| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Dr. Russell Long, who led West Texas A&M University |
|
|
through 11 transformative years as university president, assumed |
|
|
the title of president emeritus in January 2006; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Appointed interim president of West Texas A&M in |
|
|
August 1994, Dr. Long was named the ninth president of the |
|
|
university in April 1995 by a unanimous vote of the Texas A&M |
|
|
University System Board of Regents; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, During his tenure at the helm of the university, Dr. |
|
|
Long guided the school through a significant period of academic, |
|
|
physical, and financial expansion; he provided leadership for the |
|
|
development of 11 new master's degree programs and seven new |
|
|
bachelor's degree programs, introduced the university's first |
|
|
doctoral program, and played an instrumental role in the |
|
|
establishment of the Honors Program and distance education program; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Dr. Long's presidency was also marked by an increase |
|
|
in the overall enrollment by 10 percent, to nearly 7,300 students, |
|
|
and by a 50 percent increase in Hispanic and African American |
|
|
enrollment; WTOnline, which served 322 students during its first |
|
|
full year, in 1997-1998, provided instruction to nearly 11,800 |
|
|
students in 2004-2005; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, To meet the needs of a growing student body, Dr. Long |
|
|
oversaw physical improvements to the campus totaling $92 million, |
|
|
including the construction of a $30 million fine arts complex, and |
|
|
he succeeded in more than doubling the endowment; at the same time, |
|
|
research funding increased by 1,325 percent and financial aid to |
|
|
students rose by almost 130 percent; in addition, the university |
|
|
created more than 400 collaborative arrangements with private and |
|
|
public partners; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Born in Van Horn, Dr. Long received his bachelor's |
|
|
degree from Sul Ross State University in 1965, a master's degree |
|
|
from New Mexico State University in 1967, and a doctorate from Texas |
|
|
A&M University in 1977; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Before becoming provost and vice president for |
|
|
academic affairs at WTAMU in 1992, he taught English literature at |
|
|
Schreiner College and at Tarleton State University, where he also |
|
|
served as assistant vice president for academic affairs and chaired |
|
|
the Department of English and Languages; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Held in the highest regard by his colleagues, Dr. |
|
|
Long has served as a commissioner for the Southern Association of |
|
|
Colleges and Schools, as vice president of the Council of Public |
|
|
University Presidents and Chancellors, and as president of the |
|
|
Association of Texas Colleges and Universities; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, He has given generously of his time and talents to |
|
|
the community at large through service on the boards of the |
|
|
Harrington Regional Medical Center, the Harrington Cancer Center, |
|
|
the Coffee Memorial Blood Center, A.C.E. (Achievement through |
|
|
Commitment to Education), and the Amarillo-Canyon United Way, as |
|
|
well as the Panhandle Heritage Foundation, the Panhandle Regional |
|
|
Planning Commission, and the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In recognition of his professional achievements, |
|
|
Dr. Long has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of Sul Ross and a |
|
|
Tarleton State University Distinguished Professor; he was also |
|
|
chosen as the Silver Anniversary Outstanding Graduate in English by |
|
|
the Texas A&M University College of Liberal Arts; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Throughout his years as president of West Texas A&M |
|
|
University, Dr. Long brought to his office incisive leadership, a |
|
|
passionate commitment to the mission of higher education, and a |
|
|
determination to serve the needs of the surrounding region, and it |
|
|
is a privilege to pay tribute to such a dedicated and visionary |
|
|
public servant; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Russell Long on his designation |
|
|
as president emeritus of West Texas A&M University and extend to him |
|
|
sincere best wishes for continued fulfillment in the years ahead; |
|
|
and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Dr. Long as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
|
House of Representatives. |