SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, The 75th Legislature of the State of Texas is 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 retirement; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Commissioner Ashworth came from very humble
1-6 beginnings; he served as an Eagle Scout and then served for four
1-7 years in the United States Navy; he enrolled in The University of
1-8 Texas at Austin, where he was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate in
1-9 economics in 1958; he earned a master's degree in public
1-10 administration from Syracuse University in 1959 and a doctorate
1-11 degree in the history and philosophy of education from The
1-12 University of Texas at Austin in 1969; and
1-13 WHEREAS, Dr. Ashworth's long and distinguished public service
1-14 career began in the 1960s in Washington, D.C., when he joined the
1-15 United States Treasury Department; he later served with the United
1-16 States Urban Renewal Administration, the San Francisco
1-17 Redevelopment Agency, and the College Construction Grants Section
1-18 of the United States Office of Education; and
1-19 WHEREAS, In 1966, Dr. Ashworth returned to Texas and held
1-20 several positions in higher education with The University of Texas
1-21 System and The University of Texas at San Antonio; and
1-22 WHEREAS, Dr. Ashworth was appointed Texas Commissioner of
1-23 Higher Education by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
2-1 in 1976; during his tenure, he has consistently and successfully
2-2 worked to provide quality higher education opportunities for all
2-3 citizens of Texas by ensuring that the state uses its higher
2-4 education dollars as effectively and efficiently as possible; and
2-5 WHEREAS, Commissioner Ashworth has contributed greatly to his
2-6 state and country through his service with a myriad of educational
2-7 organizations and by his authorship of several insightful books on
2-8 higher education; due to his excellent work, the Texas Higher
2-9 Education Coordinating Board has gained a position of great
2-10 respect; and
2-11 WHEREAS, Commissioner Ashworth has often faced considerable
2-12 challenges, particularly those arising from higher education
2-13 institutions seeking to spend tax dollars and legislators
2-14 simultaneously seeking to save tax dollars; and
2-15 WHEREAS, Commissioner Ashworth has weathered many storms,
2-16 including the repeated desires of several governors and some
2-17 legislators for his resignation or termination, as well as the
2-18 threat of legislation proposing the abolishment of the coordinating
2-19 board; and
2-20 WHEREAS, Commissioner Ashworth's integrity and sense of
2-21 fairness remain well regarded and well recognized throughout the
2-22 state, even though he has taken tough, unpopular positions to help
2-23 guarantee the future success of higher education in Texas; and
2-24 WHEREAS, Commissioner Ashworth has endured many years of
2-25 being grilled at legislative hearings and being blamed by higher
3-1 education institutions for all manner of shortcomings; he has
3-2 retained, however, his sense of humor and insists that he
3-3 occasionally has said "yes"; and
3-4 WHEREAS, After more than two decades of service to the State
3-5 of Texas, Commissioner Ashworth has decided to retire because he
3-6 has "many more books to read, more music to play, more words to
3-7 write, and more places to see with my wife"; now, therefore, be it
3-8 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas
3-9 hereby recognize and commend Commissioner Kenneth H. Ashworth for
3-10 his exemplary and outstanding public service and for his invaluable
3-11 contributions toward improving higher education in the State of
3-12 Texas and providing access to quality higher education for all
3-13 citizens of Texas and extend to him sincere best wishes for
3-14 continued success and happiness in all his future endeavors; and,
3-15 be it further
3-16 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-17 prepared for Commissioner Ashworth as an expression of high regard
3-18 by the Texas Legislature.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 86 was adopted by the Senate
on May 9, 1997.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 86 was adopted by the House
on May 16, 1997.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
_______________________________
Date
_______________________________
Governor