Naming of Craddick Hall honors Texas Speaker of the House and his wife

"By far, education is the

most important issue the

state legislature addresses,

and I will continue to

support advances in

education policy."

-Tom Craddick

Midland College's third residence hall will be named after Midlander and

Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Tom Craddick (R-

Midland) and his wife Nadine. The Midland College Board of Trustees

voted to name the residence hall, which opened in August, Nadine and

Tom Craddick Hall. The official dedication ceremony will be 11 a.m.,

Monday, Oct. 27, 2003.

Craddick acknowledged the support of Midlanders in establishing the honor. "We are deeply honored that Midland College considered Nadine and me for the dedication of the residence hall and would like to also extend our humble appreciation to all of our friends and supporters who were involved in this project," Craddick said. "By far, education is the most important issue the state legislature addresses, and I will continue to support advances in education policy."

Midland College President David Daniel called the residence hall a beautiful and vital addition to the campus. "It seems appropriate that it bear the name of Midlanders who have invested so much in this community and the state," he said. "Midland College is grateful to the Craddicks' for their continued interest in serving the community, and in particular, their support of higher education and the college."

Fundraising efforts were made through the Midland College Foundation Board. Foundation Board member Spencer Beal coordinated the fundraising. "This is a wonderful opportunity to thank Nadine and Tom for their life-long dedication to the quality of life and education in West Texas," Beal said. "Their support of our quality of life and their commitment to education are beyond reproach." When Tom Craddick was elected Speaker of the Texas House on January 14, 2003, he became the first Republican to lead the House in 130 years. This event marked his 34th year and 18th term serving in the Texas Legislature.

His political career began in 1968 when Craddick decided to test the political waters and run for a legislative seat from Midland. He won the election, and when he was sworn in January 1969, he was one of only eight Republicans in the 150-member Texas House.

In 1975, when Craddick was appointed chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, he became the fist Republican committee chair in more than a century. It is a leadership position Craddick held from the 64th through the 69th Legislatures.

Craddick chaired the House Public Health Committee for the 72nd Legislature in 1991, and he headed the House Ways and Means Committee in the 73rd, 74th and 75th Legislatures. Craddick was a delegate to the 1974 Texas Constitutional Convention. He also was a part of the Texas Legislature's original ethical and legislative reform group, the "Dirty Thirty."