Paul Foster

Paul Foster

Prior offices

University of Texas Board of Regents

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Education

Bachelor's

Baylor University

Paul Foster is a former member of the University of Texas System Board of Regents. First appointed to the board in 2007, Foster was re-appointed to a second six-year term in February 2013 by Rick Perry (R).

Biography

Foster was raised in Lovington, New Mexico. He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Baylor University in 1979.

After working a series of finance jobs in the oil refining industry, Foster founded Western Refining in 1997. By 2006, the company was the fourth-largest publicly traded independent oil refinery in the nation. Owing to the success of his company, in 2007 Foster was ranked number 261 on the Forbes 400 list of wealthy individuals. At the time, his reported net worth was $1.9 billion. Foster's net worth as of September 2013 stood at $1.1 billion.

Foster has served on the El Paso Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Economic Development Corporation, the Hanmaker School of Business at Baylor Advisor Board, and the Executive Committee of the Paso del Norte organization. As of September 2013, he was chairman of the El Paso Regional Economic Development Corporation. He has also served on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Foster began serving on the Baylor University Board of Regents in July 2013. He resigned his seat on the Baylor board after he was appointed Chairman of the U.T. board.

Donations

In June 2013, Foster donated $35 million to Baylor University. Previously, Foster gave $50 million to Texas Tech University for a medical school. Foster also donated $3 million to the University of Texas at El Paso for a basketball facility. The facility bears his name, as well as those of two fellow donors.

University of Texas investigations

Wallace Hall impeachment trial

University of Texas Investigations

Background Wallace Hall impeachment trial • Political favoritism in admissions to the University of Texas • Forgivable loans program at the University of Texas Law School House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations (TSAO) • Joint Committee on Oversight of Higher Ed Governance, Excellence & Transparency

UT Regents

Wallace Hall • Paul Foster • Eugene Powell • Steven Hicks • Ernest Aliseda • Jeffery Hildebrand • Brenda Pejovich • Alex Cranberg • Robert Stillwell

Elected Officials

Rick Perry • Joe Straus • Charles Perry • Trey Fischer • Dan Flynn • Naomi Gonzalez • Eric Johnson • Lyle Larson • Carol Alvarado • Four Price • Jim Pitts • Dan Branch

UT Individuals

Bill Powers • Larry Sager • Barry Burgdorf • Kevin Hegarty • Francisco Cigarroa • Carol Longoria

See also: Wallace Hall impeachment trial

In 2011, Regent Wallace Hall began investigating what he perceived to be clout issues within the University of Texas System. Hall investigated the university's forgivable-loans program, admissions policies and preferential treatment to politically-connected individuals. Hall, as an individual citizen, filed a large number of FOIA requests with the University system after his inquiries via his role as a Regent were rebuffed. Hall filed requests of more than 800,000 pages, which some university administrators called an unnecessary burden.

An effort was begun in June 2013 to try to impeach Hall from his position as regent. Some legislators justified the impeachment on the grounds that Hall did not disclose several lawsuits that he was involved in when he originally completed his Regent background check. Hall updated Governor Rick Perry's office in April 2013 with the full list. No unelected official in Texas has ever been successfully impeached or removed from office. Perry's spokesperson said the investigations send a "chilling message" to gubernatorial appointees. Governor of Texas Rick Perry called the investigation "extraordinary political theater." He added: "I think it is sending a horrible message to the public." Perry offered his support for Hall's investigation and records requests, stating, "I just think that at the end, the public’s need to know and the public’s right to know, questions that Mr. Hall is asking, is totally and absolutely correct."

In October 2013, Foster announced that he would recommend policy changes related to the results of Hall's investigation. In a November 11, 2013 meeting, the Board of Regents voted to ask the Attorney General of Texas for an opinion regarding the release of confidential information for the investigation. The Board waived confidentiality for some records to be turned over to the committee, while seeking input about other pieces of information. Foster asked Attorney General of Texas Greg Abbott whether a House committee can hold University of Texas officials in contempt to the same extent as a district court.

In February 2015, an independent report by Kroll Associates, commissioned by the Regents Board, confirmed a "pattern of special treatment for well-connected applicants to UT." While the report did not show evidence of any quid pro quo, it did show that "extra acceptances were extended every year to accommodate special cases" and that the "President’s Office ordered applicants admitted over the objection of the Admissions Office." It added that "efforts were made to minimize paper trails and written lists" during the process." The Wall Street Journal wrote that the report should "should put an end" to the concerns over Hall's clout investigations.

