Governor appoints UNT alumni Beatty, Smith as new regents

Waxahachie Mayor Charles "Chuck" Beatty and Plano business leader C. Dan Smith joined the UNT System Board of Regents following announcement of their appointments Feb. 22 by Gov. Rick Perry. The two, both graduates of UNT, will serve terms that expire May 22, 2005.

Beatty, who has served in his mayoral post since 1997, was first elected to the Waxahachie City Council in 1995. He also serves as a member of the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce and as treasurer of both the Texas Conference of Black Mayors and the Texas Conference of Black Council Members. He is founder and vice president of the Waxahachie Boys and Girls Club. In addition to his civic and volunteer responsibilities, he is field director and director of urban scouting for the Circle Ten Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

During his college days, Beatty played for the Mean Green football team. After his graduation in 1976, he joined UNT alumnus "Mean" Joe Greene as a player for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League. He also played for the St. Louis Cardinals in the NFL and for the Florida Blazers of the World Football League.

In recent service to UNT, Beatty has been a staunch ally for the system in its efforts to address the public university needs of the citizens of southern Dallas and northern Ellis counties. He has supported the establishment of the UNT System Center at Dallas and has worked alongside other political leaders, friends and administrators to advance system plans to open UNT at Dallas by 2007. The university recognized Beatty with its Outstanding Alumni Service Award in 1999.

"I'm elated to have this opportunity to serve the University of North Texas System," Beatty says. "Helping the system continue its outstanding progress toward opening of the first public university in Dallas will be foremost among my priorities as a regent."

Beatty is a widower with two children.

Smith is the president and owner of CDS Capital Group, a conglomerate including C-Koe Aluminum Inc., CDS Resources Inc., Damar Energy, Diamond Petroleum and ESI Group. He also is past president of the Plano Independent School District Board of Trustees, past board member of the Plano Heritage Association and past capital campaign chair of the Plano YMCA.

Smith currently serves on the board of Legacy Bank of Texas, Plano Bancshares and Dreamer Ministries. He is a past winner of the Plano Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award.

He attended UNT on a football scholarship and graduated from UNT with a bachelor of business administration degree in 1962. He is currently the chair of the UNT athletics division of Campaign North Texas: An Act of Leadership.

In recognition of his service to his alma mater, the university honored Smith last April with its most prestigious alumni award, the Distinguished Alumnus Award. In 1995, the university commemorated Smith's strong support for the athletic program by giving him its Green Glory Award.

"I look forward to working with the current members of the Board of Regents and the UNT administration," Smith says. "The entire state of Texas has many challenges in the education system, and as a regent, I desire to be part of keeping UNT at the front of meeting those challenges."

Smith and his wife, Kathryn Le'Nore, have two grown sons.

Beatty and Smith will fill the unexpired terms of Roy Gene Evans and Richard Knight Jr. of Dallas, who recently resigned from the board. The Texas Senate must confirm the appointments.

UNT's current regents are Marjorie Craft of DeSoto; Tom Lazo of Dallas; Robert A. Nickell of Irving; George W. Pepper of Fort Worth; Burle Pettit of Lubbock; John Robert "Bobby" Ray of Plano; and Gayle W. Strange of Denton.

BY RODDY WOLPER rwolper@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• Regents approve engineering college, property purchase resolutions
• Dialing all UNT alumni
• Chancellor search advisory committee formed
• UNT students named Rotary Scholarship winners
• Women's History Month lecture to focus on women, United Nations
• Regents appoint Shrader VP for development
• Staff awards presented at president's sack lunch
• And the Academy Award goes to ...

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