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'''Kenneth S. George''', known as '''Kenn George''' (born June 25, 1948), is a self-employed [[business]]man in [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], [[Texas]], who served from 1999 to 2003 as a [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative for District 108, which covers the heart of Dallas County. He left the legislature in an unsuccessful bid for Texas land commissioner in the 2002 Republican [[primary]] election. He was defeated by [[Jerry Patterson]], a former state senator from [[Houston, Texas|Houston]].<ref name=george>{{cite web|url=http://kenngeorge.com/life.html|title=Reagan Republican Kenn George: The Perfect Fit for Texas Land Commissioner|publisher=kenngeorge.com|accessdate=March 30, 2010}}</ref>​

'''Kenneth S. George''', known as '''Kenn George''' (born June 25, 1948), is a self-employed [[business]]man in [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], [[Texas]], who served from 1999 to 2003 as a [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative for District 108, which covers the heart of Dallas County. He left the legislature in an unsuccessful bid for Texas land commissioner in the 2002 Republican [[primary]] election. He was defeated by [[Jerry Patterson]], a former state senator from [[Houston, Texas|Houston]].<ref name=george>{{cite web|url=http://kenngeorge.com/life.html|title=Reagan Republican Kenn George: The Perfect Fit for Texas Land Commissioner|publisher=kenngeorge.com|accessdate=March 30, 2010}}</ref>​

 

From 1981 to 1985, George was an assistant secretary of commerce, under [[Malcolm Baldrige]], Jr., during the first term of [[U.S. President]] [[Ronald W. Reagan]]. In this capacity, George was involved in the formulation of the [[Caribbean]] Basin Initiative.<ref name=cbi>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1052/is_v7/ai_3167662/|author=Larry Theriot|title=US & FCS and the Caribbean Basin Initiative - Foreign Commercial Service|date=March 5, 1984|publisher=findarticles.com|accessdate=April 2, 2010 | year=1984}}</ref> and the specific stabilization of the Caribbean  island of [[Grenada]] after its liberation in 1983 from a leftist regime backed by [[Fidel Castro]].<ref name=george/> The Caribbean Basin Initiative, since overshadowed by the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]], was an unprecedented package of trade, assistance, and tax incentives for United States and Caribbean businesses. In the additional role as the Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, George chaired an inter-agency committee which oversees the operations of the CBI.<ref name=cbi/>​

From 1981 to 1985, George was an assistant secretary of commerce, under Malcolm Baldrige, Jr., during the first term of [[U.S. President]] [[Ronald W. Reagan]]. In this capacity, George was involved in the formulation of the [[Caribbean]] Basin Initiative.<ref name=cbi>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1052/is_v7/ai_3167662/|author=Larry Theriot|title=US & FCS and the Caribbean Basin Initiative - Foreign Commercial Service|date=March 5, 1984|publisher=findarticles.com|accessdate=April 2, 2010|year=1984}}</ref> and the specific stabilization of the Caribbean  island of [[Grenada]] after its liberation in 1983 from a leftist regime backed by [[Fidel Castro]].<ref name=george/> The Caribbean Basin Initiative, since overshadowed by the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]], was an unprecedented package of trade, assistance, and tax incentives for United States and Caribbean businesses. In the additional role as the Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, George chaired an inter-agency committee which oversees the operations of the CBI.<ref name=cbi/>​

 

Native Texan George attended San Jacinto Junior High School in [[Midland]] with [[George W. Bush]], who is two years George's senior. In 1970, George graduated from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, [[Virginia]]. He earned his [[Master of Business Administration]] from the [[University of Texas at Austin]], where he was the student body president of the graduate business school. Like Bush, George is a veteran of the Texas National Guard.<ref name=bod>{{cite web|url=http://www.freedomworks.org/press-releases/kenn-s-george-joins-cse-board-of-directors|title=Kenn S. George Joins CSE Board of Directors, December 18, 2002|publisher=freedomworks.org|accessdate=March 30, 2010}}</ref> He and his wife, Tricia, have four children.<ref name=george/>​

Native Texan George attended San Jacinto Junior High School in [[Midland]] with [[George W. Bush]], who is two years George's senior. In 1970, George graduated from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, [[Virginia]]. He earned his [[Master of Business Administration]] from the [[University of Texas at Austin]], where he was the student body president of the graduate business school. Like Bush, George is a veteran of the Texas National Guard.<ref name=bod>{{cite web|url=http://www.freedomworks.org/press-releases/kenn-s-george-joins-cse-board-of-directors|title=Kenn S. George Joins CSE Board of Directors, December 18, 2002|publisher=freedomworks.org|accessdate=March 30, 2010}}</ref> He and his wife, Tricia, have four children.<ref name=george/>​

==Business==

==Business==

George is a former president of Olix Industries, a publicly traded energy company. He co-founded Epic Healthcare Group, a $1.4 billion corporation with nearly 15,000 employees operating in 37 hospitals in 30 states. George is also a former executive with Trammell Crow real estate development in Dallas and a third-generation rancher.<ref name=george/>​

George is a former president of Olix Industries, a publicly traded energy company. He co-founded Epic Healthcare Group, a $1.4 billion corporation with nearly 15,000 employees operating in 37 hospitals in 30 states. George is also a former executive with Trammell Crow real estate development in Dallas and a third-generation rancher.<ref name=george/>​

 

