100 Central Texas Mayors Endorse Baylor Proposal For Bush Library
One-hundred Central Texas mayors have endorsed Baylor University's proposal to locate the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Waco, outlining in a letter to President Bush the educational and economic benefits of a presidential library in Central Texas.
The mayors represent communities in 23 counties across the region. The letter was forwarded Oct. 30 to the White House.
"This region already is honored by your residence and frequent presence in Crawford," the mayors wrote, "and the placement of your presidential library at Baylor will allow us to be of service to you and help prepare future generations of leaders."
"Central Texas is home to President Bush, and we wanted to make a very strong statement of regional support for the presidential library," said Tommye Lou Davis, special assistant to Baylor President Robert B. Sloan Jr. and head of Baylor's Bush Library effort. "Baylor is the closest major university to the President's ranch in Crawford, and our location is ideally suited to facilitate access from across the state. We're committed to making the George W. Bush Presidential Library the best presidential library in the country."
The regional impact of a Bush Library at Baylor would be significant.
"Designating Baylor as the library site will establish a 'triangle' of presidential libraries in this region," the mayors wrote, "along with the George H.W. Bush Library in College Station and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library in Austin, and make Central Texas the most important area for presidential research in the country."
The mayors also focused on the generations of young people, who will be introduced to political leadership by the library and associated facilities, such as a George W. Bush Presidential Museum and possible Bush School of Public Leadership and Service. Baylor has extensive experience in political archives, housing the papers of Texas Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock and 12 U.S. congressmen.
Baylor University is located along Interstate 35 and within 200 miles of 80 percent of the state's population. Initial estimates indicate that the Bush Presidential Library in Waco could draw between 300-500,000 people annually. The economic impact of the construction phase alone would be more than $200 million, with an ongoing economic impact of $21-28 million.
The mayors conclude, "As the oldest university in Texas, Baylor has a strong tradition of preparing young leaders of character who have a deep understanding of their discipline and a broader awareness of their responsibility to serve their community and nation. The location of your presidential library in Central Texas will further this heritage in a truly unique fashion, and we urge you to give careful consideration to Baylor University's proposal."
For more information, contact Davis at (254) 710-3555.
MAYOR CONTACTS
Waco (McLennan County) - Mayor Linda Ethridge, (254) 750-5640
Temple (Bell County) - Mayor William A. Jones III, (254) 760-6488
Killeen (Bell County) - Mayor Maureen Jouett, (254) 681-9112
Hillsboro (Hill County) - Mayor Will Lowrance, (254) 580-0191
Stephenville (Erath County) - Mayor John Moser, (254) 968-6805
Red Oak (Ellis County) - Mayor Todd B. Little, (214) 534-5386
Burleson (Johnson County) - Mayor Byron Black, (817) 447-5400 ext. 213
Text of letter sent Oct. 30 to the White House
October 30, 2003
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
As Mayors of Central Texas, we strongly support the location of your future presidential library in this area and heartily endorse the proposal being submitted by Baylor University. This region already is honored by your residence and frequent presence in Crawford, and the placement of your presidential library at Baylor will allow us to be of service to you and help prepare future generations of leaders.
Central Texas is ideally suited as the location for the George W. Bush Presidential Library Center. Baylor is adjacent to Intersate 35 and has several potential sites for the library along the scenic Brazos River. In addition, over 80 percent of the state's population lives within a 200-mile radius of the campus, making the library easily accessible for the vast majority of Texans.
The location of your library in Central Texas will have a significant cultural and economic impact on this region. Thousands of young people will have a firsthand opportunity to be inspired and challenged to leadership by the library and associated facilities, such as a George W. Bush Presidential Museum. A George W. Bush School of Public Leadership and Service also could profoundly influence future generations of public servants. Designating Baylor as the library site will establish a "triangle" of presidential libraries in this region, along with the George H.W. Bush Library in College Station and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library in Austin, and make Central Texas the most important area for presidential research in the country. Finally, Baylor has a strong tradition in the collection of political materials, housing the papers of twelve U.S. Congressmen and former Texas Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock.
The library also will have an important economic impact on Central Texas, attracting between 300-500,000 people annually. The construction phase alone will bring over $200 million into the regional economy, with an ongoing economic impact of $21-28 million. Three to four hundred jobs will be created by the library and associated tourism-related activities.
As the oldest university in Texas, Baylor has a strong tradition of preparing young leaders of character who have a deep understanding of their discipline and a broader awareness of their responsibility to serve their community and nation. The location of your presidential library in Central Texas will further this heritage in a truly unique fashion, and we urge you to give careful consideration to Baylor University's proposal.
