Donald Evans
Encyclopedia
Donald Louis Evans was the 34th U.S. Secretary of Commerce
. He was appointed by his longtime friend George W. Bush
and sworn into office on January 20, 2001. On November 9, 2004, the White House
announced that Evans intended to resign by the end of January 2005.
Donald Evans was chosen to be the Non-Executive Chairman of TXU
Energy, following the completion of its acquisition by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Texas Pacific Group
.
, Evans attended the University of Texas at Austin
, receiving a Bachelor of Science
degree in mechanical engineering
in 1969 and an MBA
from the McCombs School of Business
in 1973. While at UT, he was a member of Texas Cowboys
, Omicron Delta Kappa
and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon
fraternity.
In 1975, Evans moved to Midland, Texas
from Houston and began working on an oil
rig for Tom Brown Inc., a large independent energy company now based in Denver. Ten years later he took the company over as CEO and continued running it until becoming Commerce Secretary.
, appointed Evans to the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
, serving as Chairman of the Board for the last four years. He was a board member of the Scleroderma Research Foundation
for eight years and a driving force behind Native Vision, a program that provides services to some 10,000 Native American
children. He has been involved with the United Way of America for many years, serving as President in 1989 and Campaign Chair in 1981. He has been named Jaycees Man of the Year.
Evans worked for Bush's successful gubernatorial campaigns in 1994 and 1998, and served as Chairman of the Bush/Cheney
2000 campaign. During Bush's 2004 State of the Union
he was the designated survivor
and spent the night in a secure undisclosed location. In the event of an attack on the Capitol
, he would have become Acting President
.
On October 29, 2001, Enron
Chairman Ken Lay telephoned Evans, asking for help in persuading the credit rating agencies to refrain from a downgrade. Evans expressed sympathy but did nothing to intervene.
On November 9, 2004, Evans submitted his resignation from the post of Secretary of Commerce, although he stayed until his successor was sworn in on February 7, 2005.
The New York Times reported on May 26, 2006 that Evans had emerged as the front-runner to take over the US Treasury Department pending John W. Snow
's then rumored resignation. However, on May 30, Henry Paulson
was nominated to replace Snow.
Evans also serves as CEO of the Financial Services Forum
, a trade association representing the CEOs of financial services firms dedicated to using the Protect America Act to overtake legitimate economic development organizations, seeking to encourage an open and competitive global marketplace.
in W.
, Oliver Stone
's 2008 biopic of George W. Bush.
United States Secretary of Commerce
The United States Secretary of Commerce is the head of the United States Department of Commerce concerned with business and industry; the Department states its mission to be "to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce"...
. He was appointed by his longtime friend George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and sworn into office on January 20, 2001. On November 9, 2004, the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
announced that Evans intended to resign by the end of January 2005.
Donald Evans was chosen to be the Non-Executive Chairman of TXU
TXU
Energy Future Holdings Corporation is an electric utility company headquartered in Energy Plaza in Downtown Dallas, Texas, United States. The company was known as TXU until its $45 billion leveraged buyout by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Texas Pacific Group and Goldman Sachs...
Energy, following the completion of its acquisition by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Texas Pacific Group
Texas Pacific Group
TPG Capital is one of the largest private equity investment firms globally, focused on leveraged buyout, growth capital and leveraged recapitalization investments in distressed companies and turnaround situations. TPG also manages investment funds specializing in growth capital, venture capital,...
.
Early life
Born in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, Evans attended the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, receiving a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
in 1969 and an MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the McCombs School of Business
McCombs School of Business
The McCombs School of Business, also referred to as the McCombs School or simply McCombs, is a business school at The University of Texas at Austin. In addition to the main Austin campus, McCombs offers classes outside Central Texas in Dallas, Houston and internationally in Mexico City...
in 1973. While at UT, he was a member of Texas Cowboys
Texas Cowboys
Texas Cowboys is an honorary men's service organization at The University of Texas at Austin. Founded in 1922, its members include some of the University's most distinguished students and alumni...
, Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa, or ΟΔΚ, also known as The Circle, or more commonly ODK, is a national leadership honor society. It was founded December 3, 1914, at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, by 15 student and faculty leaders. Chapters, known as Circles, are located on over 300...
and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Sigma Alpha Epsilon is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity founded at the University of Alabama on March 9, 1856. Of all existing national social fraternities today, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the only one founded in the Antebellum South...
fraternity.
