[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5273]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO DR. MALCOLM PORTERA, CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA 
                                 SYSTEM

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 19, 2012

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Dr. Malcolm 
``Mack'' Portera, who recently announced his well-deserved retirement 
after leading the University of Alabama System for more than a decade. 
He was the fifth chancellor and the longest serving in the System's 
history.
  In March, Mack Portera officially retired as Chancellor of the 
University of Alabama System, which includes the school's three 
campuses in Birmingham, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa.
  Dr. Portera has a long and distinguished association with the 
University of Alabama, also holding the title of Vice President of 
External Affairs as well as interim president of the Birmingham and 
Huntsville campuses.
  Over the years, Mack Portera's contributions to the University, 
higher education and business development in Alabama have been 
considerable. Even before he assumed the top leadership post at the 
University, Dr. Portera was already involved in top-tier business 
recruitment efforts in the state of Alabama, including Mercedes Benz.
  Under his leadership as Chancellor of the University of Alabama 
System, total enrollment expanded from 45,000 to 58,000 students. Over 
the same period, the total budget for the three campuses more than 
doubled--increasing from $2.1 billion in 2001 to $4.6 billion today.
  Prior to becoming Chancellor, Dr. Portera was the 16th president of 
Mississippi State University, and in 1996, he launched a successful 
business development and strategic planning company.
  In 2003, he was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor, a group 
of 100 living Alabamians elected on the basis of service to the state.
  Dr. Portera's impact has been felt both within and beyond the 
University System. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Alabama 
Power Company and in leadership roles for the Birmingham Business 
Alliance, the Riley Foundation, Southern Research Institute, the 
University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System, the West Alabama 
Chamber of Commerce, the Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Foundation, 
Operation New Birmingham, the University of Alabama at Birmingham 
Research Foundation, and the University of Alabama at Huntsville 
Foundation. He is the former chair of the Council of Presidents of the 
Southeastern Universities Research Association and Vice Chair of the 
Alabama Research Alliance.
  Dr. Portera received his undergraduate and master's degrees from 
Mississippi State University and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the 
University of Alabama.
  Not one to divert from his life-long devotion of giving to the 
community he loves so much, Dr. Portera plans to remain in Tuscaloosa 
offering his services as a part-time teacher.
  I join the people of Alabama in extending to Dr. Portera our sincere 
gratitude for his tireless service to the University of Alabama System 
and to our state. His legacy is a strong one and there are countless 
examples of where his service has benefitted the entire state and 
nation. May Mack and his lovely wife, Olivia, enjoy a happy and 
rewarding retirement with their children and grandchildren.

                          ____________________