Economist Ray Perryman Named Texan of the Year by Legislative Conference

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas, Nov. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- World-renowned economist and policy advisor Ray Perryman has been named Texan of the Year by the Texas Legislative Conference, the well known annual state-wide forum that is marking its 46th year.  Perryman will be presented with the award Thursday evening, March 22, at a special reception in his honor at the New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center. He will be joining an array of prominent past honorees since 1974 including Barbara Jordan, Laura Bush, Herb Kelleher and John B. Connally.

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"I am truly humbled and grateful for this award," said Perryman. "As a native Texan with deep roots, I can't imagine any honor that could be more meaningful. The pantheon of past recipients includes friends, heroes, and mentors, far too many of whom are no longer with us. I only hope that I can be worthy of their legacy and gain further inspiration from them to continually strive to improve the prospects for our great state as we face daunting challenges and boundless opportunities."

The Texas Legislative Conference is a non-partisan organization of Texas business and political leaders who meet annually in New Braunfels to focus on public policy issues. This year's topics on March 23 will include higher education challenges, the EPA vs. Texas jobs, water solutions for Texas and a media panel review of post primary results in the state and nation. According to Conference Chair Sara Tays, Perryman was selected for his tireless efforts in helping to build a better Texas.

"For more than thirty years, Ray has been assessing the economic impact of corporate expansions, regulatory changes, real estate developments, public policy initiatives and myriad other factors affecting business activity," said Tays.  "He has conducted hundreds of impact analyses for the U.S. and Texas economies and these studies have facilitated desirable corporate locations and expansions throughout the state."  

Dr. Perryman has been involved in all phases of economic development including preparation of the "Texas, Our Texas" report, the statewide economic development plan that forms the basis for much of the legislation strengthening incentive programs within the state.

Dr. Perryman has been involved in virtually every significant economic development policy initiative and major site selection within the state in recent years, and his firm has assisted numerous communities of all sizes with their development planning efforts.  He prepares regular forecasts of economic variables of the U.S. and Texas and each of the state's metropolitan statistical areas.  His studies have played a role in the creation and retention of hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Dr. Perryman has been honored by the Texas Legislature for his tireless efforts in helping to build a better Texas, and his other awards include the Nation's Outstanding Young Economist and Social Scientist, the Outstanding Young Person in the World in the Field of Economics and Business, one of the Ten Outstanding Persons in the World, and he was named the Outstanding Texas Leader of 1990.

Information on registration and tickets for both the Thursday evening, March 22, Texan of the Year reception and the Friday, March 23, half-day conference program may be obtained from the Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce at (830) 608-2807 or by emailing [email protected] .

SOURCE Texas Legislative Conference