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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Lee F. Jackson is retiring as chancellor of the |
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University of North Texas System in 2017, drawing to a close a |
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decade and a half of exemplary service to that university system; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Jackson grew up in Dallas and earned a |
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bachelor's degree in political science from Duke University and a |
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master's in public administration from Southern Methodist |
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University; and |
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WHEREAS, Before his appointment as UNT System chancellor, |
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Mr. Jackson enjoyed a distinguished 30-year career in state and |
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local government, starting as an assistant to the Dallas city |
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manager; he served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1977 |
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to 1987, earning mention on Texas Monthly's "Ten Best Legislators" |
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list in 1983, and he went on to win election four times as Dallas |
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County judge; during his notable tenure, he led successful bond |
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elections to improve roads, county bridges, juvenile justice |
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systems, and job training programs; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Jackson joined the UNT System in 2002, at the |
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beginning of a period of unprecedented growth; under his dynamic |
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leadership, the system has increased enrollment and the number of |
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degrees granted annually, created new professional programs in |
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engineering, law, pharmacy, and medicine, and set new design |
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standards while beautifying the campuses; he has also overseen the |
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creation of the UNT Dallas campus and the expansion of the UNT |
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Health Science Center in Fort Worth, and he has celebrated the |
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designation of UNT as a Tier One research university by the Carnegie |
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Endowment; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Jackson has served his professional community as |
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a member of the National Association of System Heads board and as |
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chair of the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities and the |
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Council of Public University Presidents and Chancellors; in |
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addition, he has served his local community on the boards of the |
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Dallas Citizens Council and the Dallas Regional Chamber; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Jackson has enjoyed the |
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love and support of his wife, Margaret, as well as that of his four |
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children and three grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Lee Jackson's adept, forward-looking leadership and |
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his unwavering integrity have helped guide the UNT System through a |
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transformative period in its history, and his many valuable |
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contributions will continue to resonate in the years to come; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Lee F. Jackson on his retirement as |
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chancellor of the University of North Texas System and extend to him |
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sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Jackson as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |