Internatinoal Optimism on the horizon

Between March 10th & March 13th, the American stock markets all rallied very nicely. Japan's Nikkei gained substantially during the same period of time. In the US though, there seems to be a lot of finger pointing regarding what has gone wrong so far. Like it or not, the Obama Administration has presided over a 20% decline in the US markets in their first 50 days in office. The bright spot thought in our markets is banks, like Citi Group and Bank of America, are both beginning to show profits. Layoffs are still high, but they appear to have stabilized. As I write this post, the Nikkei is up 114 points and the European markets are showing strong futures.

The speed of the slowdown has affected energy availability. According to a Bloomberg report this evening, Natural Gas Drillers are idling rigs. This can only spell higher prices in the not too distant future. Both Devon Energy and Chesapeake Energy Corporations are predicting this increase. That will most likely have the effect of slowing the rebound of the economy as it occurs

Cluetrain Manifesto

The cluetrain manifesto is perhaps one of the most stimulating books on organizational behavior and psychology that I have encountered. The concept that identifies markets as being essentially dialogue between people is rereshing. I'm personally in my second career having ridden the great yellow box film company to the summit and back down to the valley from wince it came. We used to refer to marketing the company's product to consumers as somehow a right associated with some supernatural force. But, that was yesterday, and yesterday is gone.

I do recall spending countless hours pouring over statistical data of how vairous group so people behave. The part that I found most fascinating was that there was seldom any corporate learning associated with the exercise, i.e., we paid our statisticians big bucks for their work, and we went back to our cubicles and pursued our daily grind as if no revelation had occurred. Indeed, it had not. Everthing we saw and heard from our consultants was instinctive information that was well known within the corporate bureaucracy. But, after each exercise, we could point to a book on the shelf that at least quantified for posterity what we already knew.

The process of pursuing one's carrer was the part that was most fascinating. Career advancement and performance were seldome related. Rather, advancement was more closely related to being liked by senior executives. First person dialogue was almost never misunderstood or poorly communicated. Body language, past history, personal agendas, etc. were not checked at the door. However, they were well understood. But, once a face to face contact ended, spin took over and just about anything was fair game because the game was not progress towards some agreed upon goal but the justaposition of personal agendas against an advancement goal.

I'll continue my thoughts on this at a later time. Let me know if you have any response for me on this subject.

Kent Krauss Honored on the San Antonio Movers and Shakers Show, July 16, 2008

The San Antonio Movers and Shaker Show is honored to have as its featured guest on July 16, 2008, Mr. Kent Krauss, Publisher, San Antonio Business Journal. Mr. Krauss serves on the board of directors of many of the area's civic organizatinos, such as the San Antonio Sports Foundation, Better Business Bureay, San Antonio Area Tourism Council, Goodwill Industries, and many others. Through is leadership of the San Antonio Business Journal, he has championed and reported on San Antonio's economic development and growth.

Submitted by John Thurman, Broker, Heart of Texas Realty www.HeartOfTexasRealty.com

Rick Cavender Honored on the San Antonio Movers and Shaker Show, July 12, 2008

Rick Cavender honored on the San Antonio Movers and Shakers Show on NewsTalk 930 KLUP www.KLUP.com Bio compliments of http://cdbaby.com/cd/rcavender