In 1975, Evans moved to Midland, Texas
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
from Houston and began working on an oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
rig for Tom Brown Inc., a large independent energy company now based in Denver. Ten years later he took the company over as CEO and continued running it until becoming Commerce Secretary.
Political career
In 1995, Bush, then the Governor of TexasGovernor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
, appointed Evans to the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
University of Texas System
The University of Texas System encompasses 15 educational institutions in Texas, of which nine are academic universities and six are health institutions. The system is headquartered in Austin and has a total enrollment of over 190,000 students...
, serving as Chairman of the Board for the last four years. He was a board member of the Scleroderma Research Foundation
Scleroderma Research Foundation
The Scleroderma Research Foundation is a non-profit, 501 organization based in San Francisco. Its mission is to find improved therapies and a cure for scleroderma by funding research and Scleroderma Centers of Excellence, which provide multi-specialty clinical care in dedicated facilities...
for eight years and a driving force behind Native Vision, a program that provides services to some 10,000 Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
children. He has been involved with the United Way of America for many years, serving as President in 1989 and Campaign Chair in 1981. He has been named Jaycees Man of the Year.
Evans worked for Bush's successful gubernatorial campaigns in 1994 and 1998, and served as Chairman of the Bush/Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
2000 campaign. During Bush's 2004 State of the Union
State Of The Union
"State Of The Union" is the debut single from British singer-songwriter David Ford. It had previously been featured as a demo on his official website, before appearing as a track on a CD entitled "Apology Demos EP," only on sale at live shows....
he was the designated survivor
Designated survivor
A designated survivor is a member of the United States Cabinet who is appointed to be at a physically distant, secure, and undisclosed location when the president and the country's other top leaders are gathered at a single location, such as during State of the Union addresses and presidential...
and spent the night in a secure undisclosed location. In the event of an attack on the Capitol
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
, he would have become Acting President
Acting President of the United States
Acting President of the United States is a reference to a person who is legitimately exercising the Presidential powers even though that person does not hold the office of the President of the United States in his own right....
.
On October 29, 2001, Enron
Enron
Enron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. Before its bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, Enron employed approximately 22,000 staff and was one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas, communications, and pulp and paper companies, with...
Chairman Ken Lay telephoned Evans, asking for help in persuading the credit rating agencies to refrain from a downgrade. Evans expressed sympathy but did nothing to intervene.
On November 9, 2004, Evans submitted his resignation from the post of Secretary of Commerce, although he stayed until his successor was sworn in on February 7, 2005.
The New York Times reported on May 26, 2006 that Evans had emerged as the front-runner to take over the US Treasury Department pending John W. Snow
John W. Snow
| image=John W. Snow.jpg|imagesize = 250px| order=73rd| title=United States Secretary of the Treasury| term_start=February 3, 2003| term_end=June 28, 2006| predecessor=Paul O'Neill| successor=Henry Paulson| birth_date=| birth_place=Toledo, Ohio...
's then rumored resignation. However, on May 30, Henry Paulson
Henry Paulson
Henry Merritt "Hank" Paulson, Jr. is an American banker who served as the 74th United States Secretary of the Treasury. He previously served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs.-Early life and family:...
was nominated to replace Snow.
Evans also serves as CEO of the Financial Services Forum
Financial Services Forum
The Financial Services Forum is a non-partisan financial and economic policy organization comprising the CEOs of 20 of the largest and most diversified financial services institutions doing business in the United States...
, a trade association representing the CEOs of financial services firms dedicated to using the Protect America Act to overtake legitimate economic development organizations, seeking to encourage an open and competitive global marketplace.
Personal life
He is married to Susan Marinis Evans. They have two daughters, a son,and three grandchildren.Fictional portrayal
Evans was portrayed by Noah WyleNoah Wyle
Noah Strausser Speer Wyle is an American film, television and theatre actor. He is best known for his role as Dr. John Truman Carter III in the Medical drama ER. He has also played Steve Jobs in the 1999 docudrama Pirates of Silicon Valley and Flynn Carsen in The Librarian franchise...
in W.
W. (film)
W. is a 2008 American film based on the life and presidency of George W. Bush. It was produced and directed by Oliver Stone, written by Stanley Weiser, and stars Josh Brolin as Bush, with a cast that includes Ellen Burstyn, Elizabeth Banks, James Cromwell, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Scott...
, Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
's 2008 biopic of George W. Bush.