Electrifying Change: How an Aggie’s Gift Is Charging Up Campus Sustainability

Bill described his father, Hoyt C. Clark, as “a renaissance man.” Hoyt’s interests and talents led him to a total of three fruitful careers—he spent his days in petrochemical manufacturing and management, environmental engineering and finally operating a cabinet building company. In his personal life, he was a beloved husband of over 60 years, a devoted father of six children and a friend to many.

“Hoyt was a great listener, and he drew people to him,” Bill reflected. “He was beloved by all. He graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, but he displayed the Aggie Spirit.”

Bill and Hoyt became interested in sustainability together. They brainstormed ways to better protect the Earth, discussing the state of the environment and its expected damage caused by human activity over time. Over time, both father and son changed to solar and wind-based home electricity supply and eventually purchased fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles.
 

During his time working in Europe, Bill noticed a greater use of sustainability efforts there, such as frequent recycling and reduced electricity usage at night. This heightened his interest in environmental protection and his desire to increase his own recycling efforts back home.

While Bill continued making significant changes to encourage sustainability in his own home and transportation, he felt a continued pull to help make a broader and deeper impact, specifically in a university setting. “I am proud to be an Aggie and loyal to my school,” he said. “I wanted to help Texas A&M University grow and prosper in the future.”

Bill was originally drawn to Texas A&M as a student because of its positive and visible academic reputation, and like his father, he majored in engineering. Throughout his time in Aggieland, he especially appreciated the enriched academic experiences that prepared him to enter the workforce.

The Underlying Drive

While sustainability efforts can take many forms, Hoyt and Bill were especially interested in ways to reduce carbon emissions through transportation methods. In 2016, they began working toward their dream of adding electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations on the Texas A&M campus.