?Rick Cavender leads two very successful professions. Many know Rick as the familiar face and voice for his family's car dealerships in San Antonio. In fact,the Cavender family has a 65 year history as the leading automotive name in town with 7 successful franchises. Rick is seen often on TV and heard on radio as pitchman for his family's dealershipsBut when the day ends and the stage lights come up, Rick takes his place in the spotlight as a talented band leader and entertainer. The Rick Cavender Band is one of San Antonio's true treasures. This six piece variety band has entertained audiences for over 20 years opening for major country acts and performing for private receptions and events. In 2001, they were voted "Entertainer of Year" by the city's hotel and catering professionals.In 2002, Rick finally took his original work to the studio. After an eight month production at BGM Studios in San Antonio, his work was completed and "Gypsy Vagabond" was released. This album is an original complilation of 15 songs. It presents a visual and musical tour of some of Rick's favorite places and experiences. It is lively and features a variety of musical genres from bluegrass to Cajun to driving rock 'n roll to country waltz. It will entertain you. It will bring a smile to your face and it will live as a favorite in your CD library.Rick sites his musical influences as some of the Americana's best--Delbert McClinton, Robert Earl Keen, Joe Ely, Steve Earl, George Strait and Pat Green. His songs reflect a sense of imagery and a sense of humor. Take a listen to the wonderful wood string instruments on "Sedona" a song which tells the story of a lost traveler who ends up at an American Legion Hall in this beautiful Arizona town. Or drive to Los Angeles for Rick's walk down the "Grand Red Carpet". This song features the Harmonica prowness of Austin's legendary blues man Gary Primige. Then the title song "Gypsy Vagabond" takes us back in time to a early 60's existence and tells the story of the lost country singing troubador trying to find work for his band members in old dance halls. "Prayer in the Wind" begins with the cry of Randy Rinehard's Emmons pedal steel guitar and leads the listener to a new emotion. Rick shows his humor and reflection of the old "I Love Lucy" shows with his very light "I Got Some Splainin to Do" and tells the story of a man who gets in some big trouble when his wife finds another woman's shoes in her closet! "Croonin on Friday Night" is the first song to introduce the driving R&B influences of Delbert McClinton and features the famous "West Side Horns" who performed with legendary Doug Sahm, Freddy Fender, Flaco Jimenez and the Texas Tornados.Rick called in his good friend Ponty Bone to perform the cajun accordian and vocal on "Bayou Band". "Tomboy" is the true story of an abandoned gold mine 14,000 feet above Telluride, Colorado. Once again, Ponty Bone performs accordian on this remarkable cut. West Texas imagery and the story of the famous Gage Hotel is presented in a signature song on the album. "Daylight in Marathon" is catching a great deal of radio play and interest. PAy attention to the "train whistle cry" performed on fiddle by Bobby Flores accenting the visual lyric. This is perhaps the best story song on the album. "Cushioned for the Fall" may become the only song ever devoted to a man who survives all obstacles dressed in a bubble wrap suit. Take a minute to laugh along with this one. Then go to the famous "Cadillac Bar" and get lost in a bottle of Don Cuervo. Perhaps the biggest surprise on the CD is the haunting ballad "Take a Stand". Rene Saenz plays a beautiful tenor sax solo on this song. The album concludes with Gary Primige on the harp once again and Bobby Flores on the Rickenbacher guitar for "Tonight We Ride."

Dr. Ian ThompsonMD, Honored on the San Antonio Movers and Shakers Show, July 5, 2008

Dr. Ian Thompson, MD, Honored on the San Antonio Movers and Shakers Show on News Talk 930 KLUP http://www.klup.com/
Bio from http://urology.uthscsa.edu/bio.html

