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Strong Support for Baylor's Bid
| "Baylor will work to ensure that the Bush Library is the most successful presidential library in the country." |
--Dr. John M. Lilley
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"Members of the Baylor family are enthusiastically supportive of a Bush Library on the Baylor campus. I can think of nothing more exciting for our University than to partner with the Bush Family and their Foundation to plan for the George W. Bush Presidential Library. If Baylor University is selected as the host site, we stand ready to lend our complete support and assistance in any way possible."
-- Drayton McLane, Chairman, Bush Library National Steering Committee |
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One of Baylor's greatest strengths is its broad support. Regents, faculty, staff, alumni, students, local residents, more than 400 Texas mayors and a national steering committee have all voiced their support for placing the George W. Bush Presidential Library Center at Baylor University in Central Texas. This outpouring of support will contribute to the library's success, making it the nation's premier presidential library.
Local Support
Central Texas is Bush country. The residents of Central Texas support President Bush and respect his service to the nation. Central Texans are already proud to call President Bush and Laura Bush their neighbors and are thrilled about the possibility of hosting the President's library. Through resolutions, petitions, letters and interviews, Central Texans have rallied to support another neighbor, Baylor University, as the host campus for the George W. Bush Presidential Library Center. Central Texans will welcome the President's library with open arms, voices of enthusiasm and feet of participation. The George W. Bush Presidential Library Center will be the region's main attraction, without the competition found in large cities.
Faculty, Staff and Student Support
University support is critical to the success of a presidential library. President Kennedy planned to place his library at his alma mater, Harvard University, but lack of significant student and faculty support forced the Kennedy family to choose the University of Massachusetts instead. President Reagan relocated his library to Simi Valley after finding thin support for it at a California university. One of Baylor's strengths is the support of its regents, faculty, staff and students. The university community has shown its support for the George W. Bush Presidential Library Center in numerous ways.
- The Baylor Board of Regents has voted unanimously to host the library.
- The Faculty Senate has passed a unanimous resolution of support.
- The Staff Council has passed a unanimous resolution of support.
- More than 100 faculty and staff have served on committees to generate ideas for this proposal.
- The Student Congress has passed a unanimous resolution of support.
- Students have voiced their support in the student newspaper.
- Thousands of students have signed a petition supporting the library.
- Students have formed a student steering committee to rally support for the George W. Bush Presidential Library Center.
- Campus organizations representing thousands of students have submitted letters of support.
State Support
From Midland to Texarkana and Red Oak to Sugar Land, more than 400 Texas mayors representing 129 counties -- more than half of the counties in Texas -- have endorsed Baylor University and Central Texas as the site of the George W. Bush Presidential Library Center. These mayors cited many factors for their support, such as Waco's excellent location within 200 miles of 82 percent of the state's population, Baylor's tradition of preparing young leaders of character, the site's proximity to the President's Prairie Chapel Ranch and the economic benefits to Central Texas. The mayors believe that Baylor is the best location for their constituents and the nation as a whole. Many of these mayors represent cities in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, the Houston Metro area and West Texas.
National Support
Baylor's national support comes from more than 80 members of a national steering committee of lawmakers, business executives, professors, athletes, descendants of U.S. presidents, civic leaders and alumni. This committee includes such distinguished citizens as David Eisenhower, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Congressman Ernest Istook, Congressman Chip Pickering, Orel Hershiser, Adair Margo, the mayor of Crawford, the former mayor of Midland, mayors in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and many others. Chaired by Houston Astros Owner Drayton McLane, Jr., the steering committee provides President Bush with a visionary group of leaders who are ready to offer their support and expertise. This group also provides a strong fundraising base.
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