AUSTIN, Texas — [Thursday, October 15, 2026] — TAMEST (Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology) today announced that the late Pete Winstead and Winstead PC law firm have been selected as recipients of the 2027 Kay Bailey Hutchison Distinguished Service Award . The award recognizes their extraordinary leadership, service and enduring contributions to research, discovery and innovation in Texas.
Named in honor of former U.S. Senator and TAMEST Honorary Chair Kay Bailey Hutchison, the award recognizes individuals and organizations whose leadership and commitment have strengthened TAMEST’s mission to foster collaboration and advance excellence in science, medicine, engineering and technology across Texas.
“Pete Winstead’s impact on TAMEST and the broader Texas community is immeasurable,” said The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison, TAMEST Honorary Chair, Former U.S. Senator and Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO. “From the earliest days of our organization, Pete believed deeply in the power of bringing together leaders in science, medicine, engineering and technology to strengthen Texas. His generosity, wisdom and unwavering dedication helped build the foundation of TAMEST, and we are honored to recognize both Pete and Winstead PC with the 2027 Kay Bailey Hutchison Distinguished Service Award.”
Pete Winstead, a founding shareholder of Winstead PC Law Firm, served for decades as TAMEST’s trusted advisor and pro bono attorney until his passing in August 2024. A vital early champion of TAMEST, Mr. Winstead played a pivotal role in shaping the organization during its formative years.
He was a founding member of TAMEST’s Industry Advisory Committee, and his firm hosted the organization’s first Board of Directors meetings, filed Articles of Incorporation, drafted its initial bylaws and secured its nonprofit status. In the 22 years since, Pete Winstead and Winstead PC have continued to serve TAMEST through ongoing pro bono legal work, most recently stewarding a name change of the organization in 2022. Their guidance and counsel has helped sustain TAMEST and enabled it to grow and better fulfill its mission.
“Winstead PC has been an indispensable partner to TAMEST for more than two decades,” said TAMEST Board President Ganesh Thakur, Ph.D. (NAE), University of Houston. “Their steadfast support, along with Pete Winstead’s leadership, has helped shape our organization and advance our mission in meaningful ways. This recognition reflects not only Mr. Winstead’s extraordinary legacy, but also the firm’s longstanding commitment to serving the people and institutions of Texas.”
Throughout his distinguished career, Pete Winstead was widely respected as a visionary legal leader, dedicated mentor and passionate advocate for public service and philanthropy. His commitment to supporting educational, scientific and civic initiatives across Texas left a lasting impact on countless organizations and individuals.
“This is such an honor, and I am grateful to TAMEST for keeping Pete’s legacy of service, dedication and civic leadership alive,” said Tomi Winstead, Pete Winstead’s wife. “Pete loved working with his dear friend Kay Bailey Hutchison and everyone involved with TAMEST. It was one of his favorite causes, and I know he would be deeply touched by this recognition.”
The Kay Bailey Hutchison Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Pete Winstead’s wife, Tomi Winstead, and representatives from Winstead PC during the opening reception of the TAMEST 2027 Annual Conference: Frontiers of Discovery on February 1, 2027, at the InterContinental Houston in Houston, Texas.
TAMEST (Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology) was co-founded in 2004 by the Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison and Nobel Laureates Michael S. Brown, M.D., and Richard E. Smalley, Ph.D. With more than 360 members, eight Nobel Laureates and 23 member institutions, TAMEST is composed of the Texas-based members of the three National Academies (National Academy of Medicine, National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Sciences) and other honorific organizations. TAMEST brings together the state’s brightest minds in medicine, engineering, science and technology to foster collaboration, and to advance research, innovation and business in Texas. Our vision is to make Texas a premier destination for innovation and world-class research, grow our economy and improve the lives of our citizens.
TAMEST’s unique interdisciplinary model has become an effective recruitment tool for top research and development centers across Texas. Since their founding, more than 350 TAMEST members have been inducted into the National Academies or relocated to Texas.