"Dr. Ian Thompson, M.D.
ProfessorChairman, Department of UrologyGlenda and Gary Woods Distinguished Chair in GU OncologyHenry B. and Edna Smith Dielman Memorial Chair in Urologic ScienceEmail: thompsoni@uthscsa.eduAcademic Telephone: 210-567-5643Clinical Telephone: 210-450-1300Academic Fax: 210-567-6868Clinical Fax: 210-450-1749Faculty Profile
Biosketch
Dr. Ian Thompson received his undergraduate degree from West Point and his M.D. degree from Tulane University. After a Residency in Urology in San Antonio, he completed a fellowship in Urologic Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He is Chairman of the Department of Urology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Thompson has published over 360 scientific papers, several dozen book chapters, and has edited five textbooks in medicine and surgery. He currently serves as Chair the Residency Review Committee for Urology and Vice-Chair of the Early Detection Research Network of the National Cancer Institute. He previously served as the President of the Society of Urologic Oncology, the international association of physicians who conduct research and who provide care for patients with urologic malignancies. He has served as a Visiting Professor at most major academic institutions in the U.S. as well as at many leading cancer centers in Europe, Asia, Central and South America, as well as Australia.
Dr. Thompson is the Principal Investigator of the San Antonio Center for Biomarkers Of Risk of Prostate Cancer. This cohort study, with up to 8 years of followup, currently follows over 3,600 men for development of prostate cancer and has been the source of many recent important developments in the early detection of prostate cancer. He was the primary coordinator of the 18,882-subject Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial, is the Localized Prostate Organ Site Chair for the Southwest Oncology Group, and has been PI or a co-investigator in several large national clinical trials. The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, was the largest prostate cancer study ever conducted for prevention of prostate cancer and demonstrated that the medication, finasteride, was associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer.
Dr. Thompson retired as a Colonel from the U.S. Army, serving as Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Brooke Army Medical Center as well as Commander of the 41st Combat Support Hospital. He served in Saudi Arabia and Iraq as a General Surgeon in a Combat Support Hospital during Operation Desert Storm/Shield.
Patient Care
Dr. Thompson's primary expertise is the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Urologic malignancies including tumors of the kidney, bladder, prostate, testis and male genitalia. He is an internationally recognized expert in these tumors and patients and physicians seek his advice for the care of the most complex problems.
New Patients
To make an appointment, you may either visit the links at this website to make an appointment or simply call (210) 450-1300. We will make every effort to make a convenient appointment for you. Prior to your visit, we ask that you complete our initial visit form that details all aspects of your medical history as well as your current problems. Please fill out this form as completely as possible. When you come, we ask that you bring with you the additional items:
Any recent X-rays, CT scans, or other scans you have had. These should be the actual films themselves. Dr. Thompson prefers to examine the films himself in addition to examining the radiology reports.
Any records related to any pathology reports.
All pertinent laboratory test information.
A listing of all of your medications and dosages is also very important.
If you are not certain what to bring, either (1) call us at 210-450-1300 for advice or (2) bring all of your records with you. We want very much for your first visit to be as informative as possible and having all of this information at the time maximizes this likelihood.
For almost all visits, Dr. Thompson encourages family members, especially spouses or parents, to come the first time. It helps to have a 'second set of ears' as issues are discussed.
After hours contact information: You may find this at our web site but, when in doubt, simply call 210-450-1300. The answering service will put you in touch with either Dr. Thompson or one of his colleagues who, as necessary, will contact Dr. Thompson. To the extent possible, the faculty members of the Department of Urology want to know if their patients are having any problems and make themselves as accessible as possible. If you are having a medical emergency, it is best to call 911.
Healthcare Professionals
Dr. Thompson seeks to assist other physicians in the care of their patients. Consultations are made as rapidly as possible and both letters and full data of the visits are returned quickly to referring physicians. Should a fellow physician have a question concerning patient management, all physicians of the Department of Urology encourage telephone calls to discuss issues. The 210-450-1300 clinic number is an excellent 24-hour number. For academic issues, 210-567-5640 can be used during weekdays.
Our Promise and our Goal
All of the members of the Department of Urology feel that care of our patients is a privilege and a responsibility. We take this responsibility very seriously and have an overarching goal of providing the most state-of-the-art care for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment while providing this care in a very personal manner."

The following quote is from http://www.uthscsa.edu/hscnews/singleformat.asp?newID=2682

"SAN ANTONIO (Feb. 28, 2008) — The Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is pleased to announce that Ian Thompson, M.D., director of the CTRC genitourinary clinic and professor and chairman of the Department of Urology at the UT Health Science Center School of Medicine, has been selected to serve as a co-chair for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Genitourinary Steering Committee. Co-chair for NCI Genitourinary Steering CommitteeDr. Thompson was selected as one of three co-chairs for this distinguished leadership position because of his international reputation for prostate cancer research and due to the report of the Clinical Trials Working Group issued in 2004. In this report, the NCI provided recommendations on restructuring the clinical trials enterprise supported by the NCI. One of the initiatives set forth by the NCI was to establish a network of disease-specific scientific steering committees involving the broad oncology community.The three co-chairs of the Genitourinary Steering Committee include:
Dr. Thompson, representing urology
Dr. Anthony Zeitman (Massachusetts General Hospital), representing radiation oncology
And a medical oncologist yet to be named.The co-chairs of the steering committee are voting members and serve as leaders of the committee, guiding the committee’s direction. Among its many important tasks, the steering committee is responsible for reviewing protocol concepts and recommending approval, revision or disapproval of the concept to the Cancer Treatment Evaluation Program. The ultimate goal is for the NCI to move toward a comprehensive approach to the development, evaluation and prioritization of clinical trials in genitourinary cancers.
###The Cancer Therapy & Research Center at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, located in San Antonio, Texas, is one of the nation’s leading academic research and treatment centers, serving more than 4.4 million people in the high-growth corridor of Central and South Texas including Austin, San Antonio, Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley. CTRC is one of a few elite cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center and is one of only three in Texas. CTRC handles more than 120,000 patient visits each year and is a world leader in developing new drugs to treat cancer. The CTRC Institute for Drug Development is internationally recognized for conducting the largest oncology Phase I clinical drug trials program in the world, and participated in the clinical and/or preclinical development of many of the cancer drugs approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. For more information, visit http://www.ctrc.uthscsa.edu/.??

