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Ben Barnes
Ben Barnes, was elected to the Texas House of Representatives as a young man. He was in his early 20’s when his political career began and, a few years later, found himself as the youngest speaker in Texas history. He reached the pinnacle of his political career from 1969-1973 when he was elected as the Lt. Governor of Texas. Barnes did not limit his involvement in Texas to just politics.
The former Lt. Governor of Texas Barnes has used his influence and leadership skills to create a large body of philanthropic work. He has been active in numerous community service organizations; most notably the Boys and Girls club of America. Others include, but certainly aren’t limited to: The Daughters of Charity, Austin Community Foundation, Fractured Atlas (endowments for the arts), Austin Museum of Art, Caritas Report (helping women with needs in a time of crisis, Longhorn Foundation (University of Texas athletics) and the People’s Community Clinic. In addition to his charitable contributions, former politician Ben Barnes has accounted for immeasurable advancements in higher education in Texas.
His honors include the UT Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Ellis Island Congressional Medal of Honor (1993), recognition as one of the "Ten Outstanding Young Men in America" by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce (1965), and two honorary law degrees (McMurray University and Texas Tech).
NPR Interview with Ben Barnes