Changes
In 1979, 1981, 1983, and 1985, McFarland was ranked among the "Ten Best Legislators" from both chambers by ''Texas Monthly'' [[magazine]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/magazine/bestworst|title=Best and Worst Legislators (by year)|publisher=texasmonthly.com|accessdate=September 12, 2011}}</ref> In 1989, McFarland was one of five senators to serve as Senate President Pro Tempore, having succeeded his regional colleague, Democrat Hugh Quay Parmer (born 1939) of [[Fort Worth]].<ref>List of Presidents pro tempore of the Texas Senate.</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>{{cite web|url=http://www.uta.edu/publications/utamagazine/fall_2008/index.php?section="Yesteryear|title=YESTERYEAR: United they stood|date=Fall 2008|publisher=Universitiy , University of Texas|accessdate=September 13, 2011}}</ref>Fall 2008; material no longer on-line.
As a two-term departing state representative, McFarland succeeded Senator William C. Meier (born 1940), who vacated the attorney's general office after one term to challenge, successfully, Republican Governor [[Bill Clements]]. 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=
