H.R. No. 37
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Dr. Robert R. Furgason has been inducted into the
Corpus Christi Business Hall of Fame by Junior Achievement of South
Texas; and
WHEREAS, A worldwide, nonprofit organization, Junior
Achievement is committed to educating young people about free
enterprise and entrepreneurship and fostering financial literacy;
the organization's Corpus Christi Business Hall of Fame recognizes
local individuals who have achieved excellence in their field and
who have demonstrated vision and innovation, inspiring leadership,
and community mindedness; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Furgason served as the president of Texas A&M
University--Corpus Christi from 1990 to 2004; during his tenure,
the university dramatically increased its student enrollment and
greatly expanded the number of programs and degrees it offered; in
January 2005, Dr. Furgason became the first executive director of
the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, an endowed
research center located at Texas A&M--Corpus Christi and dedicated
to the sustainable use and conservation of the Gulf of Mexico; in
his role as director, he guided the institute from the planning
stages through the construction of its facility, contributed to the
development of the institute's mission and scope, and helped select
and hire its faculty and staff; he led the institute until his
retirement in 2008; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Furgason earned a bachelor's and a master's
degree in chemical engineering from the University of Idaho; he
went on to complete his Ph.D. at Northwestern University, and in
2006, the University of Idaho conferred on him an honorary
doctorate of administrative science; before becoming president of
Texas A&M--Corpus Christi, he served as vice chancellor for
academic affairs and professor of chemical engineering at the
University of Nebraska--Lincoln; and
WHEREAS, The impact of Dr. Furgason's contributions will
continue to resonate in the Coastal Bend and the Lone Star State for
years to come, and he is indeed worthy of this prestigious accolade;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate Dr. Robert
R. Furgason on his induction into the Corpus Christi Business Hall
of Fame and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. Furgason as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Torres
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 37 was adopted by the House on June
28, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House