The Code of Western Texas?

Many years ago in my first teaching job, I became disenchanted with the leadership style and ethics of our college president. I joined a group of troublemakers who got his permission to help rewrite the college’s mission statement. I’ll never forget the words------“The College will make decisions that are rational, systematic, purposeful and humane.” We got the president to sign it….and then we beat him over the head with every decision he made that didn’t fit that litmus test.

That was almost a quarter century ago…and now I am a president. And while I still think about being rational, systematic, purposeful and humane, I have been searching for words that better suit my campus, the home of Western Texas College. And I don’t let smartasses like the young Dreith write my mantra.

We are in rugged territory that was once roamed by Comanche Indians…..buffalo hunters….and ranchers. The latter group has had the longest standing influence on the culture. Cowboys had their own way of doing things and their simple logic has been saved and made into a book called Cowboy Ethics, written by James P. Owen. Owen is a retired investment banker who has been galled by the lack of ethics on Wall Street. His suggestion is that organizations would be well served to turn back the clock 150 years and embrace the “Code of the West.”

What is the Code? Here it is….in ten small chunks….

Live Each Day with courage.

Take Pride in Your Work.

Always Finish What You Start.

Do What Has to be Done.

Be Tough, but Fair.

When You Make a Promise, Keep It.

Ride For the Brand.

Talk Less and Say More.

Remember That Some Things Aren’t For Sale…..and

Know Where to Draw The Line.

I love them. They so encompass the culture of West Texas. I have ordered several of the books and have spent a great deal of time on the phone with the author. I plan on bringing him to campus and having the Code etched into a large boulder that I plan to have moved to the front gate of the college.

These simple principles are worthy and, in my humble opinion, need to become the Code of Western Texas College. I have decided to try and convince my faculty, staff and board of that opinion over the next several months.

Willie Nelson once crooned----“My heroes have always been Cowboys.” I can’t say that. I grew up in a much different culture. But that doesn’t mean I don’t recognize the richness of the cowboy culture and the simplicity of their ethical existence. But I am becoming more and more convinced, as we see profound breakdowns in ethical behavior in this country, that maybe our heroes should once again become Cowboys.

Cowboy ethics wreak of simple American values that Zane Gray and John Wayne represented in their books and movies.

I’m banking that I can convince the stakeholders of my college that we need to turn back the clock….and start thinking like we were destined for Kansas City on a long and difficult trail ride.

Wish me luck.