About the Foundation

Tilman J. Fertitta, a native Texan, is Chairman of the Board, President, CEO, and largest shareholder of Landry’s Restaurants, Inc., one of America’s largest casual dining and entertainment companies. Fertitta is also President and sole shareholder of Fertitta Hospitality, LLC, a hotel, development, and entertainment company.

Bill Nelson is a partner at Haynes and Boone, LLP. Mr. Nelson's practice focuses on corporate securities law, including public offerings and private financings, acquisitions, mergers, monetization transactions, securities law compliance and corporate governance. He is a co-founder of and currently serves as treasurer of the Houston Police Foundation.

Morrie K. Abramson is a member of The Methodist Hospital System Board, The Methodist Hospital Foundation Board, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute Board, and The Methodist Neurological Institute National Council.

Leslie Alexander has devoted his efforts to making Houston's teams champions both on the basketball court and in the community. Alexander’s dedication to winning has resulted in two NBA championships with the Rockets and four WNBA titles with the Houston Comets, giving Houston its first professional sports championships. Off the court, the Rockets franchise has set the standard for community involvement.

Robert "Bob" Beauchamp is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of BMC Software (NASDAQ: BMC), a leading global enterprise management solutions company.

Emily Attwell Crosswell attended the Kinkaid School in Houston, Texas and then went on to attend Randolph-Macon Women’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia. She received her B.S. in English and Education from the University of Texas in 1963.

Randall L. Curry is President of Chevron Pipe Line Company (CPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chevron Corporation. He is responsible for the management of more than 14,000 miles of crude oil, petroleum products, chemicals, natural gas and natural gas liquids pipelines and storage facilities.

Charlene is the Executive Director of the Houston Police Foundation now for three years.

Rey Gonzales, President of Importpro.net, has served as a licensed international custom broker for over 35 years. He has assisted in project development in the Far/Middle East, Latin America, and Africa for major engineering, service, and energy companies.

Charles has resided in Houston since the mid 1990’s, and is a supporter of several very worthy local causes. He is a lifelong supporter of several educational organizations, in addition, Charles is a member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Corporate Development Committee.

Robert is a native Houstonian and is actively involved in many organizations including RodeoHouston, Boys and Girls Country of Houston, and the Kelly Cook Foundation.

Since 2000, Mr. Lesar has been Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Halliburton, one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the energy industry.

Michael C. Linn is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Linn Energy, LLC (Nasdaq: LINE), a publicly traded partnership focused on the acquisition and development of oil and gas properties, which he founded in March 2003. Linn Energy currently operates in the Panhandle of Texas, Oklahoma, and the Los Angeles Basin in California.

Drayton McLane, Jr. received his B.B.A. from Baylor University in 1958 and his M.B.A. from Michigan State University in 1959. Currently Mr. McLane is Chairman of the McLane Group, L.P. and Chairman & CEO of the Houston Astros Baseball Club. He also has served as Chairman of the National American Wholesale Grocers Association.

Robert C. McNair is perhaps best known in the business community as the founder of Cogen Technologies, which was sold in 1999. Cogen was the largest privately-owned cogeneration company in the world, with aggregate capacity of 1,400 megawatts.

Edna Meyer-Nelson is President of Richland Investments, Inc., Richland Management, Inc., and Richland Commercial Mortgage. Richland Investments, Inc. owns and operates retail shopping centers, office buildings, industrial parks and office/flex parks. Currently Richland has over 3½ million square feet under roof and a total of 25 to 30 properties at any given time. Meyer-Nelson started the company in 1993 after being a banker in Houston for 20 years.

John L. Nau, III is President and Chief Executive Officer of Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P., the nation’s largest distributor of Anheuser-Busch products. Silver Eagle employs over 1,100 employees that serve 16 counties in Texas through operations in Houston, San Antonio, Conroe, Cypress and Rosenberg. Silver Eagle also distributes Grupo Modelo beers.

Don A. Sanders is the Founder and Chairman of Sanders Morris Harris, the largest investment bank headquartered in the Southwest. A native of Mexia, Texas, Don graduated from Mexia High School, received his BBA degree from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, and his MBA degree from the University of Texas in Austin.

Lester Smith, a two-time National Latin Dance Champion, is one of Houston’s most colorful and respected philanthropists. But the second-generation Texas oilman is also known for his decade’s long battles with cancer – and his ability to beat the odds time and time again.

Paul Somerville was born into a military family in Pennsylvania in 1947 and attended twelve different schools in twelve years. He attended Evangel College and the University of Missouri majoring in chemistry and biology. While in school, Mr. Somerville participated in Varsity athletics. His pipeline career began when he worked as a laborer during the summer months while attending college.

Blake Tartt III is an urban visionary with a unique blend of social, design and financial acumen. President and Chief Executive Officer of New Regional Planning, Blake is widely recognized for his ability to conceptualize, active and accelerate innovative real estate developments.

Dave joined KTRK-TV in 1966 as an on-the-street reporter/photographer. In 1967, he was assigned to anchor Channel 13's weekday 7am newscast. Later that year he also became the first host of KTRK's "Dialing for Dollars." In 1968, Dave was assigned to anchor the weekday 6 and 10pm newscasts where he remains today as one of Houston's most respected news anchors.

Dancie Ware, owner of Dancie Perugini Ware Public Relations, has lived by as she has grown her company from a one-woman startup in the mid-1980s to one of the most respected PR firms in the area. DPW has carved out a foundation of long-term, stable clients and grown alongside them. That growth has spawned a boutique firm with a multimarket personality.

John Eddie is a strong advocate of workers and organized labor, representing members and their causes at every opportunity.