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.