ETSU Alum Named Newest Las Vegas Fire Chief

A graduate of East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University-Commerce) was recently hired by the Las Vegas, Nevada City Council as the city's newest fire department chief. Alum Fernando Gray, Sr. is a career firefighter, beginning his time in the profession with the Dallas Fire Department, where he worked for 21 years and rose to the rank of assistant fire chief. Since 2017, he served as chief of the Aurora Fire Department in Aurora, Colorado. Gray received his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from ETSU in 1995, and was honored as an A&M-Commerce Alumni Ambassador in 2016. He was also a member of the Theta Theta chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity while attending.
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Recent ETAMU Music Graduate Wins National Competition
East Texas A&M University alum and percussionist DJ Talbot recently took first place at the Black Swamp Percussion Solo & Ensemble Showcase.

A Lambskin Legacy: What a 19th-Century Diploma Reveals About East Texas A&M’s Early Days
An alumnus recently discovered a rare diploma from 1897 and brought it back to East Texas A&M. The artifact provides a fascinating glimpse into the earliest days of our university.

Outstanding Alumni Honored at East Texas A&M Awards Gala
The Alumni Association hosted the 2025 Alumni Awards Gala on April 26 to honor six exceptional Lions whose lives reflect a deep commitment to service, leadership and the university community.