James Montgomery, Attorney and Rotarian, Honored on the San Antonio Movers and Shaker Show, June 28, 2008

James and Linda Montgomery are honored as the Featured Guests on the San Antonio Movers and Shakers Show June 28, 2008 by John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty http://www.heartoftexasrealty.com/ and Bjorn, Just Bjorn, of Bjorn's Home Entertainment http://www.bjorns.com/

Jim was recently nominated for the Ethics in Business (EIB) Award of the CPA Ethics Squad. Mr. Montgomery was nominated for this award by Mr. John Thurman who is associated with Mr. Montgomery through the San Antonio Rotary Club at the Dominion. Mr. Thurman describes him as a “straight-up person” who is very honest and what you see is what you get.
His work with the Rotary Club has spanned many years and he is currently the Rotary International District Governor for the organization, which is a volunteer position that requires a full-time commitment. He travels regularly to local clubs in his district, which includes forty-four counties in south central Texas and nearly 3,000 Rotarians, in support of this organization and is committed to the pursuit of excellence.

His personal vision statement and goals are summarized in the Rotary 4 Way Test which is comprised of four questions which are 1) is it the truth, 2) is it fair to all concerned, 3) will it build goodwill and better friendships, and 4) will it be beneficial to all concerned? By being able to affirmatively answer these questions in every endeavor he pursues he is able to provide an example that others in business and the community admire and respect.
Mr. Montgomery is happy to work behind the scenes and is not interested in personal glorification. Sherri Muniz commented that “just prior to him assuming the duties of leading Rotary District 5840 there were some goals the prior leader had not yet realized, although they were nearly finished. Mr. Montgomery could have waited for the change of leadership, finished the jobs, and received the credit for the accomplishments. Instead, I received a private email asking for my assistance in moving the tasks along so that they would be finished under the leadership of the predecessor. I was impressed by this action; it was the correct and ethical action to take, yet no one else knew that Mr. Montgomery had acted in this way. His concern was not for himself, but for the dignity and achievement of those before him.” Another Rotarian, Rebecca Notzon, stated there is a quote by John C. Maxwell that describes Mr. Montgomery and it is, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Rebecca went on to say “Jim shows leadership qualities by demonstrating integrity, creating vision, motivating people and leading by example.”
Mr. Montgomery became active in the Boy Scouts as a child, with his father being the Scout Master for his sons. His father provided an excellent example of high standards and values and those principles provided the foundation for Mr. Montgomery, Jr. to build his own personal value set. He has served as an Assistant Scout Master, Cub Master, and District Chairman for his own son carrying on the family tradition. Mr. Montgomery Sr., Mr. Montgomery Jr., and “Jimmy” (III) as he was called to keep the three Jim’s straight for the family members were all Eagle Scouts. “That is just unheard of,” exclaimed Sid Trawick who has been a friend of the family for years.
Mr. Montgomery (the Jr.) and his brother obtained the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America under the superb leadership of his father, affectionately known as Mr. Monty by all the members of Troop 88. This is the highest rank attainable within this organization, it is held for life, and only about five percent of the Boy Scouts actually obtain this award. The requirements for this designation are rigorous and include earning at least twenty-one merit badges and demonstrating scout spirit, service and leadership. Although this achievement is difficult to obtain, it is easy to identify the individuals who have reached this goal because the recipients display the rank on their uniform by wearing a special metal, badge and rope.
Texas Supreme Court Justice Paul W. Green was very fond of Mr. Monty. He described him as a “bear of a man” that was well loved by all the boys. He could picture Mr. Monty presenting him with his Tenderfoot Badge all those years ago. He said, “Boys can sometimes get out of hand, but it was well understood that he was an authority figure and when he got irritated we snapped to and shaped up.” Both Justice Green and Roy Huff, III, another individual that made Eagle Scout under Mr. Monty, described him as a father figure. Mr. Huff stated, “He was a second father to me.” Justice Green said, “We all looked forward to the camp outs. No one ever wanted to disappoint him and failure was not an option. He made you feel proud of yourself because you accomplished your goals and achieved another badge. He was an inspiring man and we wanted to do it for him.” Justice Green commented that even today when people find out he is an Eagle Scout they are impressed because it is so hard to get. He attributes it to the love and support of Mr. Monty.
