George H. W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation Announces Frederick D. McClure As New Executive Director

COLLEGE STATION, Tex., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The governing board of the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation today announced the appointment of one of its members, Frederick D. McClure, to succeed Ambassador Roman Popadiuk who is retiring as executive director after 13 years of service.  The McClure appointment takes effect July 1st.

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"Barbara and I are grateful to have a close and respected friend like Fred take the reins of our foundation and help guide it into the future," said President Bush.  "In so doing, he follows another trusted friend, Roman Popadiuk, who has so selflessly and ably served as our executive director since 1999.  The gratitude in my heart to both of these good men knows no bounds."

McClure, 58, served in consecutive presidential administrations advising President Ronald Reagan and President George H. W. Bush on legislative affairs as a senior member of the White House staff.  His public service also includes Legislative Director to US Senator John Tower, Associate Deputy US Attorney General, Chairman of the Board of Visitors of the United States Naval Academy, and a member of the National Civil Aviation Review Commission and the Secretary of Energy's Advisory Board.  

A 1981 graduate of Baylor Law School, McClure is presently the Washington, DC managing partner for the international law firm, SNR Denton -- one of the 25 largest legal service providers in the world, with lawyers and professionals in more than 60 locations in 43 countries on four continents.  He previously served as a managing shareholder of Winstead Sechrest & Minick, as managing director of Public Strategies Incorporated, and as staff vice president of Texas Air Corporation.

"The board extends its gratitude to our good friend Roman Popadiuk for his diligence in establishing the foundation and imbuing its solid growth and many activities with a commitment to excellence," said Gen. Brent Scowcroft, chairman of the Bush Library board.  "Going forward, Fred's many professional accomplishments combined with his deep Texas and Texas A&M roots make him the ideal leader to ensure that the quality of our programs continue to reflect the sterling qualities of our namesake."

McClure graduated from Texas A&M in 1976 with an undergraduate degree in agricultural economics after serving as student body president and receiving the Brown-Rudder Outstanding Student Award.  In 1991, the University named him its 115th Distinguished Alumnus.  In 1995, Governor George W. Bush appointed McClure to a six-year term on Texas A&M's Board of Regents, where he served two years as vice chairman.  He has also served as Vice President of the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students and as a member of the Board of Directors of the 12th Man Foundation.

"Fred McClure is an excellent choice to continue and build on Dr. Popadiuk's considerable achievements," said Dr. R. Bowen Loftin, president of Texas A&M University. "His experience as a former student body president and as a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M makes him a great ambassador for the university, and his legal background and service under President Bush and on the Bush Foundation's board of directors give him broad expertise and vision for the Foundation's future direction. We are glad that Fred is returning to Aggieland."

A native of San Augustine, Texas, McClure and his wife, Harriet, have two children.

SOURCE George Bush Presidential Library Foundation