District board member steps down
McClaskey resigns after serving 10 years

    Trustee Gary McClaskey will step down after 10 years of serving on the Tarrant County College Board. McClaskey will be moving to Gun Barrel City in the next few weeks making him unable to serve on TCC's board.

    McClaskey's District 5 position will be filled by appointment until the next election in April 2004. Before serving on TCC's board, he worked on the Arlington school board for 12 years.

    McClaskey said when he first began serving as a TCC's board member, he was excited to be working for such an honorable district.

    "I didn't want to mess anything up. I feel like I have accomplished that," he says.

    When he began, McClaskey believed that access to education was vital.

    "Education is prime." he said. "We needed to make sure that it was updated and modern. That is so important."

    McClaskey has many memories of his 10 years on the board. Graduation is the one event he has always looked forward to. He is pleased to see age, ethnicity or handicap is not enough to stop students from achieving academic goals.

    "I am glad we have made education possible for everyone," he said. As he leaves Tarrant County, McClaskey feels confident that he is leaving the college in good hands.

    "The other board members are wonderful. No one has a personal agenda," he said.

    McClaskey also believes that Tarrant County has an 'outstanding college district.' He says "TCC has almost zero turnover, which is very unusual in today's society."

    After he retires from Lockheed Martin, McClaskey says he will be involved in politics for a long time.