By Seidlits                                            H.R. No. 129
       74R5043 WMS-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, Throughout his long and productive life Dr. Harry
    1-2  Smith has made significant contributions to the vital cause of
    1-3  higher education; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Born in Austin, this exceptional scholar was
    1-5  graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor of
    1-6  arts degree; he continued his higher education at Yale Divinity
    1-7  School, where he received a bachelor of divinity degree, and also
    1-8  attained a doctor of philosophy degree from Drew University; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, He began his career as a campus chaplain at the
   1-10  University of North Carolina, serving two tenures in that post
   1-11  between 1956 and 1967; in 1968 he became special assistant to the
   1-12  chancellor at that institution and brought to that demanding
   1-13  position the dedication and discipline that have been the hallmarks
   1-14  of all his many efforts; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, After nine years as a member of the faculty and
   1-16  administrative staff at Yale Divinity School, he took the helm at
   1-17  Austin College in 1978, and his productive 15-year presidency there
   1-18  was marked by an increase in the size and diversity of the student
   1-19  population, a higher level of endowments, and enhanced facilities;
   1-20  and
   1-21        WHEREAS, Dr. Smith is widely respected for his superb
   1-22  leadership abilities, and he has served with distinction on the
   1-23  boards of the Jno. E. Owens Memorial Foundation; the Committee on
   1-24  Higher Education; Presbyterian Church, USA; and the Council of
    2-1  Presidents of the Texas Independent Athletic Association; he also
    2-2  was secretary/treasurer of the Southern University Conference; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, Also active in a variety of worthy civic concerns,
    2-4  he has given freely of his time and talents to such worthy
    2-5  organizations as the Sherman Chamber of Commerce, the Texoma Area
    2-6  Boy Scouts of America, the Sherman Community Players, the Home
    2-7  Hospice of Grayson County, and the United Way; and
    2-8        WHEREAS, For his exemplary achievements at Austin College,
    2-9  Dr.  Smith was awarded The Founder's Medal, and he also was
   2-10  designated as co-recipient of the Homer P. Rainey Award at the
   2-11  college's 1994 commencement exercises; and
   2-12        WHEREAS, Through his many varied contributions Dr. Harry
   2-13  Smith always has sought to create an atmosphere highly conducive to
   2-14  learning, and his exceptional accomplishments in this regard are
   2-15  indeed worthy of special legislative recognition; now, therefore,
   2-16  be it
   2-17        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-18  Legislature hereby commend Dr. Harry Smith for his invaluable
   2-19  contributions in the field of higher education in Texas; and, be it
   2-20  further
   2-21        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-22  prepared for Dr. Smith as an expression of high regard by the Texas
   2-23  House of Representatives.