By: Kubiak H.R. No. 517 73R7656 PFG-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of J. Wayne Stark on January 18, 1993, 1-2 at the age of 77, has brought great sadness to the many friends and 1-3 relatives of this distinguished administrator and esteemed citizen 1-4 of College Station; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The director of the Memorial Student Center (MSC) at 1-6 Texas A&M University for 33 years, Mr. Stark provided exceptional 1-7 leadership to the popular student union and was instrumental in 1-8 developing a score of successful and innovative student-run 1-9 programs that brought numerous internationally renowned performers 1-10 and world leaders to the campus; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Under his assured guidance, a number of worthwhile 1-12 campus organizations were launched, including the Opera and 1-13 Performing Arts Society, the Student Conference on National 1-14 Affairs, and the Great Issues and Political Forum programs; 1-15 providing many significant and rewarding leadership opportunities 1-16 for students, the MSC is recognized as having the largest student 1-17 activities program of its kind in the world; and 1-18 WHEREAS, During his long and accomplished tenure, Mr. Stark 1-19 also was the university's sponsor for the successful Experiment in 1-20 International Living program that, along with related programs, has 1-21 enabled hundreds of A&M students to travel and live overseas; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Retiring from his post as director of the MSC in 1-23 1980, Mr. Stark continued to serve the university with distinction 1-24 for a decade as a special assistant to the president; and 2-1 WHEREAS, A highly regarded administrator, Mr. Stark earned 2-2 the profound respect and admiration of his colleagues and countless 2-3 A&M students throughout his extraordinary career; many of these 2-4 students have gone on to achieve notable success as professionals, 2-5 and a number, including Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 2-6 Henry Cisneros, have named Mr. Stark as an important influence in 2-7 their lives--an especially meaningful tribute to this remarkable 2-8 man's work; and 2-9 WHEREAS, A native of West Texas, Mr. Stark was graduated from 2-10 high school in the small town of Winters before heading east to 2-11 Texas A&M University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 2-12 history in 1939; and 2-13 WHEREAS, After graduation, he attended The University of 2-14 Texas Law School, but withdrew during World War II to serve his 2-15 country in the European Theater; following the war, he returned to 2-16 A&M, joining the university in 1947 to oversee the construction of 2-17 the MSC, where he would focus his considerable energy and talent 2-18 for most of his career; and 2-19 WHEREAS, Active in numerous arts and civic activities locally 2-20 and statewide, Mr. Stark was a former president of the Association 2-21 of College Unions-International and a longtime member of the 2-22 Kiwanis Club of College Station; his many contributions to the arts 2-23 and education were recognized with his receipt of a number of 2-24 well-deserved awards from the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley and 2-25 A&M's Association of Former Students; and 2-26 WHEREAS, A man of deep faith and a devoted patriot, Mr. Stark 2-27 was a cherished member of the A&M United Methodist Church and a 3-1 retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve; and 3-2 WHEREAS, Throughout his long and fulfilling life, J. Wayne 3-3 Stark benefitted the lives of generations of A&M students as a 3-4 trusted mentor and friend and made many positive and lasting 3-5 contributions to the university, the community, and our state; 3-6 though he is gone from us now, his memory will continue to serve as 3-7 an inspiration to all those who were privileged to know him; now, 3-8 therefore, be it 3-9 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas 3-10 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of J. Wayne Stark and 3-11 extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his 3-12 beloved wife, Jean; to his son, John; to his daughter, Sally; to 3-13 his grandson, Drew McGehee; and to the other members of his family; 3-14 and, be it further 3-15 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-16 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 3-17 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 3-18 J. Wayne Stark.