Kent Hance was born November 14th 1942 in Dimmitt, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Business degree from Texas Tech University in 1965. He then received his law degree from the University of Texas Law School and was admitted to the Texas bar in 1968 and became a practicing attorney in Lubbock and served as a law professor at Texas Tech from 1968 until 1973. In 1972 Hance ran for Texas senate and defeated incumbent H.J. “Doc” Blanchard. He served until running as the Democratic candidate for the 19th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, defeating a businessman from Midland named George W. Bush. He served in this position from January 3rd 1979 to January 3rd 1985. After his congressional service Hance made the decision to change parties and become a Republican. In 1988 he served as the Texas delegate to the Republican National Convention. In 2006, Hance took a leave of absence from his Austin law firm to serve as Chancellor of Texas Tech and remains in this position, furthering the welfare of the university as an administrator as well as teaching a seminar class to juniors and seniors.
