H.R. No. 2235
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The students, faculty, and alumni of Austin College
in Sherman are bidding farewell to a respected leader as Dr. Oscar
C. Page retires as the president of that esteemed institution on
June 30, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Page became the 14th president of Austin College
in 1994, and during his tenure, he has done an exceptional job of
continuing its tradition of excellence in preparing students for
productive and rewarding lives; and
WHEREAS, A historian who earned his bachelor's degree from
Western Kentucky University and his master's and doctoral degrees
from the University of Kentucky, Dr. Page taught at Western
Kentucky University and the University of Georgia before becoming
the dean of Wesleyan College in Georgia in 1971; seven years later,
he moved to Lander College in South Carolina, where he was appointed
vice president for academic affairs and provost and served as
acting president for a term; in 1988, he was named president of
Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, remaining in that post
until joining Austin College; and
WHEREAS, Highly respected by his peers, he has served on the
boards of numerous educational organizations, including the
Association of Texas Colleges and Universities, the Independent
Colleges and Universities of Texas, and the National Association of
Independent Colleges and Universities; moreover, he is a former
president of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Commission and was a
member of the Presidents' Commission and the Division III
Management Council for the National Collegiate Athletic
Association; his achievements have been recognized with a number of
honors, among them, the Chief Executive Officer Leadership Award
from District IV of the Council for Advancement and Support of
Education and the Meritorious Service Award from the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Page has taken a very active role in each of the
communities where he has lived, and during his time in Texas, he has
been a member of the Sherman Rotary Club, the Sherman and Denison
Chambers of Commerce, and United Way of Grayson County; in
addition, he has served on the boards of directors for the United
Way, Junior Achievement of Grayson County, and the March of Dimes;
and
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Dr. Page enjoys the love and
support of his wife, Anna Laura Hood Page, who works as a
professional musician and composer; the couple have two children,
Kristen and Matthew; and
WHEREAS, For a decade and a half, Oscar Page has demonstrated
great skill and leadership in furthering the mission of Austin
College and helping thousands of students to attain their academic
and professional goals, and he may take justifiable pride in a job
well done as he looks ahead to the next exciting chapter of his
life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Oscar C. Page on the occasion
of his retirement from Austin College and commend him for his
outstanding service as president; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. Page as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Phillips
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2235 was adopted by the House on May
25, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House