By Rangel H.C.R. No. 237 75R13374 BNL-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The members of the 75th Texas Legislature are proud 1-2 to honor Kenneth H. Ashworth for his many outstanding contributions 1-3 to higher education in Texas and to congratulate him on his 1-4 decision to begin living the good life in retirement; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Commissioner Ashworth has served his state and 1-6 nation in myriad ways, contributing his expertise to numerous 1-7 educational organizations, sharing his insights in several books on 1-8 higher education, and guiding the Texas Higher Education 1-9 Coordinating Board to a position of great respect, all with one arm 1-10 tied behind his back; as a young man while his peers were hanging 1-11 out at the drive-in, this determined individual was busy earning 1-12 merit badges to become an Eagle Scout, and he went on to serve four 1-13 years in the United States Navy before enrolling at The University 1-14 of Texas at Austin; and 1-15 WHEREAS, After completing his studies there as a Phi Beta 1-16 Kappa graduate in economics in 1958, this esteemed bookworm earned 1-17 a master's degree in public administration from Syracuse University 1-18 and a doctorate in the history and philosophy of education from his 1-19 undergraduate alma mater; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Dr. Ashworth's long and distinguished public service 1-21 career began in the 1960s in Washington, D.C., where he no doubt 1-22 sported love beads and Nehru jackets while working at the United 1-23 States Treasury Department and throughout his tenures at the United 1-24 States Urban Renewal Administration, the San Francisco 2-1 Redevelopment Agency, and the College Construction Grants Section 2-2 of the United States Office of Education; and 2-3 WHEREAS, In 1966, the prodigal son returned to Texas and held 2-4 several leadership positions with The University of Texas System 2-5 before being appointed commissioner of higher education by the 2-6 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in 1976; since then, he 2-7 has worked to ensure the effective and efficient use of the state's 2-8 higher education dollars, thus guaranteeing that all Texans have 2-9 access to quality higher education opportunities; and 2-10 WHEREAS, In attempting to fulfill this goal, Commissioner 2-11 Ashworth has often faced considerable challenges, for he has had 2-12 the statutory responsibility to serve two masters: higher education 2-13 institutions seeking to spend tax dollars and legislators seeking 2-14 to save tax dollars; it is not surprising then that Commissioner 2-15 Ashworth has weathered many storms, including the repeated desires 2-16 of several governors and some legislators for his resignation or 2-17 his head, as well as legislation proposing the abolishment of the 2-18 coordinating board; and 2-19 WHEREAS, This enlightened public servant has endured many 2-20 years of being grilled at public hearings and being blamed by his 2-21 inquisitors for all manner of shortcomings in higher education or 2-22 the coordinating board, and although he has been called a dedicated 2-23 "prophet of doom" and a steady naysayer, he has managed to retain 2-24 his sense of humor and insists that he does occasionally say yes; 2-25 and 2-26 WHEREAS, Kenneth Ashworth's integrity and sense of fairness 2-27 have earned him high regard throughout the state, even as he has 3-1 taken tough, unpopular stands on difficult issues to help guarantee 3-2 the future success of higher education in Texas; after more than 3-3 two decades of dedicated service, Commissioner Ashworth has decided 3-4 to retire because he has many more books to read, more music to 3-5 play, more words to write, and more places to see with his wife, 3-6 and the members of this body join in wishing him well in all these 3-7 enviable pursuits; now, therefore, be it 3-8 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 3-9 hereby commend Commissioner Kenneth H. Ashworth for his invaluable 3-10 efforts to improve higher education in this state and extend to him 3-11 warmest best wishes for continued success and happiness in all his 3-12 future endeavors; and, be it further 3-13 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-14 prepared for Commissioner Ashworth as an expression of high regard 3-15 by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.