H.R. No. 109
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Dr. W. David Watts will retire as president of The
University of Texas of the Permian Basin in August 2017, drawing to
a close more than 16 years of exemplary service to the university;
and
WHEREAS, A native Texan, David Watts received his bachelor's
degree in sociology and English from The University of Texas at
Austin and his master's and doctoral degrees in sociology from the
State University of New York at Buffalo; early in his academic
career, he taught in the sociology and anthropology department of
Ohio University and at Southwest Texas State University, where he
also served as department chair; he went on to assume the post of
dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Southeastern Louisiana
University and subsequently served as vice president for academic
and student affairs at Jacksonville State University in Alabama;
and
WHEREAS, Dr. Watts became the fifth president of The
University of Texas of the Permian Basin in February 2001, and over
the course of his exemplary 15-year tenure, UTPB has grown from
2,200 students to more than 6,100, while the enrollment in
engineering classes has nearly quintupled, from 111 students in
2009 to 541 in 2014; under his stewardship, the university has
earned professional accreditation for its programs in business,
engineering, nursing, education, music, athletic training, and
social work; and
WHEREAS, In his work to expand the school's Midland campus,
Dr. Watts has overseen the creation of the Wagner Noel Performing
Arts Center as well as the planning for a new 80,000-square-foot
engineering school; moreover, UTPB has created a STEM Charter
School and a pioneering virtual Early College High School network
that serves nine school districts in Texas, and it has also become
the first university in Texas to offer a $10,000 bachelor's degree
in selected majors; in 2015, Dr. Watts was selected as the Citizen
of the Year by the Odessa Chamber of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed administrator's dedication, visionary
leadership, and commitment to excellence have greatly benefited The
University of Texas of the Permian Basin and earned him the respect
and admiration of its students, faculty, and staff, and he may
indeed reflect with pride on a career well spent as he embarks on
the next exciting chapter of his life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. W. David Watts on his
retirement as president of The University of Texas of the Permian
Basin and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success
and happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. Watts as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Craddick
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 109 was adopted by the House on
February 23, 2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House