Past Aggie President Reflects and Plans Ahead

With three acceptance letters in hand in spring 1967, Dr. R. Bowen Loftin ’71 had a difficult decision to make between several prominent Texas universities—the cost of his future weighing heavy on his mind. Thankfully, his choice became clear when the lasting legacy of a generous Aggie graced his Navasota, Texas, mailbox. 

“In the midst of my financial challenge, an incredible thing happened,” Bowen recalled. “About a month after receiving my acceptance, Texas A&M University sent me a second letter offering a full-ride scholarship. It was a godsend and made my decision even easier.” 

The support that initiated Bowen’s journey to Aggieland was made possible through the McFarland Physics Scholarship, a gift planned long before Bowen’s time to afford quality education to Aggies pursuing physics at Texas A&M.  

“That experience is what introduced me to philanthropy,” Bowen said. “The thought of a person—someone I’d never have the chance to meet—caring that much about Texas A&M and the future of its students was a lesson I’d never forget, and it has certainly inspired how I’ve chosen to give back.”
 

“Karin and I agreed that we had enough assets to use our retirement accounts to fund our charitable giving and leave our non-retirement accounts to our kids and grandkids,” he said. “It worked for us uniquely that our total net worth is roughly split 50/50 between our heirs and our favorite charities, and our planned giving will further augment the endowments we’ve established.” 

Choosing to make planned gifts through their IRAs, the Loftins simply designated the Texas A&M Foundation as the beneficiary of their retirement accounts. Additionally, when they reached 70 years of age, they both opted to use a qualified charitable distribution to satisfy their required minimum distributions and establish two new endowments aligned with each of their interests. Karin used hers to support the Bush School in her parents’ honor while Bowen funded an endowment through the 12th Man Foundation to support Aggie student-athlete education in honor of the late Mike Slive, former Southeastern Conference commissioner. 

“We’ve tried to exploit every tool in the toolbox to generate ways for our retirement assets to benefit a selection of beneficiaries, with Texas A&M being a large focus for us in various aspects,” Bowen said. 

Of these tools, the Loftins recommend that donors utilize one of the most influential in their experience: the Texas A&M Foundation’s planned giving team. As someone with extensive Texas A&M knowledge and experience in higher education philanthropy, Bowen’s words speak volumes. 

“With resources like the Texas A&M Foundation’s team at your fingertips, I encourage people to explore giving opportunities at Texas A&M and find something that excites you,” Bowen said. “The more you learn about Aggieland, the more charitable needs you’ll see—and when you find it, don't hesitate to share it with someone else, because giving begets giving, after all.” 

Interested in exploring planned giving options to shape your own impact on the future of Aggieland? Contact Amy Bacon '91 for more information about philanthropic methods best suited for your specific goals.