Peter O'Donnell, Jr. has undertaken three major endeavors: politics, investments, and philanthropy. His investments enabled him to devote more than half his life to philanthropy, and many of the practices he developed in politics extended into the management of his philanthropy. His political associations proved to be important as he pursued his philanthropic goals, and his policy interests extended into his philanthropy. This memoir, based on interviews, published sources, and access to the voluminous and carefully maintained O'Donnell Foundation files, details O'Donnell s work as a philanthropist. O'Donnell agreed to let his story become public in an effort to encourage others to find similar satisfaction through philanthropy and to recognize people who helped him achieve his philanthropic goals. This is the story of notable philanthropic achievements and successful concepts developed over many years by Peter O'Donnell, Jr.

Improving Education, Changing Lives: A Memoir to Encourage Philanthropy

Peter O'Donnell Jr

Carolyn Barta

Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin

In 1978, William P. Clements, Jr., was elected the first Republican governor of Texas since Reconstruction. Defeated for reelection, he regained the seat four years later, serving a total of eight years, longer than any other Texas governor. In a state known for its distinctive political figures, Bill Clements is one of the most colorful. He once wrote, "Many characterize Texans as being of one breed - Maverick. Perhaps this assessment is true." It was true of Bill Clements. As former President George Bush said, "When you come in as the first Republican governor since Reconstruction, you've got to break a little china." Clements proved that a Republican could get elected to the state's top job and that one could function in the traditionally Democratic Texas state government. "Clements will be judged as one of a handful of Texas' most important governors.... He was probably the catalyst that hastened the emergence of Republicans as a viable party down now to the courthouses," said George Shipley, a Democratic consultant in Austin. But Bill Clements' life story is not just that of a governor and political trailblazer. Where most people are fortunate to succeed in one profession, Clements succeeded in three. From an initial investment in two rusty rigs, he built a multimillion-dollar oil drilling contracting company recognized as the leader in the off-shore industry. Spanning the days from oilfield roughneck as a young man to a cattle raiser in retirement, Bill Clements' biography is more than one man's life story. It's also a chapter in the history of a state. Clements personifies changes that were occurring in Texas, politically and economically.

Bill Clements: Texian to His Toenails

Biographies & Memoirs

Historical

Eakin Press

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Books by Carolyn Barta