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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The faculty and students of Stephen F. Austin State |
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University lost a beloved colleague and mentor with the death of |
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Dr. Ken Collier on June 14, 2020, at the age of 60; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Joe and Betty Lyn Collier, Ken Collier was |
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born on July 7, 1959; he graduated from Longview High School and |
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went on to attend Kilgore College and then The University of Texas |
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at Austin, where he earned a bachelor's degree in government in 1981 |
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and a Ph.D. in government in 1988; and |
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WHEREAS, After teaching at the University of Kansas, where he |
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also managed the athletic department's website, Dr. Collier joined |
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the faculty of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches in |
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1999; a well-respected scholar, he was the author of two books, |
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Between the Branches: The White House Office of Legislative Affairs |
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and Speechwriting in the Institutionalized Presidency, and the |
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coauthor of Lone Star Politics: Tradition and Transformation in |
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Texas, one of the leading textbooks on Texas politics; in addition, |
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he was the author or coauthor of some 15 peer-reviewed articles in |
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important academic journals; and |
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WHEREAS, A passionate advocate for his students, Dr. Collier |
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earned the SFASU Teaching Excellence Award in 2006; he supervised |
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the Texas Legislative Internship Program, which has placed 35 |
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students over the years in legislative internships and helped |
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launch several careers in public service, and in his name, SFASU has |
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set up an endowment to assist in funding the program going forward; |
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he also served on numerous committees for the Department of |
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Government, the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, and the |
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university at large; moreover, he was Faculty Senate chair from |
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2010 to 2011, and from 2013 until his death, he was the program |
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coordinator for the political science program; and |
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WHEREAS, A regular presence at all Lumberjack games, |
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Dr. Collier was an enthusiastic supporter of the athletic program, |
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building strong relationships with many of the student athletes and |
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working to improve the athletic department's educational efforts |
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and mission; during his tenure as Faculty Athletic Representative, |
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he helped raise the department's average GPA to a record high of |
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3.22; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Collier shared a rewarding marriage with his |
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wife, Sandy Benavides Collier, that spanned more than three |
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decades, and he took great pride in their daughter, Nicole; and |
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WHEREAS, A loving family man and an admired scholar and |
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teacher, Ken Collier lived a rich and purposeful life, and memories |
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of his enthusiasm, dry wit, and dedication to service remain to |
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comfort and inspire those he leaves behind; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Ken Collier and |
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extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and many friends; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ken |
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Collier. |