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UNT regents pick permanent president for health science center DALLAS Dr. Michael Williams, a Fort Worth native whose maternal grandparents once owned a cabinet shop on the north side, has officially been named president of the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. Williams, 59, became interim president in December after Dr. Scott Ransom was fired. Williams was named sole finalist in June. It feels great to be here, Williams said Friday after regents voted unanimously for his appointment. It feels great to be an official part of the team. The UNT System board of regents met by teleconference to discuss the appointment. Regents had a closed session for about 30 minutes (still via teleconference), then resumed the open meeting in a conference call that was open to the public. Williams followed the meeting from the health science center in Fort Worth. Dr. Williams, we are so happy you are there and are going to take the helm, regents Chairman Jack Wall said. The terms of Williams three-year contract are still being worked out and will be made public after it is signed, likely in about 60 days, system Chancellor Lee Jackson said. The contract will include bonuses for meeting key goals, Jackson said. Williams Fort Worth roots undoubtedly helped as he was asked to soothe hurt feelings in Tarrant County created by Ransoms firing. Members of the Health Science Center Foundation Board said they worried that a key voice for Fort Worth was lost and that the upheaval could damage Fort Worths chances of landing an M.D. program. Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/07/12/4998965/unt-regents-pick-permanent-president.html#storylink=cpy