Previous Keynote Speakers

Below is a photo gallery and listing of previous keynote speakers at commencement.

2021

MAY

Alan L. Tinsley (Regent, The Texas State University System)

2019

DEC

Charles O. Kaufman (Senior Lecturer, School of Journalism and Mass Communication; President of B'nai B'rith International)

AUG

Mark K. Updegrove (President and Chief Executive Officer, Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation)

MAY

General John M. Murray (Commanding General, Army Futures Command)

2018

DEC

Garry Crain (Regent, The Texas State University System)

AUG

Kenneth R. Huewitt (Vice President of Administration and Finance of Texas Southern University, Distinguished Alumnus)

MAY

The Honorable Joe Straus (Speaker, Texas House of Representatives)

2017

DEC

Ambassador Antonio Garza (United States Ambassador (Ret.))

AUG

Brigadier General John E. Michel (United States Air Force (Ret.))

MAY

Dr. Jaime R. Garza (Regent, The Texas State University System)

2016

DEC

Nelva Gonzales Ramos (United States District Judge)

AUG

Veronica Muzquiz Edwards (Regent, The Texas State University System)

MAY

Brigadier General Robert D. LaBrutta (United States Air Force)

2015

DEC

Pete Sessions (United States Congressman)

AUG

Cleofas "Cleo" Rodriguez, Jr. (Executive Director of the National Migrant Seasonal Head Start Association, Distinguished Alumnus)

2014

DEC

Dr. Libby Doggett (Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Early Learning, United States Department of Education)

AUG

Donna N. Williams (Chairman, The Texas State University System Board of Regents)

2013

DEC

Brigadier General Giovanni K. Tuck (United States Air Force and Texas State Alumnus)

AUG

Dr. Belle S. Wheelan (President, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges)

2012

DEC

Chairman Dan Branch (Texas House of Representatives)

AUG

H. S. "Buddy" Garcia (Commissioner, Railroad Commission of Texas)

2011

DEC

Admiral B. R. Inman (United States Navy (Ret.))

AUG

Charles Amato (Chairman, The Texas State University System Board of Regents)

2010

DEC

Ron Blatchley (Regent, The Texas State University System)

AUG

Dr. Brian McCall (Chancellor, The Texas State University System)

MAY

Powers Boothe (Actor and Distinguished Alumnus)

2009

DEC

T. Boone Pickens (Founder and Chairman of BP Capital Management)

MAY

Kay Bailey Hutchison (Senator, United States Senate)

2008

DEC

Michael Truncale (Regent, The Texas State University System)

AUG

Judith Zaffirini (Senator, Texas State Senate)

MAY

Dale Wainwright (Justice, Texas Supreme Court)

2007

DEC

Lloyd Doggett (United States Congress)

AUG

Fred Heldenfels IV (Heldenfels Enterprises, Inc.)

MAY

Brian McCoy (CEO, McCoy Corporation)

2006

DEC

Patrick Rose (Texas House of Representatives)

AUG

Roger Williams (Texas Secretary of State)

MAY

John Cornyn (United States Senate)

2005

DEC

James Weitzul (Mitte Foundation Board of Directors)

AUG

Henry Cuellar (United States House of Representatives)

MAY

Dr. Charles Matthews (Chancellor, The Texas State University System)

2004

DEC

Dr. John Beck (Dean, College of Education, Texas State University)

AUG

Dr. James D. Bell (Piper Professor, Texas State University)

John Rice Carter (United States House of Representatives)

J. Dan Bates (CEO, Southwest Research Institute®)

MAY

Geoffrey S. Connor (Texas Secretary of State)

Gary V. Woods (President and CEO, McCombs Enterprises)

Shirley J. Neeley (Texas Commissioner of Education)

2003

DEC

Lynn Tyson (Vice President, Investor Relations, Dell, Inc.)

Dr. Paul Cohen (Piper Professor of English, Texas State University)

Eduardo Sanchez, MD (Texas Commissioner of Health University)

AUG

Shelton Padgett (Distinguished Alumnus, Texas State)

MAY

Greg Abbott (Texas Attorney General)

Dr. Richard Boehm (Jesse H. Jones Distinguished Chair of Geographic Education, Texas State University)

Gene Stouder (Roy F. and Joanne Cole Mitte Endowed Chair of Semiconductor Manufacturing Education, Texas State University)

2002

DEC

Dr. Nancy Feyl Chavkin (Professor of Social Work, Texas State University)

Dr. Charles R. Matthews (Commissioner, Texas Railroad Commission)

Dr. James L. Sweatt III (Regent, The Texas State University System)

AUG

Dr. Denise M. Trauth (President, Texas State University)

MAY

Dr. Jerome H. Supple (President, Texas State University)

2001

DEC

Dr. Sandra M. Mayo (Director, Multicultural and Gender Studies, Texas State University)

Elizabeth T. Nash (Former Chairman, The Texas State University System Board of Regents)

AUG

Pamela P. Willeford (Chair, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board)

Dr. Michael Hennessy (Professor of English, Texas State University)

MAY

Dr. Margaret E. Dunn (Professor, Texas State University)

