UH System Day in Austin
Brings "One Goal, One Research Excellence Fund" Message
to Texas Legislators

Some 400 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the University of Houston System—among them Board of Regents Chairman Gene McDavid—traveled by bus from the UH campus to Austin February 18, where they joined many others who had traveled by car, for the third "UH System Day in Austin" in as many legislative sessions.

Sponsored by the Houston Alumni Organization’s CATS (Cougar Advocates for Texas), the group kicked off their activities with lunch and a pep rally at Scholz Garten, where they heard remarks by Regent McDavid, UH System Chancellor and UH President Arthur K. Smith, HAO board chair Sonny Messiah-Jiles, HAO president and CEO Steve Hall, and CATS legislative advocacy committee chair and former regent Liz Ghrist. Board of Regents Vice Chairman Morgan O’Connor, Secretary Mike Cemo, and Regents Bo Smith, Leroy Hermes, and Raul Gonzalez also attended, along with Mrs. Arthur K. Smith.

During the afternoon, the group visited the Senate Chamber, where they heard Senators Rodney Ellis, Mario Gallegos, and others praise the UH System as a resolution welcoming the group was passed. The Senate also passed a second resolution recognizing Chancellor Smith’s successful tenure and wishing him well in his planned retirement. Later, the CATS broke into dozens of small groups that paid visits to legislators’ offices throughout the State Capitol, taking the "One Goal, One Research Excellence Fund" message to senators, representatives, and staffers.

The day ended with a reception for legislators at Joe’s Crab Shack on Town Lake, underwritten by UH alumnus Tilman Fertitta.

(Photos by THOMAS SHEA, UH Campus News)