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Congressional Daily Record
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July 30, 2026
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextRECOGNIZING AND HONORING WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DR. WALTER
V. WENDLER
HON. RONNY JACKSON
of texas
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 30, 2026
Mr. JACKSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Dr. Walter V. Wendler as he will retire from his duties as President of West Texas A&M University on September 1, 2026, after a decade of distinguished leadership at WT and more than four decades of dedicated service to higher education.
Since assuming the presidency in 2016, Dr. Wendler has led West Texas A&M University with a clear vision rooted in service to the Texas Panhandle. Guided by the principle of regional responsibility, he championed the University's commitment to academic excellence, student success, and community engagement, while meeting the needs of the people and rural areas it serves through WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.
Comprehensive Campaign in 2021, the largest educational fundraising campaign in Texas Panhandle history. Initially established with a goal of fundraising $125 million, under Dr. Wendler's leadership, the campaign raised more than $208 million to support scholarships, academic programs, research initiatives, and campus improvements that will benefit students for generations to come.
Under Dr. Wendler's leadership, WT expanded research and workforce development in beef production, water conservation, soil health, food security, and agricultural innovation—areas that are critical to the Texas Panhandle and America's agricultural economy. Recognizing that the future of agriculture depends on innovation, he also championed stronger collaboration between WT's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and College of Engineering, culminating in the establishment of the Panhandle Institute for Engineering Research. In Congress, I was proud to support the Institute's inaugural project to develop mobile desalination technology to expand water resources for the farming and livestock operations I represent in Texas' 13th Congressional District, reflecting the practical, problem-solving research that became a hallmark of his tenure.
Dr. Wendler's commitment to the Texas Panhandle extended well beyond agriculture. He consistently emphasized the importance of supporting local schools, strengthening educational opportunities in small communities, advancing research on water and energy resources, and addressing the unique healthcare challenges facing rural Texans. Under his leadership, WT expanded its efforts to prepare educators, nurses, and healthcare professionals to serve communities across the Panhandle, helping ensure rural Texans have greater access to quality education and healthcare closer to home.
renewed enrollment growth and expanded research activity, earning recognition as a Carnegie-designated Research College and University. This will further strengthen WT's role as a vital educational, cultural, and economic anchor for the Texas Panhandle.
Dr. Wendler's career reflects a steadfast belief in the transformative power of education and the responsibility of public universities to serve their communities. While Dr. Wendler may be retiring, his leadership will continue to leave a lasting impact on West Texas A&M University and the entire Texas Panhandle.
District, I want to thank Dr. Wendler for his many contributions to West Texas A&M University and wish him, his wife Mary, their two sons, and six grandchildren all the best in this next chapter. I say to my fellow Aggie, Gig `em, and Go Buffs.