Victoria business owner, A&M-Victoria establish new aviation endowment
Kelly High of Victoria knew he wanted to honor his parents. And this past September, his commitment was made official.
High, owner of High-Brehm Hats & Western Wear, has pledged $30,000 to establish the Roy & Bonnie High Aviation Endowment at Texas A&M University-Victoria, creating scholarship support for students pursuing pilot certification and testing.
“It is so rewarding to see this come together. Kelly has a clear passion for helping students, honoring his beloved parents, and truly making an impact on future Jaguar pilots for generations to come,” said Amber Countis, vice president of Advancement and External Relations. “We appreciate his thoughtfulness and creativity to find such a special way to make an impact on our institution, students, and one of our newest academic programs. We are honored to have his family’s and High-Brehm's support in transforming students’ lives.”
The gift creates an endowed scholarship for an A&M-Victoria aviation student. Preference will go to the top aviation student, as determined by grade-point average, who has at least a 3.0 GPA and is a United States citizen.
The scholarship funds will be designated for certification and testing expenses needed to become a pilot. Payments will be made directly to the relevant certification and other testing entities.
For High, the creation of the endowment is a way to honor his parents, Roy and Bonnie High. His father served in the United States Air Corps during World War II as an aerial photographer, while his uncle was a pilot instructor during the war. He was known in the community for his involvement in the Victoria Livestock Show and was an avid supporter of Victoria 4-H.
His mother, Bonnie High, worked as an elementary school librarian in Victoria for about 20 years. Throughout her life, she was an avid reader and an intellectual, High said. She graduated in 1951 from Southwestern University with a bachelor of science degree before receiving her library science certification from Sam Houston State University in 1965. Throughout her life, Bonnie and Roy were also avid travelers.
The university’s aviation program, and the opportunity to support its students, felt like a fitting tribute to his family, High said.
“I am what I am today because of them; they gave their life for me,” High said. “They brought me into this world, fed me, clothed me, educated me and sold me their business. This is a small way I am telling them thank you. Even when I’m gone, this will continue on. That’s the dream.”
The family’s connection to the hat business stretches back more than a century. High’s grandfather, V.R. High, entered the hat business in 1902 in Dallas. After World War II, Roy High learned the trade from his father and went on to build his own business in South Texas. After selling his first hat business, Roy moved to Alice, where he would meet his future wife, Bonnie.
In 1953, Roy High partnered with his brother-in-law, Buddy Brehm to establish the business that would become known in Victoria as High-Brehm Hats and Western Wear, located at 6603 N. Navarro St.
“I’ve always wanted to do something to honor my parents,” High said. “So, when the university became Texas A&M University-Victoria, I said I need to get behind this because this is probably the best thing that ever happened to Victoria.”
High graduated from Texas A&M University in 1983 with a business degree in marketing and bought the business from his father in 1986. He later moved the store to its North Navarro Street location in 1989. The store offers hats and hat services, western clothing and boots, and is known locally as a work-boot headquarters, High said.
“I look forward in the future to meeting future recipients of this scholarship,” High said. “I hope this scholarship will help the aviation program in general, get it off the ground further and succeed.”
For more information about the university’s aviation program, please visit https://www.tamuv.edu/natural-applied-science/undergraduate-degrees/aviation-science/. If you are interested in supporting the Roy & Bonnie High Aviation Endowment or starting your own, please contact the University Advancement at countisa@tamuv.edu or 361-570-4829.
Texas A&M University-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the colleges of Business, Education & Health Professions, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, and Natural & Applied Science. A&M-Victoria provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as online classes that students can take from anywhere. The university supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.