Honorable Kent R. Hance
Kent R. Hance provides more than 40 years of experience in the public and private sector as an attorney, businessman, Texas State Senator, U.S. Congressman, Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, and Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. Through the firm’s Austin and Washington, D.C. offices, Mr. Hance provides clients with his unmatched experience in a broad range of state and federal regulatory and legislative areas.
Experience
Mr. Hance provides an extensive background in a variety of legal areas, including oil and gas and energy-related law. Following six years as a U.S. Congressman, Mr. Hance served on the Texas Railroad Commission (Chairman 1989-1990) which regulates the oil and gas industry in Texas. Mr. Hance also served on the Governor’s Energy Council, Governor’s Oil Spill Advisory Committee, Texas High Speed Rail Commission, Interstate Oil Compact Commission, and the Texas Mining Council. Mr. Hance has attended OPEC meetings and has been active in the acquisition of international oil and gas drilling rights on behalf of US and international clients.
Mr. Hance’s legal and regulatory expertise encompasses business/corporations, higher education, city/county government, gaming laws, medicine/pharmaceutical development, nuclear energy, telecommunications, real estate, and taxation. While in Congress, Mr. Hance had the honor of carrying President Ronald Reagan’s tax cut bill, one of the largest tax cuts in American history. In addition, Mr. Hance has been privileged to serve on corporate boards throughout his distinguished career.
In addition to decades of personal experience as a public servant in Austin, Lubbock and in Washington, DC, Mr. Hance maintains an active presence in both the state and federal political arenas. Mr. Hance has developed many close relationships with Texas’ U.S. Senators, members of Congress and federal judges, as well as knowing many national congressional leaders and elected officials in other states.
In Texas, Mr. Hance is known as an ally of Gov. Greg Abbott and currently chairs Lt. Governor Dan Patrick’s Economic Forecast Advisory Committee and served on his “Back to Work” Task Force that was created following the Coronavirus pandemic.
A close ally of former President Ronald Reagan, Mr. Hance has also been involved in the presidential campaigns of President George H. W. Bush, President George W. Bush and President Donald J. Trump.
During his tenure of over seven years at Texas Tech, Chancellor Hance raised more than $1.2 billion for his beloved alma mater, increased student enrollment by 45%, added a groundbreaking new medical school in El Paso, and elevated the university system to what was then its highest enrollment of more than 44,000 students. Chancellor Hance led the government relations efforts on the state and federal levels for Texas Tech during his tenure. He continues to serve Texas Tech as Chancellor Emeritus and teaches a popular seminar class on Leadership at Texas Tech.
Please feel free to contact Mr. Hance, and any of the attorneys at Hance Scarborough, for assistance regarding your legal, business and governmental relations needs.
Professional Affiliations
Mr. Hance is a 50-year member of the Texas State Bar
Civic Involvement
Mr. Hance serves on the following non-profit boards:
- Delta Tau Delta Educational Foundation
- Texas State Historical Association
- Texas State History Museum Foundation
- Texas Sports Hall of Fame