Partial Listing of Contributions to Corpus Christi, Texas
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Delivered several commencement ceremony addresses
Appointed Adjunct Professor of Business at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi; Taught Entrepreneurship class for 3 years
Creator and donor of the Melvyn N. Klein Scholarship in Writing and Communications at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Donor of the Dean of the Business School’s Conference room
Received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree from TAMU-CC.
Only 6 people have ever received this recognition from the University or its predecessors. The other five honorees were Dr. Hector P. Garcia, Mary Haas, Ed Harte, John Chapman, and Joe La Mantia Jr.
Economic Development Corporation - Appointed by former Mayor Luther Jones for four terms as Chairman of the predecessor of the Economic Development Corporation; recommended public/private entity to replace City- only Commission; along with Mayor Jones, led a delegation from Corpus Christi on the first economic development trip to the Far East, (Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.)
Art Museum of South Texas-Former Chairman of the Board; He and his wife established the Endowment Fund and personally donated the funds to purchase leading art works for the Endowment- now those works are among the most valuable in the Permanent Collection.
Foundation for Science and the Arts –Vice President; Officers of this foundation contributed to, and raised the funds to build the Water Garden, The Foundation then donated the Water Garden to the City of Corpus Christi. Three people flipped a coin; Jim Peterson lost and became the President of the Foundation; Edwin Singer and Mel Klein were the Vice Presidents. The Water Garden is located between the Art Museum of South Texas and the Museum of Science and Natural History.
Corpus Christi Caller-Times guest column writer for 25 years; TAMU-CC published these columns in a book entitled, “Our Time.” All Proceeds, totaling over $250,000 from the book, were donated to M.D. Anderson for research to cure cancer.
Philosophical Society of Texas- Member
Public Television Station (PBS) was a member of the Board of Directors
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center- Board of Visitors member for 22 years; recommended by former President Bush (41), who was then the Chairman of the Board of Visitors, to be the first Chairman of the Board- level Research Committee; Member of the Executive Committee- currently one of 4 officers- to become Chairman of the Board of Visitors on Sept. 1, 2014, the first person everfrom Corpus Christi. John G. & Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation- Leading South Texas Foundation- Member of the Board of Directors, Member of the Executive Committee, Treasurer, and Chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee
Served on the organizing committee, or as Master of Ceremonies, or as a speaker for events benefiting many worthwhile organizations including, but not limited to, Metro Ministries, Christus Spohn Hospital, Catholic Charities, Boy Scouts of America, and The Food Bank.
South Texas Honors Its Fallen Heroes And Their Families.
Originated and organized a special event to honor the families of Coastal Bend soldiers who have given their lives in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This event was to remember and show respect for those who have fallen and to honor their families for demonstrating and encouraging the patriotic values to which their fallen heroes were committed.
The event included special presentation for each soldier, patriotic entertainment, special recognition from local, state and national leaders and appearances by regional/national celebrities including Decorated Vietnam Hero Peter Holt, David Robinson, Commanding Gen. Ft. Hood, Entertainer, Lee Greenwood, etc..
Participated with family as leading donors to Peewee’s Pet Sanctuary
“Guerilla Philanthropy”- anonymous donor to a number of worthy causes, including directly to people in need.