Saturday, May 15, 1999

May 1999 Regents Report

Today@Sam has their report on the quarterly meeting of the Texas State University System Board of Regents:
Contracts for projects totaling almost $20 million, including a new $5.6 million home for the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT), were approved this week by Sam Houston State University's board of regents. The LEMIT contract was awarded to Beck-Ford Construction Inc,. of Houston, with construction scheduled to begin in June and completion scheduled in the fall of 2000. The new building will be constructed on what is now a parking lot north of the Beto Criminal Justice Center and University Hotel. The Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas was created by the Texas legislature in 1969 to develop the administrative, analytical, and executive skills of current and future law enforcement officials. Located first in Austin, it was moved to Sam Houston State University in 1993.

The Graeber, Simmons and Cowan architect firm of Austin was awarded a contract to design the student-approved Lowman Student Center renovation project, which is expected to cost $10 million. The regents also approved increasing student center fees to $60 per long semester and $30 per summer semester, beginning this fall.

Also approved was a $3.9 million contract with Williams Industries of Houston for renovation of the Administration Building. Preliminary work on that project, which totals $4.7 million, has been underway for several months. Completion is expected in the summer of 2000.

A contract for $299,900 was also awarded to Molina Walker Architects, Inc. of Houston for Phase II of the Agricultural Mechanization Center near Holleman Field.

Gerald B. Harris and Associates, Inc. of Huntsville was also awarded a contact to design parking lots totaling 100 spaces on the north and south central boundaries of the campus.

Thursday, May 13, 1999

In Memoriam: Bernard G. Johnson

Bernard G. Johnson, 83, long-time member of Sam Houston State University's board of regents and namesake of the university's coliseum is named, died Tuesday. For 18 years Johnson served as a member of the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System, and held the position of chairman from 1974 to 1976. He served as vice-chairman for two years prior to that time and again from 1982 through 1987.