Ross Margraves Jr. -- who was convicted of felony misconduct more than a decade ago for his actions as a Texas A&M University Regent and later pardoned -- has been recommended for a board position at the system's Galveston branch.

Regents will vote on his appointment to the Texas A&M at Galveston Board of Visitors at its meeting Thursday, according to the agenda.

Margraves was recommended for the position by R. Bowen Loftin, the Galveston branch's chief executive officer and vice president. Loftin was traveling to College Station for the regents' meeting Wednesday and could not be reached for comment, officials said.

"Mr. Margraves is a Galveston resident, and he has, for many years, been involved with giving back to A&M through many groups," said Karen Bigley, a spokeswoman for Texas A&M at Galveston. She said the university looks for people familiar with the Galveston area who work in an industry that hires graduates from the branch or who have fundraising contacts.

Margraves is a lawyer who lives in Houston but owns property in Galveston. He has been involved with fundraising efforts at Texas A&M since before his service as a regent. He also has served as an advisory director for the 12th Man Foundation.

He was convicted in 1996 of using a state-owned plane for a personal trip to Baton Rouge, La., in 1993, when he was a member of the board. The charge was considered a state jail felony because it cost $1,435 in state funds.

In 2003, the state Board of Pardons and Paroles voted 9 to 8 to pardon Margraves of the crime. Gov. Rick Perry, a Texas A&M graduate, endorsed the pardon.

Reached by phone at his office Wednesday afternoon, Margraves said that his conviction in the 1990s is irrelevant to his appointment to the board now.

"That doesn't have anything to do with this," he said.

Members of the Board of Visitors are unpaid and usually are approved by the Board of Regents without much discussion. According to its bylaws, the board may have as many as 45 members and must meet at least biannually.

Margraves said his main focus as a board member would be to use his contacts to raise money for the university.

"It gives me a chance to give back to my university," he said.

• Matthew Watkins' e-mail address is matthew.watkins@the

eagle.com.

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