Rolando Hinojosa-Smith (Professor of English, University of Texas)

Richard Tankerson (President of Board of Directors, Carver Academy)

2000

DEC

Thomas Carter (Film Director, Alumnus of Texas State University)

Dr. Lawrence Estaville (Department of Geography, Texas State University)

AUG

Henry R. Cuellar (Texas House of Representatives)

Dr. Cynthia Opheim (Department of Political Science, Texas State University)

MAY

Gilbert M. Grosvenor (Former President, National Geographic Society)

Dr. Robert D. Gratz (Vice President for Academic Affairs, Texas State University)

1999

DEC

C. M. (Mark) Mellier-Smith (CEO, SEMATECH)

Jim Nelson (Texas Commissioner of Education)

Dr. Stephen Springer (Office of Occupational Education, Texas State University)

AUG

Robert A. Junnell (Texas House of Representatives)

Dr. Ann Marie Ellis (Dean, College of Liberal Arts, Texas State University)

MAY

Dr. Jerome H. Supple (President, Texas State University)

1998

DEC

Craig Vittitoe (Chairman, The Texas State University System Board of Regents)

Kay Bailey Hutchison (United States Senate)

Dr. Martha L. Brunson (Department of English, Texas State University)

AUG

James Appleberry (President, American Association of State Colleges and Universities)

Dr. William Kurtz (Department of Educational Administration and Psychological Services, Texas State University)

MAY

Dr. Martha L. Brunson (Associate Dean, Texas State University)

Dr. Ed Burkhardt (Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Texas State University)

1997

DEC

Kenneth Armbrister (Texas State Senate)

Dr. Steven Beebe (Department of Communication Studies, Texas State University)

AUG

Paulette V. Maehara (CEO, Epilepsy Foundation of America)

Dr. Ron Brown (Department of History, Texas State University)

MAY

Thomas R. Phillips (Chief Justice, Texas Supreme Court)

Dr. Rumaldo Juarez (Dean, College of Health Professions, Texas State University)

1996

DEC

Marcellus W. Alexander (Vice President & General Manager of WJZ-TV)

Greg Laughlin (U.S. House of Representatives)

Dr. James Bell (McCoy College of Business Administration, Texas State University)

AUG

Don Flores (Editor and Publisher, El Paso Times, Distinguished Alumnus)

Stinston Worley (Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Texas State University)

MAY

Kenneth Armbrister (Texas Senate)

Dr. Robert Habingreither (Department of Technology, Texas State University)

1995

DEC

Joseph R. Krier (Member, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and President, Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce)

Dr. Gregory Passty (Department of Mathematics, Texas State University)

AUG

John T. Montford (Texas Senate)

Dr. John Beck (College of Education, Texas State University)

MAY

John B. Roberts (CEO, Busch Entertainment)

George Burke (Department of Health Administration, Texas State University)

1994

DEC

William P. Hobby (Lt. Governor, State of Texas)

Peter Coulson (Department of Theatre and Dance, Texas State University)

AUG

Dr. Beverly A. Chiodo (Professor, Texas State University)

Dr. Robert Olney (Department of Computer Information Systems, Texas State University)

MAY

Norman Hackerman (President Emeritus, Rice University)

Dr. Mimi Tangum (Department of English, Texas State University)

1993

DEC

Greg Laughlin (U.S. House of Representatives)

Dr. Roseann Mandziuk (Department of Communication Studies, Texas State University)

AUG

Dr. Jerome H. Supple (President, Texas State University)

Dr. James D. Irvin (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University)

MAY

G.W. Bailey (Actor, Graduating Senior at Texas State University)

Betty Jane Kissler (Department of History, Texas State University)

1992

DEC

Libby Linebarger (Texas House of Representatives)

Dr. Francis M. Rich, Jr. (Department of Political Science, Texas State University)

AUG

Donald M. Carlton (President and Chairman of the Board, Radian Corporation)

Dr. Michael Nowicki (Department of Health Administration, Texas State University)

MAY

John Sharp (Comptroller, State of Texas, and Alumnus of Texas State University)

Dr. James Crawford (Department of Physics, Texas State University)

1991

DEC

Tom Luce (Chairman and CEO, First Southwest Company)

Dr. Ed Seifert (Department of Educational Administration and Psychological Services, Texas State University)

AUG

Lena Guerrera (Chair, Texas Railroad Commission)

Dr. Paul Gowens (School of Business, Texas State University)

MAY

Lt. General Robert L. Rutherford (Deputy Chief of Staff, United States Air Force)

Dr. Wayman Mullins (Department of Criminal Justice, Texas State University)

1990

DEC

Gonzalo Barriento (Texas State Senate)

Nelwyn Moore (DSchool of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University)

AUG

Larry F. Wright (Vice President of Texas Operations, Dow Chemical)

William Newberry (Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Texas State University)

MAY

Kenneth H. Ashworth (Commissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board)

Dr. Lon Shell (Department of Agriculture, Texas State University)

1989

DEC

Sheila Clark (Regent, The Texas State University System)

Dr. Ruth Welborn (College of Health Professions, Texas State University)