Mr. Monty ran the Eagle Scout Association here in San Antonio. He had an office and a computer and Sid Trawick described him as a “great man.” Mr. Trawick said when Mr. Monty was seventy years old he helped put the singles on the roof at Camp McGimsey, which is an indoor Boy Scout facility in San Antonio. He was also very skilled in working with wood and made excellent wood doll houses, which he donated to the Alamo Heights Rotary Club for fundraisers. Mr. Trawick said he wanted one of those for his daughter but was never able to win one. Someone always would end up bidding higher and win it, but he tied every time in hopes that he would succeed in winning that prize.
Mr. Montgomery’s mother, Vivian, worked at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church for quite a few years, according to Reverend Prehn, and at one point was the librarian there. Mr. Trawick knew her and said she loved her boys and the grandkids. She is remembered by Mr. Trawick as being a “behind the scenes” kind of mom who “stayed at home, took care of the kids and made sure dinner was ready when her husband came home.” That was the typical role for moms to have and they provided the support and foundation for the family so it could flourish.
He and his wife, Linda, are alumni scholarship contributors at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and have had a named scholar for the last seven years. He is also a member of the Chancellors Council for the University of Texas System.
Linda describes her husband as an uplifting and inspirational speaker and stated that he is truly the wind beneath her wings. It was through his encouragement to go out of her comfort zone that gave her the confidence to become the President of the Alumni Association at UTSA. They have a blended family of four children with three daughters and a son. They have four grandchildren, three boys and a girl.Mr. Montgomery is very involved in various community fund raising activities. This includes being named the Chairman for the following fund raising activities: Cattle Barons Gala Live Auction, KLRN Wine Auction, Golden Gloves Regional Tournament from 1995-1997, and the March of Dimes Celebrity Serve Luncheon. He has sat on the Board of Directors for the San Antonio Youth Literacy and Leadership council, and is a member of the National Excalibur Society and the American Cancer Society.

He and his wife, Linda, are alumni scholarship contributors at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and have had a named scholar for the last seven years. He is also a member of the Chancellors Council for the University of Texas System.
Linda describes her husband as an uplifting and inspirational speaker and stated that he is truly the wind beneath her wings. It was through his encouragement to go out of her comfort zone that gave her the confidence to become the President of the Alumni Association at UTSA. They have a blended family of four children with three daughters and a son. They have four grandchildren, three boys and a girl.

He and his wife own a house in Colorado and both love to ski. Sid Trawick has enjoyed many a ski vacation with them and describes them as a great couple.
Mr. Montgomery is a successful business owner. He owns and operates his own law practice James Montgomery Law. His honestly and integrity in and out of the courtroom has set him apart from the rest of his peers and he is known in the community for sticking to his high standards and value set.
It comes as no surprise that Mr. Montgomery is an AV-rated attorney, which is Martindale Hubbell's highest peer rating for lawyers, and he has over 25 years of courtroom experience. He believes in self improvement and regularly attends continuing education classes to ensure he is providing exceptional guidance to his clients and opponents with his extensive knowledge and experience. His cliental began to request his expertise outside the courtroom to help them be proactive and prevent problems from occurring. This resulted in a shift of his business focus and he began providing consulting services for a wide range of services to include “the design of corporate structures and business transactions to increase profitability and minimize the amount of taxes paid by clients. His business advice programs are designed to maintain regular review and consultation in order to know the client’s business and plans in advance to maximize profit and minimize potential exposure.”

