Bush counsel to return to campus for Sept. 7 talk

Bush
counsel to return to campus for Sept. 7 talk
…………………………………………………………………

BY B.J. ALMOND
Rice News Staff

Rice alumnus
Alberto Gonzales ’79 will tell what it’s like
to be the president’s lawyer during a Sept. 7 presentation
at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy.

Gonzales, who
was commissioned as counsel to President George W. Bush
this past January, will highlight the duties and responsibilities
of the counsel to the president during his presentation
at Rice. He also will make general observations about working
in Washington and share his thoughts about the Bush administration.

Prior to joining
the White House staff, Gonzales had been a justice on the
Supreme Court of Texas, a position he held throughout 1999
and 2000. Before his appointment to the Texas Supreme Court
by Bush, who was governor of Texas then, Gonzales served
as Texas’ 100th secretary of state. He also served
as general counsel to Gov. Bush for three years after practicing
law as a partner with Vinson and Elkins in Houston.

Born in San
Antonio and raised in Houston, Gonzales entered Rice in
1977 after attending the United States Air Force Academy
for two years. A member of Lovett College, Gonzales played
intramural sports and joined the Hispanic Association for
Cultural Education at Rice and the Prelaw Society. He made
the President’s Honor Roll three of his four semesters
at Rice and was named the Charles B. Parkhill Scholar in
1978-79. After receiving a bachelor of arts in political
science with honors, he enrolled at Harvard Law School,
where he earned a law degree.

Named Outstanding
Young Lawyer of Texas by the Texas Young Lawyers Association
in 1992, Gonzales has served as board director for the State
Bar of Texas and president of the Houston Hispanic Bar Association.
In 1994 he was chosen as one of the Five Outstanding Young
Texans by the Texas Junior Chamber of Commerce. Hispanic
Business included Gonzales among its list of 100 Most Influential
Hispanics in 1999 — the same year that the Hispanic
National Bar Association named him Latino Lawyer of the
Year.

Other civic
activities include serving as president of Leadership Houston,
board director of the United Way of Texas Gulf Coast, board
director of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Houston, and board
director of Catholic Charities, Houston.

Gonzales’
presentation at Rice will begin at 7 p.m. in James A. Baker
III Hall. Rice faculty, staff and students who plan to attend
should R.S.V.P. by Sept. 5 to (713) 348-4683.