Sam Torn
Sam Torn received a BBA in Finance from Texas A&M in 1970 where he served as Head Yell Leader, was a baseball squadsman, was named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities and was a Distinguished Military Graduate. Following graduation from Texas A&M and a brief stint in the United States Army, Sam received an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin in 1973 and a JD, Summa Cum Laude, from the South Texas College of Law in 1977. From 1977-1984, Sam was a practicing attorney in Houston specializing in commercial litigation. On January 2, 1985, Sam and his wife Susan acquired the assets of Camp Ozark, a residential summer camp located in Mt. Ida, Arkansas that was in steep decline. In 2020, the Torns opened Camp OTX in Bandera, Texas. For the past 39 years Sam, Susan (and now their three adult children) have committed their lives to the development of youth primarily through building Incomparable Camp Ozark and Camp OTX into the premier residential summer camps in the United States, serving over 10,500 children per summer. In conjunction with Camp Ozark and Camp OTX, Sam has initiated Ozark For All, an annual summer camping experience for hundreds of underserved children and Ozone Ministries, a spiritual discipleship program for middle school and high school students in five cities. In addition, in 2004, Sam joined forces with the Walton Family Foundation to create Camp War Eagle, an underserved youth development organization that provides not only a summer camp experience, but year-round tutoring, mentoring, life skills development and spiritual discipleship to thousands of children and families. Prior to being appointed to the Board of Regents, Sam served on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Sam has continued to serve Texas A&M since his graduation in 1970. He is a former chairman and trustee of the 12th Man Foundation, chaired the Campaign for Kyle Field, served as the Co-Chair for the Kyle Field Redevelopment Committee and coordinated the redevelopment of Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park, the Davis Player Development Center, the R.C. Slocum Nutrition Center and the Klein Family Locker Room. Sam is active in the Association of Former Students and has been named to the Texas A&M Corps Hall of Honor, and the Texas A&M Letterman’s Association Hall of Honor. In 2020, Sam was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M.
Sam and his wife Susan, a 1971 graduate of the University of Texas and a 2013 recipient of a Master’s in Health Education from Texas A&M, have been married for 52 years, reside in Houston, Texas and have three adult children and their spouses (all graduates of Texas A&M) and 14 grandchildren ranging from 1 year to 22 years old, four of whom are students at Texas A&M.
Mr. Torn was appointed as a member of the Board of Regents by Governor Greg Abbott in 2023. He serves as a member of the Committee on Finance and of the Committee on Buildings and Physical Plant. His term expires on February 1, 2029.
05/08/2023