving in various officer positions and is a frequent speaker on investment- related topics. He participates in several committees for the CFA Institute and is past chairman of the annual seminar. Additionally, McStay is a former director of the University of Texas Investment Management Company (UTIMCO). Locally, McStay is involved in a number of civic activities with the Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Governor’s Business Council, Southwestern Medical Foundation and Communities Foundation of Texas.
LOUIS M. PEARCE JR.
Louis M. Pearce Jr. of Houston graduated from the Texas Military Institute in San Antonio, after which he attended The University of Texas at Austin. Pearce joined the U.S. Army in 1940 as a sergeant in the horse cavalry. In 1942, he attended officer candidate school. In 1943, he was commissioned and sent to Italy, where he served as a liaison officer in all phases of the Italian campaign with the II Corps and later as an aide to the commander of the II Corps. Pearce ended his career in the military in 1945 at the rank of major.
Upon his return to civilian life, Pearce became associated with Waukesha-Pearce Industries, becoming president in 1947. In 1970, he was made president of TIW Corporation and in 1976, the parent company, Pearce Industries Inc. was formed. He now serves as chairman of the board for all three companies.
Pearce currently owns and operates ranches in Texas. One of his largest civic contributions is to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He was the former president and chairman of the board for this event and currently serves on the board of directors and executive committee.
Pearce also is a member of the board of directors of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Council and a member of the Agribusiness Committee. He served as president of the Longhorn Education Foundation at the University of Texas and has received the Distinguished Alumni Award. He serves on the board of directors of the Longhorn Education Foundation and is a life member of the Texas Exes. Additionally, he is a member of the Houston Club, Petroleum Club, River Oaks Country Club, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church and the Masonic Lodge.
McHENRY T. TICHENOR, JR.
McHenry “Mac” Tichenor is a private investor, executive director of the WWWW Foundation Inc. (QuadW) and is pursuing a master’s degree in biotechnology at the University of Texas at Dallas. He graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 1977 with a B.A. with honors in Plan II. In 1979, he earned an MBA along with the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence from The University of Texas at Austin.
QuadW was established in memory of Tichenor’s son Willie, who died of osteosarcoma in 2006 at age 19. The foundation (whose name stands for “What Would Willie Want?”) supports innovative ideas in higher education and sarcoma research.
Tichenor began a career in broadcasting in 1979 when he joined Tichenor Media System, a family-owned company based in Harlingen, Texas. In 1981, he became president and oversaw its expansion into Spanish-language radio. In 1997, the company merged with Hispanic Broadcasting Corp., and Tichenor was named chairman, president and CEO. The company soon moved to the New York Stock Exchange. In 2003, Hispanic Broadcasting merged with Univision Communications Inc., where Tichenor joined Univision’s board of directors and was president of the company’s radio division. He moved away from day-to-day operations of Univision Radio in 2004 and left the board of directors when the company went private in 2007.
Tichenor is a director of HFF Inc. and 8e6 Technologies. He is active on various boards of the university, including the McCombs School of Business Advisory Council. He also is an associate member of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors and a member of the World Presidents’ Organization. He and his family also are active in the Highland Park United Methodist Church. Tichenor married Lisa Winton in 1979. Their son, Taylor, is a senior at Centenary College.
