Arch H. Aplin III

Beaver earned a bachelor’s degree in building construction from Texas A&M in 1980. After graduation, he joined his family’s construction and development business for a brief time, then opened his first Buc-ee’s in 1982. Today, he serves as President of Lake Jackson-based Buc-ee’s stores. Beaver’s intention was to build the Buc-ee’s brand methodically with a goal to become the best convenience store available for service and selection. Among Texas’ unique traveling attractions, the Buc-ee’s stores feature sparkling clean restrooms, quirky marketing and unique products such as Beaver Nuggets, peppered elk jerky, private-label candied jalapenos, souvenir T-shirts and bumper stickers. Passionate about community involvement, Beaver has a long history of being active at the local and state levels. He serves as Chairman of Texas Parks and Wildlife, is on the ERCOT Board Selection Committee, a member of the Houston Methodist President’s Leadership Council, a member of the Lieutenant Governor’s Transportation Advisory Board and a lifetime member of both the Coastal Conservation Association and the 100 Club of Brazoria County. Previously, he was a nine-year board member of the Brazosport Independent School District, including a two-year tenure as board president. He was also a member of the Texas Small Business Council (appointed by former Gov. Rick Perry ’72), a past board member of the Brazosport Center for the Arts and Sciences and Lake Jackson’s Emergency Management Services. Prior to his appointment to The Association of Former Students’ Board of Directors, he served as a Representative at Large. A frequent speaker on the Texas A&M campus, Beaver was honored as an Outstanding Alumnus of the College of Architecture in 2012 and received Texas A&M’s Center for Retailing Studies M.B. Zale Visionary Merchant Award in 2018. Beaver and his wife, Joanie, reside in Lake Jackson and have five children: Anne-Elizabeth, Katherine, Hart ’21, Lauren and Joshua. An Endowed Century Club member, Beaver enjoys traveling and fishing with his family in his free time.