Issue date: 5/7/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Chris Griffin [Click to enlarge]

Tom DeFrank 9 a.m. Friday

Thomas DeFrank said he has some self-satisfaction in coming to commencement. When he was graduating, the president at the time was James Earl Rudder, who wasn't happy to see him. This time, a president invited him.

Formerly a White House correspondent for Newsweek, he is the author of three books - working on his fourth - and is the Washington bureau chief for the New York Daily News.

Before a career spanning nearly four decades covering presidents and politics, DeFrank, Class of 1967, was the editor in chief of The Battalion - and a controversial one at that.

After working in various positions for three years, he became the top editor in the fall of 1966. But President Rudder wasn't pleased with his work, because - as DeFrank said - The Battalion did actual journalism, not public relations for the University as Rudder wanted.

"(Rudder) wanted a student newspaper that only reported good news," he said. "Any self-respecting journalist wouldn't do that."

So, Rudder fired him.

"Each year, the censorship and repression got worse," DeFrank said.

Though, he said he understood why Rudder acted the way he did: The University was in the midst of an evolution, and the stalwart president represented a dictatorial generation.

"It was a different time, a different era; it was a time of transition for A&M," DeFrank said. "President Rudder was a great man, but of a different generation."

DeFrank joined the military as a public affairs officer working in the Pentagon after he graduated in 1967 with a degree in journalism.

Then, he started a quarter-century tenure with Newsweek magazine, covering the White House. His first assignment: covering the former Republican leader in the House, freshly confirmed vice president and soon-to-be president Gerald R. Ford Jr.

DeFrank, who was 28, said Watergate - and its corollaries - created an extraordinarily unique time in the United States.

And, Ford was in the flukiest position, DeFrank said. As the wrongdoings of President Richard M. Nixon became more evident, his departure either through impeachment or resignation was imminent - and Ford would inherit a tarnished White House in a virulent capital.

"(Ford) was out of town all the time," DeFrank said. "He avoided Washington because the atmosphere was poisonous."

After spending a great amount of time with Ford during such a challenging period, DeFrank said he and other reporters covering the vice president developed a special, professional relationship with him.

And, that relationship, DeFrank said, is the basis of an intimate project.

Since 1991, DeFrank conducted annual, off-the-record interviews with Ford, under one condition: what was said in those interviews couldn't be published until Ford died.

Ford, 93, died on Dec. 26. Following his death, DeFrank said he poured through 16 years worth of notes and has been in the process of compiling the candid words of the former president for his upcoming book, "Write It When I'm Gone."

DeFrank said Ford had respect for the press, which made him unique.

"By definition, the relationship between the press and the president is an adversarial one," he said.

But Ford understood that a reporter's job was to tell the whole story.

"He liked reporters and he liked to socialize," DeFrank said. "But the press sometimes bites the hand that feeds it."

He said that White House press secretary Tony Snow is imitating the ways of the Ford administration by attempting to build bridges with the press.

DeFrank, 61, said after his book is complete, he will plot a way to retire to Texas, his home state.

But, he's looking forward to returning to A&M. DeFrank said he was invited to give an address by his friend and classmate, A&M Interim President Eddie J. Davis, on the 40th anniversary of their commencement from A&M.

"There's a touch of irony here," DeFrank said, considering his situation in 1967.

On Friday, DeFrank said he will share anecdotes from his experiences covering presidents and his time at A&M.

It will have to be a condensed version, however.

DeFrank said Davis told him in his invitation, "you have 10 minutes max, and I mean that."

Douglas Slack 9 a.m. Saturday

Douglas Slack said he became interested in wildlife conservation through his interests in fishing and bird-watching.

Slack is a Regents professor, associate department head for undergraduate programs for the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, and speaker of the Texas A&M Faculty Senate for the 2006-07 academic year.

One of Slack's last acts as speaker will be addressing the graduates at the 9 a.m. commencement on Saturday in Reed Arena.

"The primary reason I'm at Texas A&M is to be deeply involved in the education of undergraduate students," he said. "That's a really high priority for me."

Originally from Ohio, Slack received his bachelor's degree in biology from Bowling Green State University in 1964, and his master's degree and Ph.D. in zoology from The Ohio State University.

Slack is a member of The Wildlife Society, where he has held various leadership positions, including president of the Texas chapter, chairman of the University and College Education Working Group, president of the Southwestern section and adviser of the Student Chapter.

He is also a member of the Ecological Society of America, the Society for Conservation Biology, the American Ornithologist's Union and the Wilson Ornithological Society. He has been a member of the board of directors for the Waterbird Society and book review editor of the Journal of Wildlife Management.

Slack's research is mainly focused on the conservation of endangered species. He has studied the effects of changes in land use on wildlife conservation, and had done studies on whooping cranes, which he called one of the best known endangered species in North America.

Slack has won four teaching awards - two from the Association of Former Students for college level teaching, and two from the vice chancellor for agriculture.

Slack is also chairman of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee, which is searching for a replacement for former A&M President Robert M. Gates.

His interests include bird-watching, photography and fly-fishing, although lately he has had something else competing for his time.

"The biggest part of my life right now is my four grandsons," he said. "They keep me going."

Rolando Santos 2 p.m. Friday

Rolando Santos, senior vice president of CNN International, was born in Eagle Pass, Texas, as the second of four children. He received his Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Texas A&M in 1978.

