San Antonio Academy
Welcome, Alumni!
Just because our students move on to high school and college doesn’t mean they leave our lives. The Bond of Brotherhood built within the Academy walls lasts a lifetime.
San Antonio Academy has graduated leaders from San Antonio, South Texas, and beyond since 1886. Our alumni include astronauts, Congressmen, attorneys, doctors, artists, engineers and business professionals. SAA has a strong foundation of alumni who provide support through leadership, contributions, and history to their alma mater.
Alumni, this is your place for staying connected. As a graduate, we hope you’ll join our group of active members.
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As an alumnus of San Antonio Academy, you are part of one of the most powerful networks in Texas and beyond, a community of hundreds that includes leaders and innovators in every field.– Brian Steward '79, Alumni Association Board Member
Alumni Association
The San Antonio Academy Alumni Association serves as a means to bolster the alumni’s voice, develop school leadership, help perpetuate the long-held values of the school, and provide avenues for alumni support of the school, always with the goals of strengthening the Bond of Brothers and providing the very best for our boys. All alumni are members of the Alumni Association and have the right to vote to elect the Alumni Association’s board which consists of 12-18 members.
Meet Our Alumni
San Antonio Academy has graduated leaders from San Antonio, South Texas and beyond since 1886. SAA alumni include astronauts, Congressmen, attorneys, doctors, engineers, business professionals - and even a Flying Tiger! Learn about the men who have provided support through leadership, contributions and history to their alma mater.
David Lee “Tex” Hill – WWII Flying Tiger
The late Brigadier General David Lee “Tex” Hill was a 1928 graduate of San Antonio Academy. Tex was a member of the famous Flying Tigers during WWII, where he fought in Burma, China and Thailand and was credited with 12-1/4 aerial victories. The American Volunteer Group was made famous in the 1942 film, Flying Tigers, in which Tex was portrayed by none other than John Wayne.
Tom Frost – Chairman Emeritus, Frost Bank
The late Tom Frost was a 1941 graduate of San Antonio Academy. Tom was the Chairman Emeritus of Frost National Bank. He received many awards, including: the People of Vision Award from the Texas Society to Prevent Blindness, the Humanitarian Award from Centro del Barrio, the South Texan of the Year Award from the Texas Association Business and Chambers of Commerce, the Order of the Aztec Eagle Award from the San Antonio-Mexico Friendship Council, the Benefactor of the 2000 Community Award from the City of San Antonio, the Boysville's Arthur O'Krent Humanitarian Award and the Colonel W. T. Bondurant, Sr. Humanitarian Award. He was also a long-time member of SAA's Advisory Council.
Sam Barshop – Founder & former CEO, La Quinta Inns
The late Sam Barshop was a 1943 graduate of San Antonio Academy. Sam was the founder and former CEO of La Quinta Inns Inc. and was the Chairman of Barshop & Oles, a company that has played a prominent role in high-profile real estate development in Central Texas during the last two decades.
Barshop served on the University of Texas System Board of Regents, as well as the development boards of the University of Texas at Austin, UTSA, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where he also established the Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies. He also was a member of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Governor's Task Force on Higher Education.
Barshop was a former Director of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Boys Clubs of America, St. Luke's Lutheran Hospital and National Bancshares Corporation of Texas. He served on the Board of Directors of Southwest Airlines, Republic Bank Corp. and the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation. He received numerous accolades, including: recipient of the Americas Lodging Investment Summit Lifetime Achievement Award; and the San Antonio Technology Accelerator Initiative (SATAI) Technology Hero Award; and was an inductee in both the San Antonio and the Texas Philanthropy Hall of Fame.
News - Events Panel
Alumni News and Events
Join us at our upcoming events and browse alumni news stories to relive, reconnect, and remember.
