April 9, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3127 the costs of health care to our seniors When Chancellor Hance was first ap- In 1987, Texas Governor Bill Clements and ending Medicare as we know it. pointed to be the third chancellor of appointed Hance to a vacancy on the We must work together to protect Texas Tech University, his motto was Texas Railroad Commission. Upon and preserve Medicare, reduce our def- ‘‘Dream no little dreams.’’ I think this doing so, he became the first Repub- icit, and decrease health care costs. is a perfect motto for the chancellor to lican to ever serve on the railroad com- The Ryan budget is not the way to do use because that really expresses the mission in Texas. that. This proposal has the wrong pri- way he has lived his life. Due to his successes on the commis- orities for Riverside County, Cali- Kent Hance was born to Raymond sion, he was reelected in 1988, and in fornia, and our Nation. and Beral Cole Hance on November 14, 1989, he was elected chairman of the I urge my colleagues to end the par- 1942, in the great city of Dimmitt, railroad commission. After stepping tisan political gamesmanship and put Texas, which is in my congressional down in 1990 from his commission, he American families and our seniors district, a town known for grit and de- continued to practice law. In 2006, Kent first. termination, which clearly was passed Hance was chosen to become the third f along to Hance. chancellor of the Texas Tech Univer- He enrolled in Texas Tech University sity System. UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT in 1961 and joined the fraternity Delta When appointed to the position of BASKETBALL Tau Delta, where he often mentioned chancellor to begin implementing the (Mr. LARSON of Connecticut asked that he became friends with a guy motto, as I mentioned earlier, ‘‘Dream and was given permission to address named John Deutschendorf, who later no little dreams,’’ and no little dreams the House for 1 minute and to revise became a guy by the name of John did Kent Hance have for Texas Tech and extend his remarks.) Denver. University. He said that he was going Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Now, I think, sometimes, Kent Hance to raise a billion dollars and began a Speaker, I rise with a great sense of claims that he helped John Denver fundraising campaign to do that, the pride on behalf of the entire delegation with some of his material, but we have largest one in the school’s history. of the State of Connecticut who are, in- not been able to actually verify that. Additionally, Hance decided to grow deed, honored again to be national Hance graduated from Texas Tech in the university to 40,000 students by 2020 champions. Our entire delegation will 1965 with a business degree, and despite to meet the demands of a growing have an extended period of time in his better judgment, he entered law State. Not only has his fundraising school at the University of Texas. which we can amplify the great accom- campaign exceeded a billion dollar While he was at that school, they plishments of the University of Con- mark, but under his leadership, Chan- named him president of the Student necticut. cellor Hance has grown the university Bar Association and, of course, in the For an unprecedented second time, system and about doubled it by adding true Red Raider spirit. first and foremost, our women’s bas- Angelo State and the Texas Tech Uni- After graduating with his law degree, ketball team went undefeated and was versity Health Sciences Center at El he returned to west Texas to practice perfect, as they are; and of course, the Paso. law and teach business law at Texas men’s team down in RALPH HALL’s Texas Tech University, the flagship Tech. While teaching, undoubtedly, the great State of Texas, where we have institution of the Texas Tech system, most momentous meeting in his career won the national championship three has also increased in the number of de- was when he had this student by the times, again, was able to win the na- grees by 46 percent between 2006 and name of RANDY NEUGEBAUER in his tional championship in Kevin Ollie’s 2012 and added a chapter of the pres- first year as the coach when the team business law class. Now, what was kind of unique about tigious Phi Beta Kappa to the campus. was eligible for it. that class, with Professor Hance and All together, it is quite easy to see why This is remarkable. Fourteen na- in 1985, even though Kent Hance had his student RANDY NEUGEBAUER, was tional championships in the game of that little did either one of us know not accomplished all of this, that peo- basketball. We are very proud not only that both of us would go on to be con- ple recognized early his talents and of our coaches and our student ath- gressmen for the 19th District of Texas. named him Distinguished Alumni of letes, but of all the hard work and ef- In 1974, Kent Hance decided to run for Texas Tech. fort that goes into this. the Texas Senate and won in that west On October 11, 2013, unfortunately, Our delegation will be down here at Texas seat. He served in the senate Kent Hance announced that he would another time to further extoll the vir- from 1974 through 1978, when he decided be stepping down as chancellor. While tues of the University of Connecticut to run for Congress for the 19th Con- Texas Tech and west Texas would be and the great State it represents. gressional District. losing one of its best advocates, we are f extremely grateful for the services that b 1815 A TRIBUTE TO THE CAREER OF he offered as he served and will con- KENT HANCE Interestingly enough, in that race, he tinue to serve as chairman emeritus. defeated a young man in Midland, Future students of Texas Tech will also The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under Texas, by the name of George W. Bush. benefit from his decisions to continue the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- Many of us know that he became the teaching his seminar classes on leader- uary 3, 2013, the gentleman from Texas future President of the United States. ship. (Mr. NEUGEBAUER) is recognized for 60 One of the things that President Before handing over the floor to some minutes as the designee of the major- Bush would occasionally say is that, of my colleagues who would like to say ity leader. Mr. Hance and I accomplished some- some things about Chancellor Hance, I GENERAL LEAVE thing he was not able to accomplish, wanted to read a quick quote from Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I and that was being elected to Congress, President George W. Bush. Upon his ask unanimous consent that all Mem- but then he would smile and say, but I announcement for retirement, George bers have 5 legislative days in which to guess it worked out, and it work out Bush was quoted saying: revise and extend their remarks and in- indeed. Texas Tech was fortunate to have Kent in clude extraneous material on the sub- While serving the House of Rep- a leadership position. He loves the Red Raid- ject of my Special Order. resentatives from 1979 to 1985, he was ers and he leaves behind a better university, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there known for his conservative voting and I wish all the best to my friend. objection to the request of the gen- record and was a member of the Boll Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman tleman from Texas? Weevil Conservatives. Congressman from Texas (Mr. HALL). There was no objection. Hance became one of President Rea- Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, it gan’s closest allies when he was work- honor of my dear friend and former col- is an honor for me to rise tonight to ing on his 1981 tax package. In 1984, league Kent Hance, a man who spent recognize a great friend and great pub- Hance decided to run for the Senate in his life in public service for the benefit lic servant and a great chancellor at Texas, a seat that ultimately was won of Texas, our country, and certainly for Texas Tech University. by Phil Gramm. 8 years at the Texas Tech University VerDate Mar 15 2010 07:27 Apr 10, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09AP7.073 H09APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H3128 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 9, 2014 System, where he currently serves as He became what was known as a Boll led a very busy schedule like that. He’d chancellor. Weevil Democrat. When Ronald Reagan always take time out to be a good I am especially proud to speak for got elected, President Reagan called a friend to folks. Kent. He was and is a very successful number of the Boll Weevils to the Mr. Speaker, now I will yield to a attorney; he was a great member of the White House and asked if they would gentleman from Texas (Mr. SMITH). Texas Senate; he was a real leader in support his economic plan, but he only Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it the United States Congress; and, im- asked one to carry the Reagan tax cut is nice to have our friend and former portant to me, he is and was and will which really began the renaissance of Member of the House down here on the always be a super friend.