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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 127
BY REPRESENTATIVES COX, BROWN, AND HOWARD
COMMENDATIONS: Commends Dr. Randall J. Webb upon his retirement as president of
Northwestern State University
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Dr. Randall J. Webb for his outstanding accomplishments and singular2
contributions to Northwestern State University upon his retirement as president and3
to express gratitude to him for his exemplary term of dedicated and highly4
productive public service.5
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to commend Dr. Randall J. Webb as he prepares to6
retire as president of Northwestern State University, a position in which he has served with7
great honor and effectiveness for nearly two decades; and 8
WHEREAS, in July of 2014, Dr. Webb will become the longest-serving president9
in the one hundred thirty year history of Northwestern State University, having assumed the10
position in 1996; and11
WHEREAS, under Dr. Webb's leadership, Northwestern State University (NSU) has12
received unprecedented national and international attention for its academic programs and13
student accomplishments, university facilities have been renovated to better serve students,14
and two record-setting capital campaigns have taken place; and15
WHEREAS, enrollment has reached record levels during Dr. Webb's tenure as16
president, and higher admission standards have resulted in students at the university having17
greater academic potential and aptitude; and during his presidency, NSU has had the largest18
graduating classes in its history; and19 HLS 14RS-4702 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 127
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WHEREAS, retention has increased at NSU, the average ACT score of students has1
gone up, and high school student leaders are enrolling at Northwestern State University in2
record numbers; and 3
WHEREAS, external funding for NSU has increased dramatically during Dr. Webb's4
presidency; two capital campaigns far exceeded their goals, and in addition to private5
funding, NSU has received more grant money in recent years from state and federal agencies6
and private foundations than at any time since its founding in 1884, and millions of dollars7
have been obtained for new and renovated facilities; and8
WHEREAS, Dr. Webb has expanded the university's outreach by spearheading the9
development of the largest electronic education and distance learning network of any10
university in the state; and11
WHEREAS, NSU's academic programs and athletic teams receive positive national12
recognition, the Computer Information Systems program has won numerous national13
championships, NSU achieved Tier I status in the U.S. News and World Report ranking of14
regional universities on two occasions, and the same publication rated the master's program15
in nursing as one of the Top 100 in the nation; and16
WHEREAS, a new doctor of nursing practice program has been created during Dr.17
Webb's tenure, along with a post-master's certificate program in global security and18
intelligence and a master's program in homeland security, and NSU has added new19
undergraduate programs in theatre, criminal justice, unified public safety administration,20
organizational leadership, addiction studies, liberal arts, general studies, communication, and21
allied health; and22
WHEREAS, several faculty members have earned prestigious Fulbright Fellowships23
to teach internationally, and NSU students have received several of the top scholarships24
awarded for graduate studies; and25
WHEREAS, Demon and Lady Demon athletic teams have won conference26
championships in baseball, men's and women's basketball, football, soccer, softball, and27
women's tennis and have had numerous All-Americans in men's and women's track and28
field; and student athletes at NSU also excel academically; and 29 HLS 14RS-4702 ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, a former center on the NSU football team, Dr. Webb is an avid1
supporter of NSU's athletic programs and has held positions of leadership at the national2
level in intercollegiate athletics; and3
WHEREAS, a 1965 graduate of NSU in mathematics and business education, Dr.4
Webb earned a master of science degree in mathematics from NSU in 1966 and a doctorate5
in education with a concentration in mathematics and research from the University of6
Southern Mississippi in 1971; and7
WHEREAS, Dr. Webb was a member of the faculty of Longwood College in8
Farmville, Virginia, from 1966 until 1974; served as director of higher education and teacher9
certification at the state Department of Education from 1974 through 1976; and moved to10
Southeastern Louisiana University in 1976, spending thirteen years there in positions11
including director of institutional research, Equal Employment Opportunity officer, registrar,12
and member of the mathematics faculty; and13
WHEREAS, in 1989, Dr. Webb became a professor of mathematics and NSU's dean14
of instruction and graduate studies, a position in which he was responsible for campus-wide15
policy development, planning, advancement, and review of both graduate and undergraduate16
programs; while he was dean, graduate enrollment and internal funding for faculty research17
both increased significantly; and18
WHEREAS, as dean, Dr. Webb proposed the concept for NSU's successful Freshman19
Connection Program and served as a member of the writing team for a grant proposal that20
resulted in a major grant to improve student retention; he also chaired the steering committee21
for NSU's Self Study for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; and22
WHEREAS, Dr. Webb has been active in the community as a member of the board23
of directors of the Natchitoches Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Association for24
the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches, the Natchitoches Historic Foundation, the25
Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Society, Rotary Club, and the First Baptist Church;26
and27
WHEREAS, Dr. Webb and his wife Brenda have two daughters, both of whom are28
honor graduates of NSU and married to former NSU baseball players; and29 HLS 14RS-4702 ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, Dr. Webb will be profoundly missed for his leadership, his intellect, and1
all of the incomparable gifts and talents that he has lent to NSU for so long and so well, and2
he will continue to bring deep pride to the university and the citizens of this state as a3
dignified scholar and a gentleman whose loyalty and dedication to NSU are inspiring and4
unwavering; and5
WHEREAS, Dr. Randall J. Webb merits highest commendation for the indelible6
mark he has left on Northwestern State University and its students, faculty, and staff as one7
of the state's finest public servants.8
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the9
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Dr. Randall J. Webb for his outstanding10
accomplishments and singular contributions to Northwestern State University, does hereby11
record for posterity his remarkable service as the longest-serving president in university12
history, does hereby express enduring gratitude for the noble strides he has taken in this13
position and for the vast and innovative improvements installed at NSU under his leadership,14
and does hereby extend to him best wishes for continued success and happiness in all of his15
future endeavors.16
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted17
to Dr. Randall J. Webb.18
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Cox HR No. 127
Commends Dr. Randall J. Webb for his accomplishments and contributions as president of
Northwestern State University as he prepares to retire and expresses gratitude for his
exemplary term of public service.