[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
A first-generation student, Brent Gough grew up in a small Texas town never dreaming of attending college. His life\u2019s plan changed, however, when Tarleton State provided Brent a chance to pursue a college degree.<\/p>\n
Over three decades later, Brent today is one of the most successful wealth management professionals in North Texas. His reputation is well known throughout the region, but particularly in the Aledo and Weatherford communities where he is recognized for unmatched character, integrity and his faith-based approach to life.<\/p>\n
A little over one year ago, Brent decided to give back to the university that had given him so much. A multi-part commitment established Brent\u2019s company Gough Wealth Management, family owned and operated with his son Slaten, as an official sponsor of Tarleton State Athletics and a proud member of the Texan Excellence Fund\u2019s Team Tarleton\u00ae<\/sup> Corporate Sponsors Program. Brent and his wife Meredith also made a generous scholarship gift to the Dr. Sam Pack College of Business.<\/p>\n \u201cOne year ago,\u201d said Gough during a recent interview with the Division of Institutional Advancement, \u201cI was approached by Tarleton State for the first time since I graduated about investing in student success and Tarleton State\u2019s important mission. I would not be where I am today without Tarleton State, and I feel sincerely blessed to be able to support and make a difference. It is a great time to be a Texan, and I am excited to engage and impact the university\u2019s continued rise.\u201d<\/p>\n Brent considers it a privilege to pay it forward for the university that took him from small town Graham, Texas to where he is today. He is now encouraging all other Tarleton State alumni that are willing and able to do the same.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/texanexcellence\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/385\/2026\/01\/BrentGough_Donor_Impact-2.jpg” alt=”Smiling, middle-aged couple. In front of a purple backdrop. ” title_text=”BrentGough_Donor_Impact-2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_testimonial author=”Brent Gough ’89” quote_icon_color=”#4F2D7F” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”Franklin Gothic ATF Regular||||||||” author_font=”Franklin Gothic ATF Black Italic|700|||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n “Meredith and I built our businesses and we’ve been very blessed. God has given us the ability to give back and to be philanthropic and we just believe Tarleton State is having a lot of success with academics, with athletics and we just wanted to be a part of that.”<\/i><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A first-generation student, Brent Gough grew up…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1034,"featured_media":3276,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","wds_primary_category":37,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-texan-trailblazers"],"acf":[],"author_meta":{"display_name":"Abigail Middleton","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/texanexcellence\/author\/swamiddleton\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/texanexcellence\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/385\/2026\/01\/BrentGough_Donor_Impact-1-300x200.jpg","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["Texan Trailblazers<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Texan Trailblazers<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":0,"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 3 months ago","modified":"Updated 3 months ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on January 5, 2026","modified":"Updated on January 5, 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on January 5, 2026 11:42 am","modified":"Updated on January 5, 2026 2:59 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/texanexcellence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/texanexcellence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/texanexcellence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/texanexcellence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1034"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/texanexcellence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3275"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/texanexcellence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3281,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/texanexcellence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3275\/revisions\/3281"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/texanexcellence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/texanexcellence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/texanexcellence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/texanexcellence\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}