==Political career==​

==Political career==​

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In 1998, George unseated incumbent Republican State Representative Carolyn Galloway in the party primary, 6,063 votes (56.4 percent) to 4,867 (43.6 percent). He was then unopposed in the [[general election]], having won 27,220 votes. Four years later in the two-man land commissioner's race, George trailed with 252,802 votes (43.5 percent) to Patterson's 328,523 (56.5 percent). George was succeeded in the House by [[Moderate Republican]] [[attorney]] Dan Branch, a devotee of former U.S. Senator [[John Tower]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|title=Texas Secretary of State: Election Returns, 1998 and 2002|publisher=sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=March 30, 2010}}</ref>​

In 1998, George unseated incumbent Republican State Representative Carolyn Galloway in the party primary, 6,063 votes (56.4 percent) to 4,867 (43.6 percent). He was then unopposed in the [[general election]], having won 27,220 votes. Four years later in the two-man land commissioner's race, George trailed with 252,802 votes (43.5 percent) to Patterson's 328,523 (56.5 percent). George was succeeded in the House by [[Moderate Republican]] [[attorney]] Dan Branch, a devotee of former [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Tower]], a former conservative who turned Moderate Republican in his later senatorial years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|title=Texas Secretary of State: Election Returns, 1998 and 2002|publisher=sos.state.tx.us|accessdate=March 30, 2010}}</ref>​

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As a state lawmaker, George sided with [[conservatives]] in seeking lower taxes, local control over education, and an improved business climate. He also advocated improved health care for senior citizens. The Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce cited George with a "100 percent pro-business voting record. He has also been honored by [[Right to Life]] in [[Austin]], the American Cancer Society, and the Texas Transplant Society. George wrote the House bill establishing the Umbilical Cord Blood Bank, which provides medical researchers an ethical alternative to [[stem cell]] research.<ref name=george/>​

As a state lawmaker, George sided with [[conservatives]] in seeking lower taxes, local control over education, and an improved business climate. He also advocated improved health care for senior citizens. The Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce cited George with a "100 percent pro-business voting record. He has also been honored by [[Right to Life]] in [[Austin]], the American Cancer Society, and the Texas Transplant Society. George wrote the House bill establishing the Umbilical Cord Blood Bank, which provides medical researchers an ethical alternative to [[stem cell]] research.<ref name=george/>​

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George's Republican credentials began in 1964, when as a sixteen-year-old he volunteered in [[Midland] to work in the unsuccessful [[Barry Goldwater]] presidential bid. He was an early supporter of George W. Bush, having been part of the unsuccessful congressional race in 1978 against then Democrat and later Republican [[Kent Hance]], the chancellor of [[Texas Tech University]]. He was also the Midland County Republican finance chairman at the time. He was thereafter the Texas [[Republican Party|GOP]] state finance chairman from from 1980 to 1981. Over the years, George worked in campaigns of former [[U.S. Senator]] [[William Phillip Gramm]], [[U.S. Representative]]s [[Pete Sessions]] and [[Jeb Hensarling]], then Texas Governor [[Rick Perry]], and unsuccessful 1990 candidates Jack Rains, who contested the gubernatorial nomination against Kent Hance and Clayton W. Williams, Jr., and Robert Mosbacher, Jr., the Houston businessman who challenged Democrat Bob Bullock for lieutenant governor that same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kenngeorge.com/bio3.html|title=Kenn George: Republican Leader|publisher=kenngeorge.com|accessdate=March 30, 2010}}</ref>​

George's Republican credentials began in 1964, when as a sixteen-year-old he volunteered in [[Midland] to work in the unsuccessful [[Barry Goldwater]] presidential bid. He was an early supporter of George W. Bush, having been part of the unsuccessful congressional race in 1978 against then Democrat and later Republican Kent Hance, the chancellor of [[Texas Tech University]] in [[Lubbock]]. He was also the Midland County Republican finance chairman at the time. He was thereafter the Texas [[Republican Party|GOP]] state finance chairman from from 1980 to 1981. Over the years, George worked in campaigns of former U.S. Senator [[William Phillip Gramm]], [[U.S. Representative]]s Pete Sessions and Jeb Hensarling, then Texas Governor [[Rick Perry]], and unsuccessful 1990 candidates Jack Rains, who contested the gubernatorial nomination against Kent Hance and Clayton W. Williams, Jr., and Robert Mosbacher, Jr., the Houston businessman who challenged Democrat Bob Bullock for lieutenant governor that same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kenngeorge.com/bio3.html|title=Kenn George: Republican Leader|publisher=kenngeorge.com|accessdate=March 30, 2010}}</ref>​

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After his legislative service, George became self-employed in Dallas in investments. In 2002, he joined the board of directors of the [[interest group]], Citizens for a Sound Economy.<ref name=bod/> He remains a large Republican donor, having contributed to [[Mike Huckabee]], [[Mitt Romney]], and [[Rudy Giuliani]] in the Republican  presidential primaries of 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/kenn-george.asp?cycle=08|title=Kenn George Political Campaign Contributions 2008 Political Cycle|publisher=campaignmoney.com|accessdate=March 30, 2010}}</ref>  

After his legislative service, George became self-employed in Dallas in investments. In 2002, he joined the board of directors of the [[interest group]], Citizens for a Sound Economy.<ref name=bod/> He remains a large Republican donor, having contributed to [[Mike Huckabee]], [[Mitt Romney]], and [[Rudy Giuliani]] in the Republican  presidential primaries of 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/kenn-george.asp?cycle=08|title=Kenn George Political Campaign Contributions 2008 Political Cycle|publisher=campaignmoney.com|accessdate=March 30, 2010}}</ref>