A Half-Century in the Stands
Ann and Harold Conrad ’58 celebrate 50 years of Aggie Football, family and tradition
By Brian Davis ’01
Ann and Harold Conrad ’58 celebrate 50 years of Aggie Football, family and tradition
For Ann and Harold Conrad '58, Aggie Football is more than a Saturday tradition — it's a half-century of family memories, loyalty and love for Texas A&M.
On Aug. 30, as the Aggies opened the 2025 season with a 42-24 win over UTSA at Kyle Field, the Conrads celebrated a milestone few fans can match: 50 consecutive years as Aggie Football season ticket holders.
Harold's journey to Aggieland began humbly. Growing up on a farm in Devine, Texas, he never imagined he would spend five decades in the same stadium, supporting the Aggies through thick and thin.
A grand champion livestock exhibitor in high school, Harold sold his prize-winning hog for $500 in 1954 — which turned out to be just enough to pay his way into Texas A&M.
"Three days before school started, I walked into the registrar's office with that $500 and asked how to register," Harold recalled with a grin.
By chance, he declared petroleum engineering as his major, launching a career that would take him across Texas and beyond.
Harold first met Ann at his Ring Dance, when she attended as the date of his friend and classmate Bill Hanna '58. At the time, she was a student at the University of St. Thomas in Houston.
After graduation, while working for Shell Oil in Houston, Harold followed Bill's advice and called Ann, sparking the beginning of their life together.
In 1975, after returning to Houston from a stint in Midland, the Conrads bought their first Aggie Football season tickets. Their original seats were on the second deck near the 10-yard line before they later moved to the 40-yard line.
Over the years, those tickets became a centerpiece of family life. Ann and Harold brought their children, Lisa and Mark, to Kyle Field, weaving Aggie Football into their upbringing.
“Back then, the kids could go down on the field after the game and play,” Harold said. “They loved it, and so did Ann.”
“We love the game, we love the people and we love being part of Texas A&M.”
Gamedays became multigenerational gatherings filled with tailgates, familiar faces and weekends planned months in advance.
One of Harold’s favorite memories came in 1991, when he and Ann surprised Lisa ’92 and Mark ’90 with their own season tickets for graduation. With help from Frank Shannon, then-executive director of the 12th Man Foundation, Harold arranged for their names to be placed on the seats.
“Mark looked down and saw it, and then I handed them a letter,” Harold remembered. “He said, ‘Dad, you couldn’t have done a nicer thing for us.’”
Season tickets kept the Conrads’ children connected to Aggieland through college, careers and moves across the country. When the Zone Club was completed in 1999, the Conrads purchased four additional season tickets, creating even more opportunities for family to share the gameday experience at Kyle Field.
Through the decades, the Conrads have seen it all — thrilling wins, heartbreaking losses, legendary players and coaching changes. Harold counts Johnny Manziel’s debut against Florida in 2012 among his favorites, but it is the people, not the scoreboard, that keep them coming back.
“I love football, but I also enjoy the friends we’ve made around us,” he said. “It’s a friendly, welcoming place, and it’s part of our lives.”
Their seats may have changed — in 2015, Harold and the family purchased 12 tickets in the Legacy Club following the redevelopment of Kyle Field — but their dedication has not wavered. Though they no longer travel for road games, preferring home Saturdays in Aggieland, they have made special trips over the years, including to Notre Dame and Alabama.
The Conrads’ loyalty extends far beyond the stands. As longtime Champions Council members, they have supported multiple capital campaigns through the 12th Man Foundation.
Their generosity also reaches Harold’s hometown. Since 2010, the Conrads’ Devine High School scholarship fund has grown to nearly $800,000, helping graduates pursue college dreams.
“Ann and Harold’s dedication as season ticket holders and generous supporters of the 12th Man Foundation have made a lasting impact on Texas A&M Athletics and Aggie student-athletes,” said Brady Bullard, senior vice president of major giving programs. “We are incredibly grateful for their loyalty and unwavering commitment to our mission.”
Reflecting on five decades at Kyle Field, Harold notes that some things have changed, while others remain exactly the same.
“When we started coming to games, you could drive right up to the stadium,” he laughed. “But the game is still the game. The traditions, the spirit — that’s why we keep coming back.”
Gameday for the Conrads still follows a familiar rhythm. Ann and Harold drive up from Houston, spend time with their children and grandchildren, visit with friends in the stands and soak up the atmosphere at Kyle Field.
“Everybody loves it,” Harold said. “It’s a family thing.”
After 50 years, Ann and Harold have built a legacy few can match — passing down their passion for the Aggies and ensuring maroon runs deep in the Conrad family tree. Today, Harold and his sister Doris Mulholland can proudly count 16 Aggies in the family.
“It’s just something we’ve always done,” Harold said simply. “We love the game, we love the people and we love being part of Texas A&M.”
From a $500 hog to five decades at Kyle Field, Ann and Harold Conrad’s story embodies humble beginnings, steadfast loyalty and a legacy that now spans generations of Aggies.