By Brown of Brazos H.C.R. No. 275
76R15661 JHS-F
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, Dr. Barry B. Thompson has devoted 41 years of his
1-2 life to the education and service of Texans, and he is indeed
1-3 worthy of special legislative recognition; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Since Dr. Thompson became chancellor of The Texas
1-5 A&M University System in September 1994, the system has expanded
1-6 its scope to include nine universities, eight state agencies, and a
1-7 health science center; in forming The Texas A&M University System
1-8 Health Science Center, he effectively combined all the system's
1-9 health-related organizations under one administrative unit to
1-10 increase cost-effectiveness and collaborative efforts; and
1-11 WHEREAS, Under Dr. Thompson's leadership, The Texas A&M
1-12 University System serves 88,000 students and reaches 3.5 million
1-13 people each year through outreach and continuing education
1-14 programs; in his capacity as chancellor, Dr. Thompson oversees the
1-15 A&M system's $1.6 billion budget and its more than 22,000 full-time
1-16 faculty and staff members throughout the state; and
1-17 WHEREAS, Dr. Thompson is one of the chief advocates of access
1-18 to higher education for all Texans, tirelessly leading efforts to
1-19 provide scholarship funding for economically disadvantaged
1-20 students; and
1-21 WHEREAS, Having spent 13 years working in both teaching and
1-22 administrative positions in the Texas public school system, he is a
1-23 champion of teacher benefits and of building strong partnerships
1-24 between public schools and public institutions of higher education;
2-1 and
2-2 WHEREAS, Along with leading both West Texas A&M University
2-3 and Tarleton State University as president, he has served in
2-4 administrative and faculty capacities at East Texas State
2-5 University (now Texas A&M University-Commerce), the University of
2-6 Texas-Pan American, and Texas A&M University; and
2-7 WHEREAS, During his term as chancellor, Dr. Thompson has
2-8 refocused the mission of the A&M system back to one of serving
2-9 grassroots Texans: the original land-grant university concept; and
2-10 WHEREAS, During the 75th Texas Legislature, he led the
2-11 establishment of the Texas Higher Education Coalition and its "Back
2-12 to Basics" funding effort, generating $594 million for increased
2-13 partnerships between four-year universities, community colleges,
2-14 and public schools to graduate more Texas college students, and he
2-15 continues to lead the Texas Higher Education Coalition during the
2-16 76th Texas Legislature; and
2-17 WHEREAS, He formed the Council of School Executives, in
2-18 conjunction with the Texas Education Agency, to create an ongoing
2-19 dialogue between public school systems and higher education to
2-20 better serve the youth of Texas and to make statewide
2-21 recommendations and improvements regarding the education of
2-22 students and teachers; this visionary gentleman also initiated a
2-23 systemwide community development program in which A&M system
2-24 institutions work hand-in-hand with Texas communities to solve
2-25 problems; and
2-26 WHEREAS, A respected authority in his field, Dr. Thompson has
2-27 published more than 80 articles, essays, and monographs on such
3-1 topics as leadership, philosophy, archeology, physical plant
3-2 management, and higher education; and
3-3 WHEREAS, He is personally dedicated to many charitable civic
3-4 organizations, including United Way, the American Cancer Society,
3-5 both the San Antonio and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
3-6 associations, and the Boy Scouts of America, from which he received
3-7 the prestigious Silver Beaver Award in 1999 for lifelong service;
3-8 and
3-9 WHEREAS, Through his personal contacts and his more than 100
3-10 speeches each year, this noteworthy gentleman has caused many
3-11 Texans to reevaluate their responsibilities to one another in terms
3-12 of leadership, service, encouragement, and self-sacrifice; and
3-13 WHEREAS, Barry B. Thompson has made an indelible imprint on
3-14 the face of higher education in Texas, and although he will be
3-15 sorely missed after his retirement, his legacy of excellence will
3-16 ensure that he is not soon forgotten; now, therefore, be it
3-17 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
3-18 hereby pay tribute to Dr. Barry B. Thompson for his distinguished,
3-19 productive career in education at all levels in this state, and
3-20 particularly as chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, and
3-21 extend to him sincere best wishes for a fulfilling and satisfying
3-22 retirement; and, be it further
3-23 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-24 prepared for Dr. Thompson as an expression of high regard by the
3-25 Texas House of Representatives and Senate.