Texas State prepares for spring commencement

Posted by Mark Hendricks
University News Service
May 2, 2008

Texas State University-San Marcos will present its two most generous benefactors with honorary doctoral degrees during one of four commencement ceremonies scheduled May 9 and 10 in Strahan Coliseum on the university campus.

Emmett and Miriam McCoy, who in 2004 made the largest philanthropic gift in the university’s history ($20 million to enhance programs in business administration), will receive honorary Doctor of Laws degrees during a commencement ceremony to be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 9, in Strahan Coliseum.

“Emmett and Miriam McCoy have proven to be true friends of Texas State University many times over,” said Texas State President Denise M. Trauth. “Their lives are shining examples of the virtues of hard work, character and integrity. The university is proud to be associated with the McCoy name, and proud to be able to honor them in this way.”

To honor the McCoys and their generosity, the university named its College of Business Administration the Emmett and Miriam McCoy College of Business Administration. Dedicated in 2006, Emmett and Miriam McCoy Hall on the Texas State campus is also named in their honor and houses the McCoy College. Also in 2006, the McCoys received the President’s Excellence Award, the highest award the president of Texas State can give. The Texas State University System Board of Regents approved the honorary doctorates for the McCoys at a meeting last fall.

Emmett McCoy is the retired chairman and chief executive officer of McCoy’s Building Supply Centers, headquartered in San Marcos. It has 85 retail locations and two manufacturing facilities located in five states and more than 2,000 employees company-wide.

Degree candidates from the College of Liberal Arts and the University College will attend the 10 a.m. Friday, May 9, graduation ceremony.

Degree candidates from the colleges of Applied Arts and Fine Arts and Communication will attend the 2 p.m. ceremony on Friday, May 9.

Candidates from the College of Science and the McCoy College of Business Administration will attend the 6 p.m. ceremony on May 9.

Candidates from the colleges of Education and Health Professions will attend the ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 10.

Texas Supreme Court Justice Dale Wainwright will deliver the commencement address during the ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday.

Wainwright was elected to the Supreme Court in November 2002 after serving as presiding judge of the 334th Civil District Court in Harris County. Before his appointment to the bench, Wainwright practiced in the trial sections of the firms of Haynes and Boone, and Andrews and Kurth in Houston. He earned his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School, studied at the London School of Economics and earned his undergraduate degree from Howard University.

President Denise M. Trauth will offer commencement remarks at the other graduation ceremonies.