| Robert W. Lawless | |
| Title2: | President of Texas Tech University |
| Term Start2: | 1989 |
| Term End2: | 1996 |
| Predecessor2: | Lauro Cavazos |
| Successor2: | Donald R. Haragan |
| President of the University of Tulsa | |
| Term Start: | 1996 |
| Term End: | 2004 |
| Predecessor: | Robert Donaldson |
| Successor: | Steadman Upham |
| Birth Date: | 13 February 1937 |
| Birth Place: | Baytown, Texas, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Lubbock, Texas |
| Alma Mater: | Lee College University of Houston Texas A&M University |
Robert William Lawless (February 13, 1937August 10, 2024) was an American academic and executive.[1] He served as president of Texas Tech University from 1989 to 1996 and president of the University of Tulsa from 1996 to 2004. He held a Bachelor of Science degree (1964) from the University of Houston and a Doctor of Philosophy degree (1968) from Texas A&M University in operations research. Lawless also served as executive vice president and chief operations officer of Southwest Airlines from 1985 to 1989,[2] after serving in various positions with the airline, including vice president for finance and chief financial officer.[3] [4]
Lawless succeeded Robert H. Donaldson, who announced his intention to resign at the end of the 1995-1996 year, after an often contentious 6-year tenure at TU, during which he often clashed with both students and faculty, according to a news article.[4] The same article noted that Lawless angered gay and lesbian students at Texas Tech in 1993 by a letter he wrote, calling their lifestyles "deviant...something that I can never condone, and hold in great contempt."[4]
During his tenure at Tech, Lawless raised the school's endowment. from $40 million to $150 million. Tech also had 24,000 students when he moved from Lubbock, compared to TU's 4,386.[4]
He died on August 10, 2024 in Lubbock, Texas.[5]