78R15206 JHS-D

By:  Dukes                                                        H.R. No. 1270



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The passing of noted scholar, teacher, 
entrepreneur, and philanthropist Dr. George Kozmetsky on April 30, 
2003, at the age of 85, has left a void in the lives of the countless 
individuals who were privileged to know this exceptional man; and
	WHEREAS, Born in Seattle, Washington, on October 5, 1917, Dr. 
Kozmetsky was the son of Russian immigrants who came to the United 
States in search of freedom, prosperity, and a better way of life; 
he earned his undergraduate degree from the University of 
Washington and, after dutifully serving in the Army Medical Corps 
during World War II, he continued his studies at Harvard 
University, earning his master's of business administration and 
doctoral degrees; and
	WHEREAS, A man of boundless energy and enthusiasm, Dr. 
Kozmetsky was a passionate and dedicated educator who began his 
teaching career in his home state and later held teaching positions 
at the University of Chicago and Carnegie Mellon University; the 
classroom, however, could not contain his curious nature, and he 
was compelled to venture into the business and industrial arenas in 
the 1950s, first with Hughes Aircraft Company and then with Litton 
Industries; and
	WHEREAS, In 1960 he cofounded Teledyne, Inc., and began a 
six-year tenure as executive vice president and driving force of 
that extremely successful business venture; with the achievement of 
many of his goals in the private sector, he sought a return to 
academia and in 1966 was named dean of the College and Graduate 
School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin, a post he 
held and excelled in for 16 years, developing an innovative and 
demanding curriculum that redefined the modern business school; and
	WHEREAS, A desire to promote the growth of technology in the 
private sector led him to found IC2 Institute in 1982, an endeavor 
that helped usher Austin into the world of high technology and 
helped Dr. Kozmetsky become affectionately known as the grandfather 
of Austin's high tech industry; he also played a role in the 
establishment of the venerable Austin Technology Incubator and 
Texas Capital Networks; and
	WHEREAS, Dr. Kozmetsky was a dedicated philanthropist who 
created the RGK Foundation with his wife, Ronya, in 1966; through 
the years, the foundation distributed tens of millions of dollars 
to hundreds of nonprofit organizations; the foundation's 
philanthropic endeavors ranged from offering grants for students to 
rehabilitating areas ravaged by natural disasters; and
	WHEREAS, The remarkable achievements of Dr. Kozmetsky have 
had a profound effect on citizens of this community and, indeed, 
citizens throughout the world, and although his loss has been 
devastating to those who knew and loved him, his legacy of 
generosity and success will ensure that his memory is not soon 
forgotten; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. George Kozmetsky 
and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his 
wife, Ronya Kozmetsky; to his daughter, Nadya Scott; to his son and 
daughter-in-law, Gregory and Cindy Kozmetsky; to his 
grandchildren, Aaron Kozmetsky and his wife, Tracey; Bethany Scott 
Herwegh and her husband, Christopher; Daniel Kozmetsky; M. Jordan 
Scott; George Taylor Scott; Sarah Kozmetsky; and Caitlin Scott; to 
his great-grandchildren, Jack, Will, Claire, and Mason; and to the 
many other relatives, friends, and colleagues of this esteemed 
gentleman; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of 
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. George 
Kozmetsky.