Carl Raba (Donor)

For Carl Raba, Jr., Ph.D., the legacy of the Texas A&M University System runs through his veins. He is a three-time alumnus of Texas A&M University whose family accumulatively holds 15 degrees from the System. So, it was a no-brainer for him to support Texas A&M building a campus in his native city of San Antonio—located merely a few miles from where he grew up.

“It was not just a about planting the flag here from Texas A&M University system” says Raba. “It was about providing educational opportunities for students to achieve their full potential. And the universities, in the 1990s, were predominately on the north side of town. To be able to go classes if you lived on the far south side was almost an impossibility. So, the location A&M-San Antonio was very important.”

Dr. Raba serves on the President’s Advisory board. He was also the 2011 Dream Maker honoree. To ensure A&M-San Antonio students succeed, Dr. Raba also funds two A&M-SA scholarships: the Bunny Jean Raba Opportunity Scholarship and the Cathy Raba Turcotte Scholarship. The scholarships were established in honor of his late wife and daughter, both of whom had a passion for education.

Dr. Raba’s firm belief in the achievement of higher education stems from his childhood. His parents fervently encouraged him to go to college to open the door of possibilities. As a first-generation graduate, he understands the ample opportunities that were afforded to him because his degree attainment and experiences in the military.

Dr. Raba earned a bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University in 1961, 1962 and 1968 respectively. As a student, he served as Lieutenant in the Corps of Cadets. He was also commissioned with the U.S. Army in 1961 and served as a company commander in the 16th Combat Engineers Battalion, first armored division from 1963 to 1965. He achieved the rank of Captain. 

In 1968, Dr. Raba launched the premier engineering and consulting firm, Raba & Tolson Consultants Engineers, Inc. with his business partners Bunny Jean Raba and Ronald Tolson. The company, now known as Raba Kistner Consultants, Inc., has more than 400 employees and serves an international client base. After decades of leading the company, Dr. Raba now serves as the chairman emeritus.

Dr. Raba now spends much of his time serving the communities that once served him. He lives by the words of late University of Texas Coach Darrel Royal, “You gotta dance with who brung ya.” Those words have stuck with him for decades.

“People have been good to me—taking time out for me. Time is irreplaceable. You can always write a check and make more money, but you can’t replace time,” says Raba.  “So, I want to give my time back to the ones that brung me and those are the people at Texas A&M.”