Before his appointment as senior vice president for CNN International, he served as executive vice president and general manager of CNN Headline News.

Santos has held several other positions at CNN, including president of CNN en Español. He has also helped to develop CNN+ and CNN Turk.

In 2005, Santos was named one of the most influential Hispanics in the United States by "Hispanic Magazine." He has won a UPI regional award for best writing, as well as a number of awards for live reporting.

In 1992, Santos worked as news director of KVEA Channel 52, Telemundo's station in Los Angeles. During his time as news director, the station won an Emmy award for best newscast, which was a first for a Spanish-language newscast. He also worked as executive producer for network news for Telemundo.

Santos is interested in magic and is very adept at cards tricks. He is a contributor and associate editor of "The Linking Ring," the official magazine for the international brotherhood of magicians.

Anita Perry 2 p.m. Thursday

Anita Perry, first lady of Texas and wife of Gov. Rick Perry, has said she's committed to healthcare after working as a nurse for many years.

Perry attended West Texas State University - now West Texas A&M - and received a bachelor's degree in nursing. She then earned a Master of Science in nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. During her 17 years in the profession, she worked in surgery, pediatrics, intensive care, consulting and administration.

As Texas' first lady and - as her husband often calls her - "first nurse of Texas," she is a advocate for disease education and breast cancer awareness.

Perry also is an advocate against family violence.

Perry developed the Texas Conference for Women, which draws thousands of women to address a number of women's issues such as professional development, health care and personal growth.

In 2001, Perry had two endowments set up under her name - one at West Texas A&M and one at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Anita Thigpen of Haskell, Texas, met Rick Perry at a piano recital in elementary school, she said in an interview with Texas Monthly's Evan Smith. After a long courtship, the two married in 1982 and have two children: Griffin and Sydney, who is a student at A&M.

Sim Lake 7 p.m. Friday

"Texas A&M has instilled in me the discipline and work ethic to be successful in all areas of life," said one of the A&M commencement speakers. "It prepared me for law school. It prepared me for the military. A&M taught me integrity and honor - it is a good foundation for anyone."

These are the words of U.S. District Judge Sim Lake, Class of 1966.

"Sim is a very steadfast individual," said Jeff Dykes, former colleague and senior litigation partner at Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP. "He is dedicated, honorable and a very humble man. He will be a wonderful speaker."

Lake, 61, is a president-appointed U.S. District Judge who has presided over noted cases including the sentencing of Enron Chairman Ken Lay and former Chief Executive Officer Jeff Skilling.

Sim Lake was born July 14, 1944, in Chicago but never considered going anyplace other than at A&M.

"I was brought up only knowing Texas A&M," Lake said. "My father was class of 1938, and so I grew up going to all the football games - I never thought of going anywhere else."

Lake served in Company E-2 while at A&M and said his superiors were always pushing him to become active in other facets of the University.

"They encouraged me, not always in the most conventional ways, to do more than I ever would have done," he said.

As a freshman, Lake served on the Fish Drill Team and joined the debate team where he would eventually become president. He served as part of the Student Senate and was a member of the Fourth Battalion staff in the Corps of Cadets.

One of Lake's fondest memories of A&M came from the time he served on the Trial Council in the Corps. A student was accused of a crime and was given what Lake considered a very severe punishment. Lake appealed this punishment to the governing body and got the sentence reduced.

"That really impressed me - the integrity of A&M and its love and honor for its students," Lake said.

Lake graduated sixth in his class at A&M, receiving a Bachelor's of Arts degree in history. He then went on to law school at the University of Texas, where he graduated first in his class in 1969. He served in the U.S. Army in Southeast Asia in 1970 and 1971.

Lake went to work at the law firm, Fulbright & Jaworski in late 1971 where he stayed until appointed by President Ronald Regan to become U.S. District Judge in 1988.

"He was always regarded as a lawyer's lawyer," said Dykes, who worked with Lake from 1971 to 1988 at Fulbright & Jaworski. "He was actually the man who recruited me to work. He was always more prepared than the rest of us, always organized and the kind of man you could always count on. He is a straight-arrow guy with a dry sense of humor and a very committed individual."

Dykes recalled an occasion around Lake's 40th birthday when he bought himself a red 1963 Corvette. Dykes described it as amusing to see this man, such a serious and distinguished individual in the courtroom because of his legal brilliance, to now be just as distinguishable in the parking lot of their office because of his shiny new Corvette.

Upon becoming a judge, Lake made several crucial decisions. In 1997, he directed an acquittal and mistrial of Stanislaw Burzynski on three dozen counts of fraud after a jury deadlocked on the fate of the cancer doctor who used experimental therapies, and in 2004 he ordered the Bible removed from a display on the grounds of the Harris County Civil Courthouse.

"Even though he is a Bible scholar, Bible teacher and regular at church, he always applies the law as best he can with no personal bias whatsoever," Dykes said.

This year, Lake was awarded Trial Judge of the Year by the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists. The award is voted on by a board of specialists certified in Texas. He also received the award in 1997.

The Houston Bar Association conducts a poll every year of lawyers in the Houston area, asking them to anonymously rate the judges in the area based on performance, and year after year, Lake is at the top of that list, Dykes said.

"Lake is probably government-leaning; that being said, he's extremely intelligent," said Kent Schaffer, a criminal defense attorney with a largely federal practice, in an interview with the Houston Chronicle. "He'll arrive at what he thinks is the right decision even if the lawyers didn't do the work."

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