Ben Barnes Endowment to Foster Public Leadership at LBJ School

A new endowed fellowship program has been created in honor of former Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. The endowment recognizes Barnes' leadership and interest in higher education.

The endowment campaign culminated with a dinner to formally honor Barnes in Austin on Thursday, November 9 at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. Led by George Christian, Lowell Lebermann, Bernard Rapoport, and Larry Temple, the campaign committee raised $1.25 million. Lady Bird Johnson served as the honorary chair of the campaign committee.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle and Larry Faulkner, President of The University of Texas at Austin, spoke at the event, and Cappy McGarr presided over the evening's festivities.

When asked about Mr. Barnes and the fellowship endowment, Mrs. Johnson said, "Lyndon and I knew Ben when he was just beginning his career and his potential for leadership was apparent even then. It is my hope that these fellowships will enable other young leaders to pursue their goals at the LBJ School while developing the values and integrity we yearn for in today's society."

The Ben Barnes Fellowships program is part of a major initiative by the LBJ School to increase fellowship support for students. The fellowships will be used to recruit top students from across the nation who have a demonstrated interest in public leadership.

LBJ School Dean Ed Dorn commented that the endowment reflects Barnes' longstanding contributions to higher education in Texas. "Ben Barnes did more for education in Texas than virtually any other state political leader. This endowment recognizes his continuing commitment to producing the leaders our state will need in the 21st century," said Dorn.

In 1995, Barnes was named Distinguished Alumnus of UT Austin. His volunteer efforts on behalf of UT span 25 years. "Graduate education and research will be our avenues to continued and increased prosperity. That means a major commitment, with major incentives, to recruit and educate world-class students," said Barnes.

It was during his first year at the UT School of Law that Barnes made the decision to enter politics. He organized an unconventional but successful campaign, and in 1960 was elected to the Texas House of Representatives. By 1965, while studying for finals, Barnes was named Speaker of the House, and as the youngest Speaker of the House in the nation, the Texas Junior Chamber of Commerce honored him as one of the five outstanding young men in the state. By the age of 30, he was elected as Texas' youngest lieutenant governor, and in 1970, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce named him one of ten outstanding young men in America.

During his political days, Barnes helped increase appropriations for higher education 300 percent and, with the late Governor John Connally, helped create the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Over the years, Barnes has been a major real estate developer in Texas, working with Herman Bennett and John Connally. As founder and principal of Entrecorp, he advises companies on government relations and capital acquisitions, and serves on the boards of several public companies.

November 10, 2000

News and Events • Fall 2000 News Briefs

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November 13, 2000

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