Wayne A. Danielson

East Campus Auditorium

May 20, 1972

The Texas Brand

If you go by F. Weigl's Iron Works at the foot of Red River in Austin, you will see a big plank propped against the wall.  On it are many Texas cattle brands.  some are old and nearly worn away by the weather.  Others are new and freshly charred.

I thought of those brands today, because Commencement at Texas is a kind of roundup of all the young critters on the Forty Acres who, in the opinion of the faculty, have acquired sense enough to be let loose on the open range.  But before we let them go, we want to make one last check to see that each carries the Texas brand.

The Texas brand is not orange.  It is not shaped like a football.  It can't be pasted on the rear window of your automobile.  You can't stick it in your hat when you go to the O.U. game in years to come.  But if you have ever been a student at The University of Texas you have it, I am convince, burned deep and fast, internal and invisible.

You have it when you remember your teachers with pride and affection -- Richard Byrne and his flashing screens; Alan Scott energetically removing hyphens from a student's story; Lear Ashmore striding through the Speech Clinic with keys ajingle; Stan Donner caught up in the delight of his Com. 301 lecture; Olin Hinkle patiently grading one more type scrapbook.

You have it when you hear that The Daily Texan is in trouble again and you instinctively say, "They can't do that to The Texan!" and rush to the nearest typewriter to whip out a note to your favorite regent.

You have it when you honor those who taught you by doing the best job you can in your field, following trails set by such former students as Walter Cronkite, Willie Morris, Jerry Bishop, Claudia Taylor Johnson.

You have it whenever you admire big money less and big ideas more.

You have it whenever you reaffirm your faith that reason will endure, that truth will win given a fair fight, that means are as important as ends, and that violence in America must give way to peace, not eventually, but in our lifetime.

You have it whenever you speak or write with that special Texas style of intelligence, wit and compassion -- especially compassion.

You have it when you feel that certain longing to come back to Austin, back

to the campus.  And you do come back now and then because you know that although Houston and Dallas and San Antonio may be great commercial centers, Austin is the emotional and intellectual heart of Texas for you.

That misanthropic preacher -- Ecclesiastes -- wrote, "Vanity of Vanities, all is vanity."

The disillusioned Omar Khayyam wrote:

Myself when young did eagerly frequent

Doctor and Saint and heard great argument

About it and about; but evermore

Came out by that same door wherein I went.

With them the seed of Wisdom did I sow,

And with mine own hand wrought to make it grow;

And this was all the Harvest that I reaped --

I came like Water, and Like Wind I go.

Most of us would agree with these gloomy sages that not much endures for a lifetime.  Wealth vanishes.  Reputations fade.  Power passes.  Bust some things do last.  Love frequently does.  And hope.  And certain loyalties.  And the Texas brand is another thing that lasts -- the unique educational stamp of this University, the abiding spirit of this place.  It may grow dim and faint with time and weather, just as those brands have in front of F. Weigl's Iron Works, but I think you really have it now, for keeps, the Texas brand.

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Commencement Speech Address