Welsh departs Administration Building on final day as Texas A&M President

On Friday, a crowd of a couple of thousand people gathered outside the steps of the Jack K. Williams Administration Building on the campus of Texas A&M University as Mark A. Welsh III departed as president for the final time.

Students, faculty, staff and supporters descended on the north end of campus to send off Welsh after Chancellor Glenn Hegar announced the president’s resignation yesterday.

In his farewell message to the University earlier today, Welsh wrote:

“When I was first appointed as President of Texas A&M University, I told then Chancellor John Sharp and our Board of Regents that I would serve as well as I possibly could until it was time for someone else to take over. Over the past few days, it’s become clear that now is that time. On many occasions, I've told people that serving as President of this great university for even a minute is an incredible privilege. Doing it for two years has been a remarkable gift.”

The crowd of mostly students was quickly brought to cheers and applause as Welsh and his wife, Betty, made their way from the steps of the Administration Building to their car.

Welsh walked through a crowd of grateful Texas A&M students and supporters, showing appreciation for him and his impact on the University.

People shouted “Thank you,” and “We love you!” as Welsh walked through the crowd, shaking hands with hundreds.

In his final moments as President, Welsh was surrounded mostly by the group he poured the most into: The student body.

“A special thanks to our unbelievable students. You make this university whole. You give it a pulse. You bring it light… And thanks for providing, over and over again, that the 12th Man is an exceptional training program for the Aggie Network.”

As Welsh and his wife exited, a loud rendition of “The Spirit of Aggieland” broke out among the crowd.

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