“Now you need to make a deal with me — you won’t leave until you get the job finished.”

It was these instructions, given to Leroy Shafer ‘67 upon beginning his 41-year-long career at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, or HLSR, that best summarizes his life and career as characterized by Selfless Service and Leadership. Shafer, or “Shafe,” was named Emeritus Chief Operating Officer upon retiring from his role as HLSR’s Chief Operating Officer. His contributions, specifically through public marketing and volunteer mobilization, grew the show into the largest in the world. 

This drive to never leave a job unfinished has been demonstrated by Shafe’s contributions to campus life during his time at Texas A&M, his active military service in Vietnam and his continued involvement with A&M’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. 

“I don’t know where I would be in this world today had I not gone to Texas A&M University,” Shafe said. “All of it shaped the way I approached my life that way on.” 

While studying agricultural journalism at A&M, Shafe thought his future was to be an agriculture teacher or reporter, and he only became more interested in advertising and promotion during his junior year. 

“The thought that I would be working for a livestock rodeo show was the furthest thing from my mind,” Shafe said.

Along with receiving the Western Compress Opportunity Award Scholarship his freshman year, as well as the Anderson Clayton Agricultural Journalism Scholarship that went toward the remainder of his degree, Shafe was presented with the Danforth Award his senior year. 

As a member of the Corps of Cadets and Corps staff, Shafe was a columnist for The Battalion through the Corps Channel. During his senior year, he was an Army ROTC aviation cadet and obtained a fixed-wing private pilot license. Shafe said that from freshman year onward, he knew he and his buddies would likely serve in the Vietnam War. 

From 1967 to 1988, Shafe served as a United States Army Infantry Officer, both active and reserve. He completed a tour of duty in 1970 to 1971 as a helicopter pilot with the 12th Combat Aviation Group in the Republic of Vietnam, during which he spent time as a public information liaison relaying information about the Vietnam War to news outlets. 

“My military experience is extremely important to the career I ended up having,” Shafe said. “The commander of that unit saw I had an undergrad and master’s degree in journalism. … I ended up building a new public information attachment whilst flying helicopters.” 

Shafe was assigned as a pilot for flying news media, and even flew celebrities such as Morton Dean for CBS and Sammy Davis Jr., who he flew through Vietnam. 

“I [knew what I] could allow them to see and not allow them to see, what was confidential and secret,” Shafe said.“ … That got me an introduction into what it was like to support the entertainment industry.” 

Coming out of the army, Shafe chose to interview with the HLSR because it was incredibly integral during his childhood. When his work first began, the stock show was attempting to grow its numbers and funds to support the construction of the Astrodome, the former venue for the event. Upon Shafe’s retirement, he shared that general attendance was 2.5 million, and with a focus on promotion and sponsorships, the annual operating income grew to $130 million. 

“With today’s change in tech — AI, new rise of analytics — the environment is going to be changing continuously, the audience is going to be changing continuously, it’s extremely important that students grasp this … understand their audience, understand their product and they implement this to the fullest extent possible,” Shafe said. 

A&M Agriculture and Life Sciences College Vice Chancellor and Dean Jeffrey Savell, Ph.D., has worked alongside Shafe during his role as a member on both the A&M Agriculture Leadership, Education, and Communications Department’s, or ALEC, Advancement Board and the sounding board for A&M’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. 

“The quiet resolve that Mr. Shafer has in his attention to detail in his ability to bring together folks to really go to the higher level is one of the really important things,” Savell said. “He listens, plans and executes, and I think that has been the secret to his success.” 

Each year, more than 800 students benefit from the HLSR scholarship program, and as of 2026, the HLSR has awarded over $320 million in scholarships. 

“The fact that somebody has invested in you and awarded a scholarship shows commitment, and they’re investing in you to help you get to the next level of life and transform your life,” Savell said.

In 2016, Shafe and his wife, Nancy, were the lead donors for the Thomas R. Hargrove ‘66, Ph.D, Endowed Memorial Scholarship and the lead matching donors for the Douglas P. Starr, Ph.D., Endowed Scholarship.

The couple has also arranged planned estate gifts with the A&M Foundation to fund the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Corps of Cadets, the ALEC department, the Entomology Department and the School of Public Health. 

“My wife Nancy and I will do everything we can to support those students,” Shafe said. “I will do anything I can to keep that environment.”