Hardesty, Robert L., 1986 November 20

President Emeritus Robert L. Hardesty (1931–2013), Texas State University's seventh president, grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from George Washington University, where he developed his passion for politics. After serving in the U.S. Army, Hardesty worked as a reporter and columnist for the Army Times. In 1964, Hardesty became chief speechwriter for Postmaster General John Gronouski, the Democrats' principal spokesman. After the 1964 election, LBJ aide Jack Valenti recruited Hardesty to work as a speechwriter for President Lyndon B. Johnson. He wrote speeches and worked on legislation until the end of the Johnson administration, when he then moved to Austin to help write Johnson's memoirs, The Vantage Point.

In the early 1970s, Hardesty served as press secretary and special assistant to Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe for three years. In 1976, Hardesty joined The University of Texas System as Vice Chancellor for Government Affairs. He also served three terms as Chairman of the Postal Board of Governors.

In 1981, Hardesty was named president of Southwest Texas State University. His administration is credited with the creation of the LBJ Distinguished Lecture Series, the College of General Studies, the Wittliff Collections, and the push to construct the Alkek Library. Hardesty expanded private fundraising efforts and moved the university's sports teams from NCAA Division II to Division I. Under his leadership, the university's enrollment expanded from approximately 16,000 students to over 20,000 by the time he left in 1988, thus increasing the university's statewide visibility.