Thank you for considering Central Texas as the site of your presidential library. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you lead our nation during these challenging days.
Sincerely,
COMMUNITIES REPRESENTED (BY COUNTY)
BELL
CITY MAYOR
Bartlett - Janice Atchison
Belton - Dwayne Digby
Holland - Frank Horak
Killeen - Maureen Jouett
Nolanville - Robert Stephens (Mayor Pro-Tem)
Salado - Charlotte Douglass
Temple - William A. Jones III
Troy - Ernest Thompson
BOSQUE
CITY MAYOR
Clifton - W. Leon Smith
Cranfills Gap - David Witte
Iredell - Royce Heath
Meridian - Jess Taylor
Valley Mills - Bill Lancaster
Walnut Springs - David Keller
BROWN
CITY MAYOR
Bangs - C.B. Alexander
Brownwood - Bert V. Massey
Early - David Brooks
COMANCHE
CITY MAYOR
Comanche - Brent Hagood
CORYELL
CITY MAYOR
Copperas Cove - Rodney Nauert
Evant - Alma Green
Gatesville - Daren Moore
Oglesby - Kenneth Goodwin
ELLIS
CITY MAYOR
Bardwell - P.W. Gentry
Italy - Frank Jackson
Maypearl - Medford E. Marion
Milford - Othel D. Smith
Red Oak - Todd B. Little
ERATH
CITY MAYOR
Dublin - James Seigars
Stephenville - John Moser
FALLS
CITY MAYOR
Golinda - Anthony Wagner
Lott - Ellis Bailey
Marlin - Arthur Allen
Rosebud - Ken Hensel
FREESTONE
CITY MAYOR
Fairfield - Larry Ivy
Teague - Earnest Pack
HAMILTON
CITY MAYOR
Hamilton - Roy Rumsey
Hico - Stan Bundy
HILL
CITY MAYOR
Abbott - Robert Tufts
Blum - Elaine Edwards
Covington - Shirley Erickson
Hillsboro - Will Lowrance
Hubbard - Steve Weatherby
Itasca - Mark Gropp
Malone - James Lucko
Mertens - Linda Maples
Mount Calm - Jimmy Tucker
Whitney - Gwen Evans
HOOD
CITY MAYOR
Granbury - David Southern
JOHNSON
CITY MAYOR
Alvarado - Tom Durington
Burleson - Byron Black
Cleburne - Thomas Hazelwood
Godley - Larry A. Richeson
Grandview - Michael Schmidt
Keene - Gary Heinrich
Rio Vista - Sam Bigham
LAMPASAS
CITY MAYOR
Kempner - Roger Fancher
Lampasas - Jack Calvert
LEON
CITY MAYOR
Centerville - Billy Walters
LIMESTONE
CITY MAYOR
Groesbeck - Mike McLelland
Kosse - Robert O'Neal
Mexia - Steve Brewer
Tehuacana - Herman Douglas East Jr.
Thornton - James W. Jackson, Jr.
MCLENNAN
CITY MAYOR
Bellmead - Carl E. Swanson III
Beverly Hills - Douglas Woodward
Bruceville-Eddy - Halbert Wilcox
Crawford - Robert Campbell
Gholson - H.T. Sexton
Hallsburg - Mike Glockzin
Hewitt - J.D. Copeland
Lacy Lakeview - Dennis Cogliati
Leroy - David Williams
Lorena - Stacy Garvin
Mart - Wanda Cornell
McGregor - Jimmy Hering
Moody - Mike Alton
Riesel - David Guenat, Jr.
Robinson - Bryan Ferguson
Waco - Linda Ethridge
West - Russell Willsey
Woodway - Donald Baker
MILAM
CITY MAYOR
Cameron - James Lafferty
MILLS
CITY MAYOR
Goldthwaite - Danny Hammond
Mullin - Richard Spinks
NAVARRO
CITY MAYOR
Angus - Eben D. Stover
Barry - John Braly
Blooming Grove - Ralph Dozier
Corsicana - J. Waterman
Dawson - Yvonne Woods
Frost - Ken Reed
Kerens - Joe Baxter
Mildred - Nancy Johnson
Navarro - Yvonne Capehart
Oak Valley - Bob O'Dell
Powell - Dennis Bancroft
Retreat - Janice Barfnecht
Rice - Larry Bailey
ROBERTSON
CITY MAYOR
Bremond - Ricky Swick
SAN SABA
CITY MAYOR
San Saba - David Parker
SOMERVELL
CITY MAYOR
Glen Rose - Johnny Martin