AUSTIN, TexasFormer Texas Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes will offer his view of contemporary American politics during a lecture on March 8 at UT Austin’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. The lecture is titled A State at Risk.
The event, part of the LBJ School’s Distinguished Speakers Series, begins at 5 p.m. in Bass Lecture Hall (in the basement of Sid Richardson Hall). It is free and open to the public, and free parking is available in the LBJ Library parking lot at 26th and Red River streets.
Barnes was one of Texas’ most dynamic political leaders during the 1960s and 1970s. Elected to the Texas House of Representatives while in his early 20s, he went on to become the youngest House Speaker in Texas history. Barnes served as lieutenant governor from 1969 until 1973.
Since leaving elective office, Barnes has become a successful business executive and civic leader. He is the founder of Entrecorp, a business consulting firm. He has served as a consultant to and director or chairman of more than two dozen companies, including American Airlines, Dallas Bank and Trust, Grumman Systems Support Corporation and the Barnes/Connally Partnership.
Barnes has been active in a number of community service organizations, including the People’s Community Clinic, the Huntington Art Gallery and the Longhorn Foundation. His honors include the UT Distinguished Alumnus Award, recognition as one of the “Ten Outstanding Young Men in America” by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce (1970) and two honorary law degrees.
Previous LBJ School Distinguished Speakers include Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, U.S. Rep. Bill Archer and Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund.
Barnes’ speech will be followed by a reception at the entrance to Bass Lecture Hall.
For additional information, contact the LBJ School of Public Affairs, (512) 471-3200.
