Sunday, December 28, 1997

Sen. Hutchison has been a strong voice for Abilene

By Grant Jones

I met Kay Bailey Hutchison in Austin when she was reporting a legislative session for KPRC-TV of Houston. Since then she has enjoyed an illustrious career.

Her work led to her appointment as press secretary in Washington for Anne Armstrong, co-chairman of the Republican National Committee.

The work there so impressed President Ford that he appointed her as vice chair of the National Transportation Safety Board.

After this appointment, Kay returned to Houston and was twice elected to the Texas House of Representatives. During this time she married Ray Hutchison, a fine House member from Dallas.

In 1978 Kay moved to Dallas and became senior vice president and general council of the Republic Bank Corporation. She also co-founded Fidelity National Bank of Dallas, owned a candy company and was partner in a firm active in the Dallas and Houston design centers.

Public service is in her blood. In 1990 she was elected Texas state treasurer. Texas has benefited greatly by changes she made in this operation.

In 1993 a special election made Kay Bailey Hutchison Texas' first woman U.S. senator. In 1994 she was re-elected to a full six-year term. She presently serves on the Armed Services Committee and the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, where she chairs a major subcommittee. In January 1997 she became a member of the Appropriations Committee.

I am pleased that Sen. Hutchison, who maintains an Abilene office, came here as speaker for the Harmony Family Services banquet recently.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is doing a fine job for us in Washington, and I hope we keep her there for many more years.

Grant Jones, of Abilene, is a former state senator.