Famed TV Star Swit Presents ‘Eleanor Roosevelt’ Tonight at TAMIU
Loretta Swit, renowned for her funny and thoughtful role in the long-running hit TV series, M*A*S* H, will present an educational and theatrical performance as Eleanor Roosevelt as part of Texas A&M International University’s A. R. Sanchez, Sr. Distinguished Lecture Series 2014-2015.
“Eleanor Roosevelt: Her Secret Journey” bows Thursday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. in the TAMIU Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public.
“Eleanor Roosevelt: Her Secret Journey” follows Roosevelt in the years after World War I, as Roosevelt looks back from 1945.
Written by Rhode Lerman, it offers an incredibly personalized, intimate portrait of the historic woman and the many challenges that surrounded her. Her canny and clear-eyed intelligence helped her evolve into a powerful woman whose greater beauty emerged from the warmth and compassion she brought to issues of war, peace, and human rights.
An actor on stage and before the camera, Swit’s life-long career has paired her with the likes of Alan Alda, Ernest Borgnine and Don Rickles, among others. She has appeared in character roles on the big screen as well as in the popular television series “Gunsmoke,” “Mission Impossible” and the original ”Hawaii Five-O.” On stage, Swit starred in a national tour of the one character play, “Shirley Valentine, “ and co-starred alongside Harry Hamlin in the play, “One November Yankee.”
When not on stage, Swit works on many projects that involve her love of animals, including The Search Dog Foundation, Humane Society and Actors and Others for Animals.
TAMIU’s A. R. Sanchez, Sr. Distinguished Lecturer Series honors Antonio R. Sanchez (1916-1992). After 20 years as the owner of an office equipment business, Sanchez began buying oil and gas leases and used his earnings to establish a bank.
Sanchez, along with his son, A. R. Sanchez, Jr., and geologist Brian O’Brien, established the Sanchez-O’Brien Oil and Gas Corporation. Under his leadership as chairman, International Bank of Commerce grew to become International Bancshares Corporation, with branches in more than 90 communities throughout Texas and Oklahoma.
A.R. Sanchez, Sr. is best remembered in Laredo for his philanthropic efforts. Known for his work ethic and generosity, he was a major crusader for a four-year University in Laredo and a supporter of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund. The lecture series is presented through the vision and generosity of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Sanchez, Jr.
For additional information on the A. R. Sanchez, Sr. Distinguished Lecture Series, please contact the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at 326.2460.
University office hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu