Austin residents Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long, longtime friends and supporters of Tarleton, received honorary doctor of humane letters degrees during the university’s commencement ceremonies May 12.

Tarleton President F. Dominic Dottavio said the Longs are “models of engaged citizenship and service to others.”

Joe R. Long attended what was then John Tarleton Agricultural College from 1947-49, when it was a two-year school. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He had a successful career as a lawyer and in banking.

A South Texas native, Teresa Lozano Long received her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. She was the first Hispanic to earn a doctorate in health and physical education from UT.

Over the years, the Longs have given generously to Tarleton for scholarships and an endowed chair in the social sciences, now held by Dr. Jesus Velasco. About 75 Tarleton students a year receive scholarships as a result of their giving.

Their other major contributions include:

• the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, for scholarship, research and teaching endowments;

• for the renovation of Austin’s Palmer Auditorium, now the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts; and

• for the permanent endowment of the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

After the ceremony, the president and Lisette Dottavio hosted a luncheon for Mr. Long at the Trogdon House. Due to illness, Mrs. Long did not attend the commencement ceremony.

Dr. Richard A. Box, chairman of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, and his wife, Lynn, also attended the commencement and lunch.