Changes

|term_start=1983

|term_start=1983

|term_end=1991​

|term_end=1991​

|preceded=[[William C. Meier​]]

|preceded=[[Bill Meier|William C. "Bill" Meier​]]

|succeeded=Chris Harris

|succeeded=Chris Harris

|office2=President Pro Tempore<br> of the Texas Senate

|office2=President Pro Tempore<br> of the Texas Senate

In 1986, McFarland objected when the Texas Select Committee on Higher Education, a group appointed by [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Governor]] [[Mark White|Mark Wells White]] to consider streamlining of the state's colleges and universities, proposed that the University of Texas at Arlington be re-defined as a "comprehensive university," with an emphasis on teaching, instead of research. Many UTA faculty and students believed that the change would have eliminated doctoral programs at the institution. McFarland, a UTA "Distinguished Alumnus," declared the select committee recommendation "an over-my-dead-body situation." Soon political support was manifested throughout Arlington and Tarrant County. The mission of UTA was clarified to include "achieving excellence in all academic areas — teaching, research, and public service." McFarland said the controversy brought hundreds of letters and telephone calls and showed him that "there are people out there willing to get involved and support UTA." Then state Representative [[Kent Grusendorf]], also of Arlington, joined McFarland in rallying to the defense of their common ''alma mater.''<ref>"Yesteryear: United they stood," University of Texas, Fall 2008; material no longer on-line.</ref>

In 1986, McFarland objected when the Texas Select Committee on Higher Education, a group appointed by [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Governor]] [[Mark White|Mark Wells White]] to consider streamlining of the state's colleges and universities, proposed that the University of Texas at Arlington be re-defined as a "comprehensive university," with an emphasis on teaching, instead of research. Many UTA faculty and students believed that the change would have eliminated doctoral programs at the institution. McFarland, a UTA "Distinguished Alumnus," declared the select committee recommendation "an over-my-dead-body situation." Soon political support was manifested throughout Arlington and Tarrant County. The mission of UTA was clarified to include "achieving excellence in all academic areas — teaching, research, and public service." McFarland said the controversy brought hundreds of letters and telephone calls and showed him that "there are people out there willing to get involved and support UTA." Then state Representative [[Kent Grusendorf]], also of Arlington, joined McFarland in rallying to the defense of their common ''alma mater.''<ref>"Yesteryear: United they stood," University of Texas, Fall 2008; material no longer on-line.</ref>

As a two-term departing state representative, McFarland succeeded Senator [[William C. Meier]], who unsuccessfully challenged the Democrat James Albon "Jim" Mattox (1943-2008) for the state attorney general's position. In 1991, McFarland was succeeded in the Senate by Republican Chris Harris (1948-2015), also of Arlington, who subsequently was shifted into neighboring Senate District 9.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lrl.texas.gov/legeLeaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=34&searchparams=chamber=~city=~countyID=0~RcountyID=~district=~first=~gender=m~last=Harris~leaderNote=~leg=80~party=~roleDesc=~Committee=

As a two-term departing state representative, McFarland succeeded Senator [[Bill Meier]], who unsuccessfully challenged the Democrat James Albon "Jim" Mattox (1943-2008) for the state attorney general's position. In 1991, McFarland was succeeded in the Senate by Republican Chris Harris (1948-2015), also of Arlington, who subsequently was shifted into neighboring Senate District 9.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lrl.texas.gov/legeLeaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=34&searchparams=chamber=~city=~countyID=0~RcountyID=~district=~first=~gender=m~last=Harris~leaderNote=~leg=80~party=~roleDesc=~Committee=

|title=Chris Harris|publisher=Texas Legislative Reference Library|accessdate=March 31, 2020}}</ref>

|title=Chris Harris|publisher=Texas Legislative Reference Library|accessdate=March 31, 2020}}</ref>