Ralph Schmidt and his wife Linda have been married over 50 years, have four married children, and over a dozen grandchildren. Ralph earned a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1968. He spent thirty-eight years in the oil refining and marketing business. In those thirty-eight years, he served in various senior management positions with companies in the United State and Europe. Upon retiring from Western Refining Co. in 2006, he was their Chief Operating Officer and a Board Member. After retiring, he continued to serve on the Board until 2014.He then formed Schmidt Land and Cattle Company which is located in Central Texas. Although still active in the ranching business, the day-to day-operations are now managed by his son. Also, in 2006 he and his wife, Linda, founded The Schmidt Family Foundation. The Foundation was formed for the purpose of serving our community in the areas of educational, religious, and moral causes (mostly Catholic and pro-life).