AUG

Dr. Michael L. Abbott (Executive Vice President, Texas State University)

William Bechtol (Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Texas State University)

MAY

Dr. Jerome H. Supple (President, Texas State University)

Dr. Lydia Blanchard (Department of English, Texas State University)

1988

DEC

Katherine Lowry (Regent, The Texas State University System)

Dr. John Baccus (Department of Biology, Texas State University)

AUG

Dr. De S. Johnson (Dean, College of General Studies, Texas State University)

Dr. Richard Cheatham (College of Fine Arts and Communication, Texas State University)

MAY

Jack L. Martin (Regent, The Texas State University System)

Dr. James Pohl (Department of History, Texas State University)

1987

DEC

Ann Richards (Treasurer, State of Texas)

Dr. Philip Salem (Department of Communication Studies, Texas State University)

AUG

Walton D. "Pete" Hardesty (Professor of Psychology, Texas State University)

Dr. Beverly Chiodo (Department of Computer Information Systems, Texas State University)

MAY

Hilary B. Doran, Jr. (Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor, State of Texas)

Dr. Robert Northcutt (Department of Mathematics, Texas State University)

1986

DEC

Ruben M. Escobedo (Chairman, The Texas State University System Board of Regents)

Dr. Barbara Hatcher (Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Texas State University)

AUG

Dr. Patrick E. Cassidy (Professor of Chemistry, Texas State University)

Dr. Richard Boehm (Department of Geography, Texas State University)

MAY

Dr. Emmie Craddock (Chairman, Texas 1986 Sesquicentennial Commission and Former Mayor of San Marcos)

Dr. Gene Martin (School of Applied Arts and Technology, Texas State University)

1985

DEC

William. N. Kirby (Texas Commissioner of Education)

Robert Mooney (College of Health Professions, Texas State University)

AUG

Alton G. Brieger (Professor of History, Texas State University)

B. L. Williamson (College of Education, Texas State University)

MAY

John B. Connally (Former Governor, State of Texas University)

Dr. Robert Gratz (Professor of Speech, Texas State University)

1984

DEC

Elspeth D. Rostow (Professor of Government, University of Texas at Austin)

Darrell Piersol (Department of Management/Marketing, Texas State University)

AUG

Walter Richter (Former Texas Senator)

Dr. Robert Hardesty (President, Texas State University)

MAY

J. J. "Jake" Pickle (United States House of Representatives)

1983

DEC

Larry E. Temple (Chairman, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board)

AUG

Henry Cisneros (Mayor of San Antonio)

MAY

Mark White (Governor, State of Texas)

1982

DEC

Don Rains (Texas House of Representatives)

AUG

Wilhelmina Delco (Texas House of Representatives)

MAY

Harry J. Middleton (Director, LBJ Library)

1981

DEC

E. D. Walker (Chancellor, The University of Texas System)

AUG

Lee H. Smith (President, Texas State University)

MAY

Don Rains (Texas House of Representatives)

1980

DEC

W. E. “Pete” Snelson (Texas State Senate)

AUG

Dr. Emmie Craddock (Professor of History and Director of the Honors Program, Texas State University)

1979

DEC

Don Rains (Texas House of Representatives)

AUG

J. J. "Jake" Pickle (United States House of Representatives)

MAY

Betty J. Kissler (Professor of History, Texas State University)

1978

DEC

Ralph H. Houston (Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Texas State University)

AUG

Warren G. Harding (Treasurer, State of Texas)

MAY

Sara Weddington (General Counsel, U.S. Department of Agriculture)

1977

DEC

Kenneth H. Ashworth (Commissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board)

AUG

Dolph Briscoe (Governor, State of Texas)

MAY

John L. Hill (Attorney General, State of Texas)

1976

DEC

M. L. Brockette (Texas Commissioner of Education)

AUG

Mark White (Secretary of State, State of Texas)

MAY

A. M. Aikin, Jr. (Texas Senate)

1975

DEC

W. Marvin Watson (President, Occidental International)

AUG

William P. Hobby (Lt. Governor, State of Texas)

MAY

Bob Krueger (United States House of Representatives)

1974

DEC

J. J. "Jake" Pickle (United States House of Representatives)

AUG

Lee H. Smith (President, Texas State University)

MAY

Cecil O. Hahn (Professor of History, Texas State University)

1973

DEC

Wilburn W. Hurt (Director of Community Services, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board)

AUG

John C. Stevens (President, Abilene Christian College)

Patrick H. Norwood (Professor of Education, Texas State University)

John Poerner (United States House of Representatives)

1972

DEC

J. J. "Jake" Pickle (United States House of Representatives)

AUG

W. E. Norris, Jr. (Dean, School of Liberal Arts, Texas State University)

MAY

Bryce Jordan (President, University of Texas at Dallas)

1971

AUG

Lyndon B. Johnson (Former United States President, Alumnus of Texas State University)

MAY

Leland Derrick (Vice President, Texas State University)

1970

AUG

Morris A. Fry (Professor, Texas State University)

MAY

Robert A. Tampke (Professor of Philosophy, Texas State University)

1969

MAY

Roy Willbern (President, Texas State University Alumni Association)