Comptroller Strayhorn to Provide Address at TAMIU Nov. 12

Texas A&M International University's College of Business and Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development will host a luncheon and presentation by Texas State Comptroller of Public Accounts Carole Keeton Strayhorn on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at the University's Western Hemispheric Trade Center.

Strayhorn's presentation, "Our Texas Border: Heart of the Americas," will focus on the Texas border's critical role on the economies of the Americas.

Strayhorn's visit is presented in cooperation with the City of Laredo Convention and Visitor's Bureau, the Laredo Chamber of Commerce, the Laredo Development Foundation and the Laredo Manufacturing Association. Limited seating is available and is being coordinated by the University's Office for Institutional Advancement, 326.2175.

Introducing Strayhorn will be State Senator Dr. Judith Zaffirini.

Strayhorn was the first woman in history elected Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. She was re-elected Comptroller in 2002 with the highest vote total of any winning Republican in the nation and more votes than any woman candidate of either party. She is considered a fiscal conservative who practices what she preaches: cutting spending, enlisting state employees as front-line soldiers in the battle against waste, providing incentives for innovation and shaking the rafters of state government until taxpayers are treated like satisfied customers and public policy partners.

This year, Strayhorn received the University of Texas at Austin Distinguished Alumnus Award, and was given the Outstanding Conservative Award by the Conservative Alliance of Texas Tech and College Republicans of Texas Tech. She was also the first recipient of the Friends of Texas Taxpayers Award from the Citizens for a Sound Economy.

Considered a trailblazer, Strayhorn has a resume full of "firsts"- first woman elected to the Texas Railroad Commission-and re-elected in 1996 with the highest vote total in a statewide contested race; first woman mayor of Austin and the only mayor elected for three successive terms; first woman president of the Austin School Board, and first woman president of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees. She is a lifetime honorary member of the Austin Police Association.

She considers her record of achievement and public service to be rooted in her passion for education. She began her career as a public school teacher and was later elected to the Austin School Board. She also served as president of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees. She is a recipient of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association's Friend of Education Award.

She is the daughter of the late Page Keeton, a revered long-time dean of the University of Texas' Law School. Her youngest son, Scott McClellan, is press secretary to President Bush; her eldest son, Dr. Mark McClellan, is the Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Twin sons, Brad McClellan and Dudley McClellan are both attorneys. Brad is an assistant attorney general for Texas-Chief of Workers' Compensation Section and Dudley is a respected attorney in Austin's private sector.

The native Texan is government honors graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. She is married to Ed Strayhorn, founder and president of the oldest tennis court construction business in Texas. They are the proud parents of five grown sons, and proud grandparents of four young granddaughters, with a fifth on the way.

For additional information, contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at 326.2180.

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.