78R10266 MMS-D

By:  Naishtat                                                     H.R. No. 602



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The cause of international education has no greater 
champion than Dr. Joe W. Neal, whose efforts, extending over more 
than 60 years, have enriched thousands of lives and fostered 
innumerable ties of friendship and respect; and
	WHEREAS, A nationally recognized leader in international 
education, Dr. Neal earned bachelor's, master's, and doctoral 
degrees in government at The University of Texas at Austin (UT); in 
1941, after receiving his M.A., he was appointed coordinator of 
interamerican student activities for the UT Institute of Latin 
American Studies; that assignment was followed by a stint with 
Nelson Rockefeller's Office of the Coordinator of Interamerican 
Affairs in Washington, D.C., and service with the U.S. Army during 
World War II; and
	WHEREAS, Discharged from the military with the rank of 
colonel in 1946, he returned to UT to serve both in the classroom 
and in administration; originally a lecturer in the Department of 
Government, he retired from teaching in 1985 as professor emeritus 
in the Department of Speech Communication; and
	WHEREAS, In 1946 Dr. Neal accepted the directorship of what 
was then UT's International Office, assuming responsibility for all 
international students at the university; over the next four 
decades he also became heavily involved in developing educational 
programs abroad; among the myriad international projects he managed 
were programs to retrain all of the English teachers in the Republic 
of China, develop human resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 
and prepare Peace Corps volunteers for service in more than half a 
dozen different countries; and
	WHEREAS, After 42 years at its helm, Dr. Neal retired from the 
Office of International Programs in 1988 to become president and 
CEO of the recently established Texas International Education 
Consortium (TIEC); comprising a number of public universities in 
Texas, TIEC develops and implements international education 
projects around the world; Dr. Neal led TIEC until 1996, when he 
became president emeritus; and
	WHEREAS, A cofounder of TIEC, Dr. Neal also helped to 
establish the Association of International Education 
Administrators, Texas Association of International Education 
Administrators, and National Association for Foreign Student 
Affairs; and
	WHEREAS, In addition to the extensive work he has 
accomplished in a professional capacity, Dr. Neal has given 
generously of his time and expertise to the volunteer organization 
Partners of the Americas and its chapter in Texas; a former 
president of the state affiliate, he has overseen that group's 
projects in Mexico and Peru; and
	WHEREAS, Locally, Dr. Neal was a driving force behind the 
creation of the International Hospitality Council of Austin (IHCA), 
which arranges professional development and hospitality programs 
for visiting students, business leaders, and government 
representatives; in tribute to Dr. Neal's extraordinary service in 
behalf of international education, the IHCA has created a 
scholarship in his honor, and it is presenting this award for the 
first time on March 28, 2003, at the IHCA's Second Annual Consular 
Ball; and
	WHEREAS, Throughout his long and distinguished career, Joe 
Neal has helped thousands of individuals from abroad to pursue 
their dreams, while contributing immeasurably to the development of 
priceless cross-cultural bonds and understanding; now, therefore, 
be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby commend Dr. Joe W. Neal for his lifetime of 
service to international education and extend to him its deep 
appreciation for the innumerable friends his endeavors have gained 
for the Lone Star State; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for Dr. Neal as an expression of high regard by the Texas 
House of Representatives.