Stephen “Steve” H. Lucy ’82 is a second-generation Aggie who grew up surrounded by the spirit of Texas A&M University. Raised among Aggie civil engineers, Steve always knew he wanted to follow in their footsteps. The Lucy family is not only paving roads and building bridges but also laying the foundation for the next generation of Aggie engineers by establishing undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships.
An Altruistic Family Tree
The Lucy family, both near and extended, has created an Aggie tradition like no other. To honor Aggies in their family who have come and gone before them, they have established scholarships in their names. Embracing the core value of selfless service, they have established more than 10 scholarships and contributed to numerous excellence funds, foundation endeavors, fellowships, professorships, and general student activities at Texas A&M.
During his time in Aggieland, Steve had the privilege of seeing his uncle and father in their class photos on the walls of the Haynes Civil Engineering Building. Uncle Thurman—or “Shug” to those close to him—served in the Marine Corps during World War II, which postponed his graduation from Texas A&M until 1950. Shug later began his engineering career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, eventually serving as the chief engineer for the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
“His involvement served as an example of the importance of civil engineering in advancing the public good,” Steve said. “He challenged me to consider that as I progressed through my career, which has primarily involved working on public projects.”
As Steve advanced in his career, he appreciated the values instilled in him by both the university and his family. Steve and his wife, Lisa, established the Julia and Thurman R. “Shug” Wathen ’46 Endowed Scholarship in the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, as well as many others. These scholarships provide financial assistance for those in need, recognize students who excel, and support first-generation Aggies who are just being exposed to the Aggie Network.
“Uncle Shug provided me with career guidance and served as an example of the positive impact a civil engineer can have on our society,” Steve said.
Following his uncle’s example, Steve has followed through on his promise to help those around him. “With this endowment, our extended family has now established scholarships and fellowships to honor all members of the first generation of our Aggie heritage,” he explained. These are the values the Lucy family hopes to share with the next generation of Aggies, family or otherwise.