TITLE: Congratulating Paul Foster, president and CEO of Western Refining in El Paso, on his induction into the Texas Business Hall of Fame.

SUMMARY: Congratulating Paul Foster, president and CEO of Western Refining in El Paso, on his induction into the Texas Business Hall of Fame.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Paul Foster of El Paso is being inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame on November 14, 2013; and WHEREAS, The Texas Business Hall of Fame, which recognizes the accomplishments and contributions of outstanding business leaders, works to perpetuate and inspire the values of entrepreneurial spirit, personal integrity, and community leadership in all generations of Texans; and WHEREAS, A native of East Texas, Paul Foster spent his teenage summers working in the oil fields, welding pipes, digging ditches, and cleaning tanks; he earned his bachelor's degree from Baylor University in 1979 and his certification as a CPA before embarking on a career in the oil refining industry; the former vice president and general manager of the Border Refining Company, Mr. Foster became president and chief executive officer of Western Refining in 1997, and his continued leadership as executive chair has helped the El Paso-based company become one of the largest of its kind in the country; he is also co-owner of Mountain Star Sports Group, which owns and operates baseball teams across the country; and WHEREAS, Deeply committed to seeing his adopted hometown of El Paso flourish, Mr. Foster presented a $50 million gift to Texas Tech University to support its four-year medical school in El Paso, which was named the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine in his honor; furthermore, he and Jeff Stevens, the current president of Western Refining, donated $6 million to help build the Foster Stevens Basketball Center at The University of Texas at El Paso; Mr. Foster has invested personally in the city's revitalized downtown, and his commitment to communities on both sides of the border has been demonstrated by his work with the Paso del Norte Group and the Borderplex Alliance; in addition, he is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Business Advisory Council at UTEP, the Bank of the West Board of Directors, the El Paso Regional Economic Development Corporation, and the Texas Economic Development Corporation; and WHEREAS, Mr. Foster has further served his community as chair of the El Paso Chapter of the American Red Cross, and he supports a number of charities in Juarez, El Paso's sister city; appointed to The University of Texas System Board of Regents in 2007, he was elected vice chair of the board in 2009, a position he continues to hold today, and he also serves as chair of The University of Texas Investment Management Company Board of Directors; and WHEREAS, Through his vision and innovation, Paul Foster has distinguished himself as a successful and influential figure in the El Paso business community and beyond, and he is indeed deserving of this prestigious honor; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate Paul Foster on his induction into the Texas Business Hall of Fame and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Foster as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Marquez Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 112 was adopted by the House on June 25, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House