 kent ronald hance (born november 14, 1942) is the former chancellor of the texas tech university system. in his role, he oversees texas tech university, texas tech university health sciences center and angelo state university in san angelo, texas. he is also a lobbyist and lawyer who was a democratic member of the united states house of representatives from west texas, having served from 1979 to 1985. after his congressional service, he switched to the republican party and in 1990 made an unsuccessful primary race for governor of texas. in 2006, hance was chosen as the third chancellor to succeed david smith as the chancellor of the texas tech university system in lubbock. he is taking a leave of absence from his austin law firm hance scarborough, llp but continues to sit on profit and nonprofit boards and commissions while at the helm of texas tech. the lubbock avalanche-journal quoted texas tech board chairman rick francis: :the regents believed hance could further the goals that we had for our chancellor, in terms of energizing our alumni, and those legislators in both austin and washington, d.c., and provide the vision that we need for the future. ==early years and election to 
1942_births American_Christians American_lawyers American_legal_scholars American_university_and_college_presidents Chancellors_of_the_Texas_Tech_University_System Democratic_Party_members_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives Living_people Members_of_the_Texas_Railroad_Commission Members_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives_from_Texas People_from_Castro_County,_Texas People_from_Lubbock,_Texas Texas_Democrats Texas_Republicans Texas_State_Senators Texas_Tech_University_alumni Texas_Tech_University_faculty Texas_lawyers University_of_Texas_School_of_Law_alumni