News Slideshow
![Eli Espy '24]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1733770834/saacademyorg/dzhqpawm5sxna8lmserf/EliEspy_TeamCavenders.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1733770834/saacademyorg/dzhqpawm5sxna8lmserf/EliEspy_TeamCavenders.jpg","width":288}])
SAA Alumnus Eli Espy '24 makes SAA proud as a new member of Team Cavender's. Eli has accomplished much in his young life as a high school freshman, competing in bareback riding and joining Team Cavender's for his first year. Among his accolades are 2x JRA Texas State Champion, 4x JRA World Finals Qualifier and 2023 JRA World Champion. As he explains, “My favorite event is bareback because the adrenaline rush is like no other. I love my rough stock family and spending time with the people I compete with and their parents. Not only do I love riding, I also am a huge fan and enjoy keeping up with all the professional standings.” Eli grew up around the rodeo world and has had a passion for it since he was young. His father, Dr. Ben Espy, is a horse veterinarian who works with professional stock contractors for the PRCA and is the veterinarian for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. Eli enjoys fishing in his free time and playing on his school’s soccer and lacrosse team. Go Eli Go!
![Wagner Brothers]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1733768814/saacademyorg/d9byvpnzghqycu6hmwwa/Wagner_alumni.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1733768814/saacademyorg/d9byvpnzghqycu6hmwwa/Wagner_alumni.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1733768814/saacademyorg/d9byvpnzghqycu6hmwwa/Wagner_alumni.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1733768814/saacademyorg/d9byvpnzghqycu6hmwwa/Wagner_alumni.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1733768814/saacademyorg/d9byvpnzghqycu6hmwwa/Wagner_alumni.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1733768814/saacademyorg/d9byvpnzghqycu6hmwwa/Wagner_alumni.jpg","width":1920}])
SAA Wishes Drew Wagner '18 a Happy Belated Birthday! Drew's brothers - and fellow SAA Alumni Wildcats Dillon '11 and Cole '13 - along with their father, Wayne Wagner, celebrate Drew's 21st birthday in Dallas in August 2024. All three are SMU Mustangs.
![Brandon Hamner]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1733159280/saacademyorg/pef4f0rokj8twz6lbol0/BrandonHamner.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1733159280/saacademyorg/pef4f0rokj8twz6lbol0/BrandonHamner.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1733159280/saacademyorg/pef4f0rokj8twz6lbol0/BrandonHamner.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1733159280/saacademyorg/pef4f0rokj8twz6lbol0/BrandonHamner.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1733159280/saacademyorg/pef4f0rokj8twz6lbol0/BrandonHamner.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1733159280/saacademyorg/pef4f0rokj8twz6lbol0/BrandonHamner.jpg","width":2200}])
It was a pleasure to have Academy alumnus Brandon Hamner '04 join us as our Alumni Monday speaker on December 2, 2024. During his speech, Brandon shared his journey and heartfelt reflections on the lasting impact of his time at SAA.
![Humanitarian Award Luncheon]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1732227172/saacademyorg/swc3fxpppqgknvvvfoqh/Humanitarian-Award.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1732227172/saacademyorg/swc3fxpppqgknvvvfoqh/Humanitarian-Award.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1732227172/saacademyorg/swc3fxpppqgknvvvfoqh/Humanitarian-Award.png","width":784}])
The Alumni Association of San Antonio Academy presented the Texas Cavaliers with the 40th Colonel W.T. Bondurant, Sr. Distinguished Humanitarian Award at a special luncheon held at the Witte Museum on Tuesday, November 19.
![Zain Haq Alumni Monday]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1731954564/saacademyorg/kvgxasquif3eoetwivft/ZainHaq.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1731954564/saacademyorg/kvgxasquif3eoetwivft/ZainHaq.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1731954564/saacademyorg/kvgxasquif3eoetwivft/ZainHaq.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1731954564/saacademyorg/kvgxasquif3eoetwivft/ZainHaq.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1731954564/saacademyorg/kvgxasquif3eoetwivft/ZainHaq.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1731954564/saacademyorg/kvgxasquif3eoetwivft/ZainHaq.jpg","width":2200}])
On November 18, 2024, Zain Haq, Class of 2023, returned to San Antonio Academy to deliver an inspiring Alumni Monday speech reflecting on The Academy's lasting impact. Zain Haq, a proud alumnus of SAA who attended from first to eighth grade, shared how his experiences shaped his journey and prepared him for future success. From his first day as a nervous but excited young student, Zain described The Academy as a community that nurtured curiosity, challenged intellect, and built character.
Upcoming Alumni Events
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Former students and graduates of SAA are encouraged to support their alma mater with a gift that will impact today's students.