Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing at Rice University.

89(R) HR 778 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

H.R. No. 778

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The George R. Brown School of Engineering and

Computing at Rice University in Houston is celebrating its 50th

anniversary in 2025; and

WHEREAS, An integral component of the university's rich

legacy, engineering has been a central focus since it was founded as

the Rice Institute in 1912; its first engineering degrees were

conferred in 1916, and over the years, the course of study grew to

include a variety of different programs, degrees, and research

opportunities; by the late 1960s, the school had been the site of a

number of significant engineering advancements, including the

installation of a nuclear reactor and the development of the first

artificial heart; and

WHEREAS, George R. Brown was elected to the Rice Board of

Trustees in 1943, and in 1950, he became the first alumnus to be

named its chair; during his tenure, he oversaw the construction of

Fondren Library, Anderson Hall, and the Abercrombie Engineering

Laboratory, as well as the opening of a 70,000-seat football

stadium; in 1968, his foundation pledged some $4 million to the

school of engineering, and he traveled around the country to

solicit further donations to a $33 million capital campaign from

alumni of the newly redesignated William Marsh Rice University; and

WHEREAS, In 1975, the school's science-engineering division

was divided into the George R. Brown School of Engineering and the

School of Natural Sciences; guided by inaugural Rice president

Edgar O. Lovett's "no upper limit" maxim, the engineering school

has since been named among the top programs in the country; it has

merited this distinction by focusing on interdisciplinary

solutions that integrate sciences, humanities, architecture, and

business; the school encompasses nine academic departments, and its

research efforts are further enriched by 22 engineering-related

institutes and centers; ably guided since 2021 by its dean, Luay

Nakhleh, nearly one-third of Rice undergraduate and graduate

students belong to the engineering and computing school; and

WHEREAS, Over the course of a half century, the

George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing has provided a

number of students with a strong foundation on which to build

rewarding professional careers, and it is indeed worthy of special

recognition at this significant milestone in its history; now,

therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas

Legislature hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of the

George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing at Rice

University and extend to all those affiliated with the school

sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

prepared for the George R. Brown School of Engineering and

Computing as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of

Representatives.

Johnson

______________________________

Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 778 was adopted by the House on April

17, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 127, Nays 13, 2 present, not

voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House