Brazosport College to award honorary degree to Byron Sadler

Brazosport College President Dr. Millicent Valek, Byron Sadler and Texas State Representative Dennis Bonnen at Brazosport College’s recent Report to the Community Breakfast.

Brazosport College to award honorary degree to Byron Sadler

Brazosport College will present Byron Sadler with the school’s first-ever Honorary Associate Degree, Associate in Letters (A.L.). Sadler will receive his honorary degree during May Commencement.

An Honorary Degree, which is authorized by the Brazosport College Board of Regents, is awarded to outstanding individuals who have demonstrated meritorious service to Brazosport College, to the community, to their profession or displayed leadership in civic or cultural affairs.

Byron and his wife, Sandra, have been passionate supporters of Brazosport College for many years, and through his partnership with the college, he’s assisted in improving educational opportunities for all Brazosport College students.

Byron has been a longtime advocate of educational opportunities through Brazosport College. In 2000, the Sadlers chose to honor their employees by dedicating a $250,000 contribution to the Brazosport College Foundation. In 2002, Byron spearheaded the development of a partnership between the Brazosport Symphony and Brazosport College, facilitating the ongoing presentation of symphony concerts in the College's new 600-seat music performance center, The Clarion.

For 32 years, Byron and Sandra, owned and operated their own local business, Industrial Specialists, and grew the company from 10 employees to an average staffing of 2,500 by the time the Sadlers sold the business to their employees. By selling the business, the Sadlers had the opportunity to pursue their passion of safari hunting around the globe, which is a sport they both not only enjoy, but have also received numerous awards and honors through the Houston Safari Club and Safari Club International.

Living in the Brazosport area, Byron also was very active in the community. He was on the Southwest Insulation Contractors Board for 14 years and served as its president for two years. He was selected as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 1998. In addition, Byron was a member of the Board of Trustees for the Center for Arts & Sciences from 1994 to 1998 and then served as its president from 2000 to 2003. Although he now makes his home on Two Dot Ranch in Junction, Texas, he is still a Trustee for the BFAC Museum.

The honorary degree was announced at Brazosport College’s 2012-13 Report to the Community Breakfast at the Dow Academic Center.