Mr. Montgomery lives by his ethical and moral values at home and in business and is not the type of person who deviates from those core values in different settings or environments. His personal mission statement is to do a good turn daily and service above self, the later being a core value of the Rotary Club, too.
Eagle Scouts are held to a higher standard and as Jim’s dad has stated, “When people find out you are an Eagle Scout they expect more from you.” Thomas Robins, a good friend and business associate stated, “Jim is the ultimate embodiment of what it means to be an Eagle Scout. His moral compass is as much a part of him as one of his internal organs.”

Religious faith with its morals, values and teachings are an integral part of Mr. Montgomery. He attended parochial school at St. Luke’s Episcopal School through the sixth grade and said “My Eagle project was in the 1960s and we helped reorganize the library at St. Luke's Episcopal Church.” The school was founded in 1947. The Alamo Heights church as it stands today was built in 1954, but unfortunately the library was destroyed by water some years ago. Although the damage to the library was extensive Jim’s project has never been forgotten.

The Mission Statement for St. Luke’s Episcopal School is St. Luke's Episcopal School is a Christian community dedicated to academic and personal excellence, lifelong learning, and service to others. The short phrase in that mission statement that is synonymous with Mr. Montgomery is ‘service to others,’ and he learned that lesson well at an early age. The school develops and encourages critical thinking, while instilling in the students a sense of responsibility, self discipline and respect. The reasoning behind this is “To be a citizen who contributes, one must not only have knowledge of mathematics and literature, but also knowledge of cooperation, sound judgment and leadership.[1]”
Linda Montgomery has many kind words to say about her husband. She thinks Jim got his inspiration from his father and she was sorry she only got to spend fifteen years getting to know Mr. Monty. She said, “Jim won’t undermine someone, instead he knows how to encourage people and make them feel appreciated.” He has an uplifting affect on her and through encouragement has enabled her to “step outside of my comfort zone” and accept and conquer challenges like becoming President of the UTSA Alumni Association.
Richard Berchin described Mr. Montgomery as a “great role model.” His wife, Linda, agrees with that statement as does Stephanie Macchia, a business associate and Rotarian who stated, “He leads by example and because of this, people want to be like him.” Rebecca Notzon commented Jim always took actions based on an essential fairness to all concerned. She went on to say he always weighs the potential impact of his decisions and has treated equally all persons that are affected. He conducts his private and social life by preserving and protecting the positive image he portrays.

