Remarks at Distinguished Alumnus Award Ceremonies, September 17, 1999
I was incredulous when John Chase called last spring to say that I had been selected a Distinguished Alumnus of this University. What had I done to distinguish myself? My mind raced back over my professional life, most of which I'd spent in Washington. What did I accomplish there?
I am in awe of the achievements of my fellow honorees--those tonight and those from previous years. For me, however, and for all the members of my family who are here tonight, this evening is not about achieving. It's about belonging.
I've spent a lifetime trying to figure out where I belong. The search has taken Fran and me to some interesting places. To Germany with the Army. To Connecticut and California and Virginia, where our daughters Kirstin, Amani and Mary were born. Finally, back to Austin.
There's something special about this place. Maybe it's the sunsets in the Hill Country. Maybe its the way the Ex-Students Association rallied behind the Longhorn Opportunity Scholarships. Maybe it's the many people who have offered to help make the LBJ School the best institution of its kind in the country. Maybe it was witnessing the reopening of the Tower earlier this week.
Whatever the causes, the effect is palpable. We all feel it. We're all here because we share a spirit, a commitment, a common core of beliefs.
- We believe that a firm handshake and a steady gaze tell us what's inside a person. We believe that because . .WE'RE TEXAS
- We believe that a person should be appreciated not for what he or she has, but for how far he or she has come. And we believe that because. . .WE'RE TEXAS
- We believe that a university should be judged not by how many applicants it can keep out, but by how many lives it can tranform. And we believe that because . . . .WE'RE TEXAS.
- We believe that this is a great University, but that we can make it greater still. Because . . . . WE"RE TEXAS.
I am filled with gratitude tonight. I am grateful to my family and teachers and friends for helping me get to this point. Grateful beyond words to the Ex-Students' Association for this extraordinary honor. Grateful to all of you for making me feel that I belong here. So do all us belong here, because . . . WE'RE TEXAS.
