August 30, 2005
Former McCombs Dean to Receive 2005 Presidential Citation Award

Dr. William H. Cunningham, former dean of the McCombs School of Business and former president of The University of Texas at Austin, has been selected to receive the university's prestigious 2005 Presidential Citation Award. Frank W. Denius, attorney and director of the Southern Union Company and Chase Bank-Austin, and Dr. William S. Livingston, senior vice president at the university, will also be presented with the award.

The three Presidential Citation recipients will be honored Sept. 14 at the university's anniversary observance, "The University at 122," an annual program during which Dr. Larry R. Faulkner, president of the university, will present the President's Address on the State of the University.

The Presidential Citation was created in 1979 to recognize the extraordinary contributions of individuals who personify the university's commitment to the task of transforming lives. The university does not award honorary degrees, and these citations are designed to salute those whose service exemplifies the values shared by The University of Texas at Austin community. In honor of each recipient, a Presidential Citation Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to three students.

Cunningham, who holds the James L. Bayless Chair for Free Enterprise in the McCombs School of Business Department of Marketing, has served the university in many leadership roles during his academic career. He was president of the university from 1985-92 and was chancellor of The University of Texas System from 1992-2000. Prior to his presidency, he was dean of the McCombs School of Business from 1983-85.

Cunningham has won seven teaching awards and has published 11 books. During his tenure as president, he worked to shape campus policy and build consensus on issues regarding free speech, race relations, hazing, the quality of undergraduate education, enrollment management and minority retention. He introduced the Preview Program to support the academic success of minority students at the university, and he joined with Texas A&M University to establish the University Outreach Program to prepare promising minority junior high and high school students for college-level work. One of the major academic advances during his presidency was the development of a molecular biology program and the financing of a $25 million laboratory and classroom building. In 1991, Dr. Cunningham created the Littlefield Society to recognize the university's most generous benefactors.