Previous Keynote Speakers
Previous Keynote Speakers
Below is a photo gallery and listing of previous keynote speakers at commencement.
2019
DEC
Mr. 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)