John Thurman stated, “Jim’s life, in the office and outside it, is synonymous with ethics of the highest caliber. He is an extremely successful businessman, but it is when you understand what he does with this success and expertise that you understand his high standard of ethics. After serving businesses in the courtroom for 25 years as a successful lawyer, Jim now dedicates his time to helping clients stay OUT of the courtroom. He counsels businesses in all aspects of structuring business agreements, represents buyers and sellers of businesses ranging from multi-million dollar office buildings to small pest control businesses, and advises and participates with real estate investors on income producing property and raw land investments. With this holistic approach, Montgomery fills the shoes of an in-house COO and legal counsel for a firm, for a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee, and certainly a small percentage of the cost of going to court. Throughout every transaction, here is his MO:
1) Constantly educates himself regarding new business trends to help his clients
2) Thinks more about his clients’ welfare than his bottom line
3) Always encourages those who work for him or with him by emphasizing their strengths
4) Mentors other attorneys in the business ways of the practice of law
5) Is a conduit for referring business among his clients whenever possible
6) Gets to know his clients so that when an opportunity comes along to refer business among his clients he does it
7) Strives to see that his business clients are given every possibility to become successful
8) Really wants to see his clients succeed
9) Makes time for his children and his grandchildren
10) Plans family trips so his children, stepchildren and grandkids can enjoy their extended family”
Mr. Montgomery stated he does not have followers he has equals and co-workers. During the interview process all respondents had similar responses that Mr. Montgomery was “not a dictator,” or “not out for personal glorification.” The common theme from the questionnaire participants was he leads through example and if he thinks the reason for doing something is worthwhile and/or productive he will encourage two-way communication in explaining the importance of the given project. Mr. James E. Watson, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio stated, “He uses a stimulating questioning technique to insure issues are well thought through and addressed in a creative manner.” He then convinces his co-workers that the project will benefit many people less fortunate than themselves, which creates a sense of pride, accomplishment, and self-worth in the completion of the task. The common response from the questionnaire participants on how he fosters two-way communication is that he is a good listener. Mrs. Sherri Muniz stated, “Mr. Montgomery is a leader in that he sets clear goals for those working on his leadership team. He is an inspiring leader; he is quick to give support and recognition to those who are working under him.” Janet Livingston commented that, “Jim is more of an ‘inspirer’ type of guy. He does not dictate to get the job done. He is regarded as smart, compassionate, hard-working, and positive and I think he has a great sense of humor!” Mr. Watson went on further to state that Mr. Montgomery’s reputation in the community was “Rock Solid,” and that he illustrates his character traits by making “sound decisions and by his actions.”
Thomas Robins, a good friend and former business associate stated, “While we were members of the same law firm, I watched Jim mentor younger lawyers in the ethical practice of the law. Jim turned down lucrative legal work when he felt he could not ethically represent certain clients. On at least one occasion, he did this over the objections of senior partners in the firm. Since we have been solo practioners, I have referred many litigation matters to Jim. He may not have won every case, but his clients always felt that they were well represented and treated with dignity and respect for a fair fee. Believe me I can’t say that about any other lawyer to whom I have referred cases. Jim has helped several of my referral clients, knowing that the work would be pro bono. He treats these clients in exactly the same professional manner that he treats the paying ones.”
Not only does he treat his clients in an upstanding professional manner, but he treats every one of his employees with the same respect. As Ms. Llewellyn says, “If it is important to me, Jim makes it important to him.” He continually encourages open communication and thereby makes the staff feel comfortable enough that they can address any issue or subject with him. He is open on all levels to new ideas, and trusts his employees’ judgment, because without effective communication there is no continual improvement.
Mr. Montgomery is also particularly keen in identifying the potential of individuals, his co-workers, and organizations. He helps support this by motivating them to recognize this quality within themselves. Ms. Llewellyn attests that, “He certainly has encouraged me to recognize that potential within myself and purposefully assigns me projects that foster that potential; specifically in areas I have expressed interest in, such as marketing.” Mr. Montgomery would never ask anyone to perform a duty that he was not willing to do himself. He sets his professional and personal goals high in an effort to inspire others do the same. He is a trustworthy and hard working individual who encourages the people around him to embrace these same qualities, not because it is their ethical obligation, but because he strongly deems these qualities to be important. He believes that most people are honest and hard working, or have the potential to achieve these principles, if only given the opportunity.

Submitted by John Thurman www.HeartofTexasRealty.com

Hon Lila Cockrell Honored on the San Antnio Movers and Shakers Show, June 21, 2008

Hon Lila Cockrell Honored as the Featured Guest on the San Antonio Movers and Shakers Radio Talk Show by John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty www. HeartOfTexasRealty.com, and Bjorn, Just Bjorn, of Bjorns Home Entertainment http://www.bjorns.com/

The following is her bio from the http://www.saparksfoundation.org/.

