A nationally-recognized professor of agricultural and applied economics has been named a Horn Professor by Texas Tech University. It is the highest honor he can receive from the university. Thomas Knight, who is Texas Tech's Emabeth Thompson Professor of Risk Management, was approved today (May 13) by the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents.

"This is a great honor for Tom, but it's also a distinctive recognition for the college," said Michael Galyean, who is also a Horn Professor and Dean of Tech's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. "We appreciate his hard work and outstanding scholarship."

Eduardo Segarra, chairman of Tech's Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, added, "We're truly blessed to have Tom in our faculty."

Prior to joining the Texas Tech faculty in 2002, Knight served as an assistant, associate and full professor at Texas A&M University. Knight received a bachelor's degree and master's degree in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University. His doctorate in agricultural economics is from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Awards for Knight while at Texas Tech include President's Academic Achievement Award (2011); CASNR Graduate Advising Award (2010); CASNR Research Award (2009); and Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa Faculty Recognition Award (2009).

Knight is only the second member of Tech's Agricultural and Applied Economics Department faculty to be named a Horn Professor. The first was Willard Williams in 1968. Williams specialized in the economics of the livestock industry, and helped move the department toward agricultural economics research that focused on sophisticated mathematical and statistical analytical procedures.

"Horn Professors are a testament to the quality of our academics because they represent the very best of our faculty," said Guy Bailey, Texas Tech president. The Horn Professorship was established in 1966 to recognize scholarly achievement and outstanding service to Texas Tech.

The award is named for Texas Tech's first president, Paul Whitfield Horn. Since its inception, some 76 members of the faculty have been appointed Horn Professors and 35 remain on faculty. Other Horn Professors coming from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources include Galyean and Williams, as well as:

" Warren Ballard, 2008, Bricker Chair in Wildlife Management; Department of Natural Resources Management" Vivien Allen, 2005, Thornton Distinguished Professor of Forages; Department of Plant and Soil Science" Henry Nguyen, 1997, Professor of Plant Genetics; Department of Plant and Soil Science" Rodney Preston, 1994, Thornton Endowed Chair; Department of Animal and Food sciences" Eric Bolen, 1981, Professor of Waterfowl Ecology and Management; Department of Natural Resources Management" Henry Wright, 1978, Professor of Fire Ecology; Department of Natural Resources Management" Harold Dregne, 1972, Professor of Agronomy; Department of Plant and Soil Science" Elo Urbanovsky, 1967, Professor of Horticulture and Park Management; Department of Landscape Architecture

"Horn Professors truly embody what it means to be distinguished among their peers in teaching, research and service," said Chancellor of Texas Tech University System Kent Hance.

Written by Norman Martin

CONTACT: Michael Galyean, Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or michael.galyean@ttu.edu

0525NM12 / PHOTO: N Martin