MAYOR PRICE PRESENTS HUD SOUTHWEST REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR C. DONALD BABERS WITH KEY TO CITY TO COMMEMORATE HIS FOUR DECADES OF FEDERAL SERVICE
Fort Worth native managed HUD operations in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma; was HUD’s Dallas Field Office Director for 15 years.

FORT WORTH– Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price today presented U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Southwest Regional Administrator C. Donald Babers with the Key to the City of Fort Worth to commemorate his June 1 retirement after more than forty years of federal service, all of it with HUD.   Mr. Babers was appointed HUD’s SW Regional Administrator by the President in May 2010.   HUD’s Region VI covers the States of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, and the Regional Office is located in Fort Worth. 

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, Babers began his career as a HUD intern in 1970, coming up through the Department’s ranks doing every conceivable job.  “Every job I ever had at HUD put me on a path to the next one,” said Babers.  “I can only hope that my efforts have been enough to repay the wonderful communities and people that I’ve had the honor and pleasure to work with.”

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan added, “During his entire career, Don has demonstrated a passion and commitment for helping people.  From improving substandard housing conditions for public housing residents throughout Texas to shouldering some of the heaviest loads in the wake of Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast, Don has always been the consummate public servant.  His presence and his interpersonal skills have made a real difference in the lives of countless families.”

Babers began his federal career in June 1970 as an intern in HUD’s Fort Worth field office, later serving as an Equal Opportunity Specialist and Fair Housing Director in HUD’s Little Rock, Arkansas field office. For 15 years, the Fort Worth native was the Area Manager (Field Office Director) for HUD’s Dallas field office, where his accomplishments included leading the effort to resolve a housing discrimination challenge brought against HUD.  His work in helping to settle that case is credited for significantly expanding affordable housing opportunities for lower income public housing residents in 36 East Texas counties.         

In 2002, he was appointed Deputy Regional Director of HUD’s Fort Worth Regional Office and in 2006, the Secretary appointed him as  Chairman of the Board of the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO).  Babers was given the difficult task of overseeing the city’s public housing recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. During his two years in New Orleans, he oversaw every facet of HANO’s redevelopment efforts designed to provide rental and homeownership housing to displaced families. In a highly charged environment, Babers formed important partnerships among groups with disparate viewpoints and agendas by working effectively with Federal, State and City agencies, officials and legislators, private and non-profit organizations, residents and the national media.

In 2006, Babers’ efforts in New Orleans and his distinguished track record earned him the prestigious Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive, the highest award a career federal civil servant can receive..  

Although Babers is retiring from civil service, he isn’t retiring from a life of service, as he will become even more active in his church.

“As every Texan proclaims, everything is bigger and better in Texas,” said Hoban-Moore.  “Don’s departure and the litany of fond memories he’s leaving behind will only lend credence to the state’s legend. Mr. B is the quintessential Texan.”

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