Lamar University honors former Texas House Speaker with Dade Phelan Building

Lamar University hosted a naming ceremony event on Thursday, Feb. 12 to honor Former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, Dade Phelan, for his transformative contributions to the university during his tenure as a member of the Texas House. The Dade Phelan Building, formerly known as the Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship, establishes the building as a landmark of significance on the Lamar University campus.

"Naming this building in honor of Former Speaker Phelan reflects the profound impact his leadership has had on Lamar University," Lamar University President Jaime Taylor said. "His commitment to access, affordability, and opportunity has helped transform the educational landscape for students across Southeast Texas."

During his years in the Texas House of Representatives, including his time as 76th Speaker of the House, Phelan served as a champion for Lamar University and the Lamar State Colleges, helping to secure tens of millions in funding to support disaster mitigation, health programs, tuition reductions, infrastructure enhancements, and energy and petrochemical initiatives in the Golden Triangle.

He was instrumental in providing additional parity funding - implemented into the state budget during the 2021-23 legislative sessions as a recurring biennial amount - to support institutional enhancement and ensure that Lamar University's per-student funding approximates Texas peer institutions. Through this funding initiative, Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar State College Orange and Lamar State College Port Arthur were able to reduce tuition by half.

"This critical support ensures that Lamar University's current and future students have access to the same resources, the same support, and the same high-quality programs as students anywhere in the state," Taylor said. "It is an investment that will serve generations."

Phelan also played an integral role in securing $45 million in capital construction assistance to help with funding for a $90 million renovation of the Mary and John Gray Library at Lamar University. The project launched in October 2024, marking the first significant update to the building since opening its doors in 1976.

"The national recognition Lamar University continues to receive is a direct result of visionary partners like Former Speaker Phelan," Chancellor of the Texas State University System Brian McCall said. "His advocacy has strengthened the university's mission and expanded its ability to help students build meaningful futures."

Serving as the first Speaker of the House from Southeast Texas in over 170 years, Phelan's strong advocacy for higher education institutions in the Golden Triangle has left a lasting impact on the educational landscape of the region.

"Naming a building after Dade Phelan makes all the sense in the world," McCall said. "No one has done more to bring attention to the four higher education institutions that we have in this region. Dade created a space for conversations that didn't exist about what's happening in Southeast Texas."

The Dade Phelan Building cements his legacy on the Lamar University campus for generations to come.

"This is a huge honor," Former Speaker Phelan said. "This is something that you never expect when you run for office. I fully expect to still be involved here in Southeast Texas for many years to come."