大象传媒

The legendary oil and gas entrepreneur T. Boone Pickens will be the speaker at the

Convocation on Critical Issues at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 4 in the M.O. Looney Complex arena. His speech is titled 鈥淟eadership and Getting Things Done: Reflections on a Lifetime of Comebacks and America鈥檚 Energy Future.鈥� The Convocation is free and open to the community.

He will also participate in a question-and-answer session at a special Convocation luncheon following the speech. Because of T. Boone鈥檚 schedule, his presentation is later than usual, and the luncheon replaces the traditional Convocation dinner this year.

Dr. Robert Vartabedian, 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 president, has some personal knowledge of T. Boone and enthusiastically endorsed his selection as the next Convocation speaker.

鈥淢r. Pickens was the chair of the Board when I was hired at West Texas A & M University nearly 25 years ago, so I have seen him in action 鈥榰p close鈥� and from afar,鈥� Dr. Vartabedian said. 鈥淚 know that he will be an interesting, informative, and colorful addition to our prestigious annual Convocation on Critical Issues.鈥�

A folk hero in global business known for his tenacity in the rough-and-tumble world of mergers and acquisitions, T. Boone first built and led one of the largest independent natural gas and oil companies. Then, at a time in his life when many of his peers retired to the golf course, he reinvented himself by establishing one of the nation鈥檚 most successful energy-related investment funds. He chronicled the lessons he learned during his journey in his bestselling 2008 autobiography titled, 鈥淭he First Billion is the Hardest: Reflections on a Life of Comebacks and America鈥檚 Energy Future.鈥� Ranked by Forbes as one of the world鈥檚 richest people, T. Boone serves as the chair of BP Capital Management.

He is a noted energy activist who is also an innovative, committed philanthropist who has donated nearly $1 billion to charity. His impact on American culture reflects his many interests and passions, including an unyielding belief in the entrepreneurial spirit, leadership and corporate fitness, the need for alternative fuel development, and prudent stewardship of American lands.
-end-