Plans Under Way for 2nd Annual Distinguished Lecture Series

It’s a tough act to follow.

That’s the verdict of UTB/TSC officials, friends and supporters who had the privilege of hearing explorer and marine scientist Dr. Robert Ballard’s inaugural presentation last November in the school’s Distinguished Lecture Series. The deep-sea adventurer who located the wreck of the Titanic, Ballard helped raise about $25,000 for the university and college with his informative talk about archeology and world history.

“We think we did fantastic,” said Tudor Uhlhorn, Vice Chairman of the UTB/TSC Development Board. “People can’t stop talking about it.”

Reaction to the inaugural lecture was so strongly positive, it left UTB/TSC planners with one major question: How to make the next in the Distinguished Lecture Series just as successful.

Planners have their sights set high. Among the varied list of possibilities for UTB/TSC’s next Distinguished Lecturer: Filmmaker and mountain climber David Brashears, one of the creators of “Everest,” the IMAX film; dinosaur scientist Jack Horner astronaut Sally Ride, Iditarod dogsled champion Susan Butcher, paleontologist Paul Sereno, and scientist and conservationist Jane Goodall, famed for her research on chimpanzee behavior.

More than just a lecture, planners hope to again bring to Brownsville a multi-media presentation that – like Ballard’s funny and thought-provoking talk – will be widely appealing, as well as intellectually stimulating.

Whoever is eventually invited to Brownsville, the next lecture is sure to be as engaging as the first, said Uhlhorn.  “We’re looking for someone dynamic – not necessarily someone who is ‘famous,’ but someone whose accomplishments are both significant and interesting. Our goal is to broaden people’s horizons, and to bring new ideas to the community.”

Uhlhorn said planners are tentatively aiming at next fall for the next Distinguished Lecture, and hope to again employ the intimate setting of the Science and Engineering Technology Building Lecture Hall. Already, interest is high.

“Everybody wants to be part of the sponsorship for the next program,” Uhlhorn said. “We had people from last year who are ready to sign up again, and we have new sponsors that have heard about it.”

Even advertising for the lecture series kick-off was a winner. A brochure designed by Brownsville’s Breeden/McCumber/Gonzalez Inc. won a Gold Addy from the Valley Advertising Federation’s annual advertising and design competition.

“It’s an honor to do work for The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College because it is at the forefront of our community’s economic and social development with innovative programs, like the Distinguished Lecture Series, that improve our quality of life,” said Don Breeden, Agency President.

Among the generous companies and individuals who served as founding members of the Distinguished Lecture Series were Valley Regional Medical Center, Valley Coca-Cola Bottling Company Inc., SOL Communications, Cabletime and KRGV-TV.

Proceeds from the lecture series go to support important educational projects, programs and scholarships for which state funding is lacking or non-existent.