Founder

Mr. Watson was a founder of the Brazos Higher Education Service Corporation, Inc. serving as General Counsel, President, and CEO from inception in 1976, until he died in 2018. Mr. Watson was the Managing Partner of his law firm and oversaw his family feed store and cattle operations in Central Texas. He served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1957 to 1963 and in the Texas State Senate from 1963 to 1973. His public service also included serving as General Counsel of Texas State Technical College for 26 years. Mr. Watson was a graduate of Baylor University, earning the degrees of Bachelor of Business Administration in 1952 and Bachelor of Law in 1954.

The Brazos Education Foundation Scholarship was renamed in 2022 to honor Mr. Watson's legacy and lifelong dedication to education.

President

Ben Litle is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Brazos Higher Education Service Corporation, Inc. (Brazos). Mr. Litle has over 20 years of experience in the student lending business. Prior to joining Brazos in 2010, Mr. Litle served as a principal in the law firm of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, LLP. Mr. Litle was voted as one of the top public finance attorneys under the age of 40 in the State of Ohio in 2009 and was named as a “Rising Star” by Ohio Super Lawyers in 2010. Mr. Litle graduated cum laude from Miami University with a B.A. in economics and obtained his J.D. from Duke University School of Law.

Treasurer

Mr. Turman joined Brazos Higher Education Service Corporation, Inc. in 1992, where he serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He is responsible for all financial affairs, including accounting, treasury management, structured finance, and human resources. Mr. Turman is a graduate of Baylor University, where he earned the degree of Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Business in Taxation. He has served as a speaker and panelist at various student loan and asset securitization conferences. He and his wife, Lynda, have three daughters and are proud grandparents of nine beautiful grandchildren.