Robert Lawless, who served as president at Texas Tech and Tulsa, dies at 87

Former Texas President Robert Lawless, who was an academic activist for decades before serving as Tech’s 11th president and later president of the University of Tulsa, died Saturday in Lubbock.

He was 87 years old.

Lawless, a Texas native, served as Tech’s president from 1989 to 1996. He previously worked in academia and then as chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines. He has been praised for steering Tech through a period of change and growth.

Texas Tech Alumni Association President Curt Langford took to social media to express sadness over Lawless’ death and offer prayers for his wife, Marcy Lawless.

“One of his successful goals was to join the University in the Association of Research Libraries and to increase Tech’s endowment from $40 million to $150 million,” Langford wrote. “Dr. Lawless started the ‘Service Plus’ program at Texas Tech, challenging us all to be more service-oriented to students. I am proud to still have my certificate of completion signed by Bob.”

Lawless, who earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Houston and a doctorate in industrial engineering (operations research) from Texas A&M University, had an academic career spanning 32 years.

During his career, Lawless was a faculty member at Texas A&M University, the University of Houston, and served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines until 1989, when he was elected 11th president of Tech and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

By comparison, TTU and TTUHSC were originally the same institution until TTUHSC became a separate institution in 1996. Lawless also served as the last president before the formation of the Texas Tech University System, serving as chief executive officer of both institutions — a role now held by the system chancellor.

During his seven-year term as president, Lawless oversaw an increase in the university’s endowment from $40 million to $150 million. Texas Tech’s student enrollment remained steady at about 24,000, with declining undergraduate enrollment but increasing graduate and law school enrollment.

Toward the end of his tenure at Texas Tech, Lawless oversaw the creation of the International Cultural Center. The center brings together resources for international students and faculty, Tech’s study abroad programs and the TTU Costa Rica campus.

In 1996, Lawless resigned as president of Texas Tech to become president of the University of Tulsa, where he served until his retirement in 2004. He later returned to Lubbock, where he was active in the community, including at First Christian Church.

Even though he left Texas Tech, Lawless’ legacy and influence are still felt on campus, not only through the ICC but also the Honor College, which he helped develop during his tenure. The Lawless House in the Honors College is named for the former president, carrying the motto “Integrity,” according to the Honors College’s description of its namesake. The college said Lawless lived by the maxim, “Be true to yourself.”

This article originally appeared in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Robert Lawless, former Texas Tech and Tulsa president, dies at 87