Call for Hall to resign

At a May 15, 2014 Board of Regents meeting, Foster said he believed Hall should resign from his position as Regent. "I implore you to deal with the results of the actions that now have the potential for significant consequence for the UT system," Foster said. Regents Alex Cranberg and Eugene Powell defended Hall's actions while Jeffery Hildebrand, Robert Stillwell and Steven Hicks supported Foster in his call for resignation. No formal vote on Hall was taken by the board.

Foster implied that Hall's resignation would be the best course of action in order to end the distraction that was caused by the impeachment trial. Hall was present at the meeting but did not comment to media.

Hall's attorney Allan Van Fleet sent a letter to Foster indicating that Hall would not resign.

Francisco Cigarroa resignation

On February 10, 2014, Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa announced he would resign from his position as Chancellor. He said he felt he had accomplished the goals he set out to do five years earlier, and was prepared to return to medical practice full-time. "Education saves lives on many levels and I thought I could bring value to the UT system with that perspective in mind. Now it’s time to return to saving one life at a time," he said. Cigarroa said his resignation had nothing to do with the turmoil and investigations within the University of Texas System. Cigarroa will continue to serve as chancellor until a replacement is found. Cigarroa's new position will be as head of pediatric surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

Relationship between Cigarroa and Powers

The Dallas Morning News obtained an email in March 2013 related to Cigarroa's resignation. According to the newspaper, Wallace Hall sent a number of emails to Cigarroa in the weeks before his resignation. The email the newspaper obtained via open records request was sent from Regent chair Foster to Cigarroa. In the email, Foster defended Cigarroa for his work while also praising Hall for his "tenacity as a regent and recommendations to better the university." Foster then implied that Hall had pressured Cigarroa to act, which Foster said he did not agree with. State representative Lyle Larson (R) renewed his call for Hall to resign and Trey Martinez Fischer (D) requested that the committee re-open investigations. Committee co-chair Dan Flynn (R) said no further hearings were planned at the time.

An April 22, 2014 article in the Austin American-Statesman detailed an email exchange between Hall and Foster, in which Hall alleged that University of Texas President Bill Powers threatened Cigarroa prior to his resignation. The three-page email was written on March 19, 2014 as a response to the prior email that Foster sent. In the email, Hall makes an array of accusations regarding the impeachment trial and events within the university system.

• Cigarroa first expressed concern to the Board of Regents about an "inability to work with President Powers" in 2010, which was one year prior to Hall's appointment.
• According to Hall, Cigarroa asked President Powers to resign in Fall 2013. Powers then reportedly offered a range of requirements to retire, which Hall said were "understandably" refused by Chairman Foster.
• Hall alleged that Powers "leveled a threat against the Chancellor," which compromised his ability to work. This threat was reportedly made in front of Pedro Reyes, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas System.
• Regent Steven Hicks reportedly requested an "up or down vote" on Powers. Hall wrote that Foster had not allowed a vote to occur.

Empower Texans CEO Michael Quinn Sullivan pointed to the email as indication of a cover-up at the university, intended to deter an investigation into alleged clout scandals within the higher education system. Quinn Sullivan wrote: "It appears some legislators have been conspiring with UT Austin officials to get unqualified students admission to the state’s flagship university." A spokesman for Powers did not comment on the email.

Powers resignation

In July 2014, Cigarroa asked University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers to resign or face termination at the July 10 University of Texas Board of Regents meeting. Cigarroa attributed the request to a "breakdown of communication, collegiality, trust and a willingness to work together for the good of the university." Powers at first indicated he would not resign, saying it would "cast the university and our state in a highly unfavorable light." However, on July 9, 2014, Cigarroa released a statement that Powers agreed to resign effective June 2015. The Board meeting agenda indicated regents would discuss Powers in an executive session. Some legislators on the transparency committee sent a letter requesting that the Board of Regents delay any personnel decisions regarding Powers or other witnesses from the impeachment hearings.

Testimony to transparency committee

At the July 16 hearing, committee members took testimony from additional stakeholders. The hearing took place days after Bill Powers was asked to resign and ultimately agreed to leave the University Presidency effective 2015. Committee members mentioned other options to be explored besides impeachment of Hall. Legislators also indicated they were close to reaching a consensus decision regarding the investigation. While testifying, University of Texas System Board of Regents chair Paul Foster was asked about what he can do to control regent actions. "The state Legislature is not appropriate to intervene in personnel decisions at UT," Foster said.

Committees

As chairman, Foster serves ex officio on all Board standing committees.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Foster is married to Alejandra De La Vega Foster. He has two children from a previous marriage.

See also

• University of Texas System Board of Regents
• Wallace Hall impeachment trial

External links

• Official University of Texas biography (dead link)
• Forbes Magazine profile
• The Texas Tribune: Tribpedia entry