Ms. Lila Cockrell received a Bachelor of Arts degree from
Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas. She has
past military experience, having served as an Ensign in
the Waves during World War II. Her public service includes serving
as a San Antonio City Councilwoman from 1963 - 70 and again from
1973 - 75. In 1975 she was elected Mayor of San Antonio and served
until 1981 and again from 1989 - 91. She received an honorary
Doctor of Science degree from Our Lady of the Lake University
in San Antonio, and a Doctor of Humane Letters from Southern
Methodist University. She now holds the position of President of the
San Antonio Parks Foundation.
Ms. Cockrell has served on a number of local, state, and national boards and currently serves as
Co-Chairman of the San Antonio River Oversight Committee, National Trustee of the San Antonio
Museum of Art, a Trustee of Southwest Research Institute, Honorary Life Member, San Antonio
Economic Development Foundation, a member of the Texas Forum of the International Women’s
Forum, National Trustee of the San Antonio Museum of Art, Board Member and past Chairman of
the World Affairs Council of San Antonio, and Past Chair of the MasterCard Alamo Bowl,
Among the many local, state and national honors she has received are; San Antonio Women’s
Hall of Fame, Texas Women’s Hall of Fame, the Tom Bradley Award for Public Service from the
National Association of Regional Councils, the Spence Vanderlinden Award for Public Service from
the American Public Power Association, the Woman Who Made A Difference from the International
Women’s Forum, as well as a number of local and regional awards.
She was the widow of Sidney E. Cockrell, Jr. and has two daughters, Carol (Mrs. Robert L. Gulley)
of Alexandria, VA and Cathy (Mrs. John Newton) of Boerne, TX and two grandchildren, Dodge
Garman of San Antonio and Annalee Gulley of Alexandria, VA.
Resume starts on page 2
1
Lila Cockrell
Current Position:
President, San Antonio Parks Foundation August 1998
Current Boards:
Co-Chair, San Antonio River Oversight Committee
National Trustee, San Antonio Museum of Art
Trustee, Southwest Research Institute
Advisory Board Member, Arts! San Antonio
Board Member, World Affairs Council of San Antonio
Honorary Board Member – San Antonio Economic Development Foundation
Past Elective Offices Held:
Mayor, City of San Antonio 1975-1981;
1989-1991
Councilwoman, City of San Antonio 1963-1970;
1973-1975
Past Work Experience:
Deputy Director for Civic and Community Affairs 1994-1998
San Antonio Museum of Art
President, Travel By Design, Ltd. 1991-1994
(Successor Agency to Atkins Travel)
President, Atkins Travel Agency, Inc. 1984-1989
Director of Community Relations, 1972-1974
Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health
Coordinator of Volunteer Services 1970-1972
San Antonio State Chest Hospital
Past Boards, Commissions and Committees:
National Level:
Member, National Commission on Severely Distressed 1991-1993
Public Housing (appointed by Housing Banking Chair,
Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez)
One of the first five women selected as participant, 1981
National Security Forum of the U.S. Air War College,
Maxwell AFB.
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Advisory Board, National League of Cities 1979-1981
Advisory Board, U.S. Conference of Mayors 1978-1981
Board of Directors, National League of Cities 1977-1979
President, Women in Municipal Government Sector 1976
National League of Cities
Board of Directors, National Association of 1973-1975
Regional Councils
State Levels:
Board of Directors, Texas Municipal League 1973-1981;
1989-1991
President, Texas Municipal League 1975-1976
Texas Commission on Intergovernmental Relations 1973-1975
Regional Level:
Chairman, Greater Austin – San Antonio Corridor Council 1989-1990
President, Region 7, Texas Municipal League 1974-1975
Chairman, Alamo Area Council of Governments 1973-1975
Local Level:
Chair – Mayor’s Committee on Integrity & Trust in Local 2003
Government
Co-Chair, Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on 2001-2002
San Antonio’s Economy
Board Member, Carver Community Cultural Center 2001-2002
Development Board
Board Member, Texas Research Park Foundation 1999-2002
Past Chairman, Alamo Bowl 2000
Downtown Advisory Board 1997-2000
(appointed by Councilman Roger Flores)
Coordinating Chairperson, City of San Antonio 1994
109.7 million bond campaign (4 propositions – all passed
with over 60% majority) May 7, 1994
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Chairman, General Gifts Section 1994
Salvation Army Capital Campaign
Chairman, World Affairs Council 1992-1994
San Antonio Regional Advisory Board 1981-1994
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
Chairman, Arts! San Antonio 1992-1993
Chairman, City Public Service Board 1987-1988
Board Member, President and Chairman of the Board 1983-1993
San Antonio Festival
Ex Officio Board Member, City Public Service Board, 1975-1981
City Water Board and City Transit Board
President, League of Women Voters of San Antonio 1959-1963
Honors and Awards:
National Level:
Woman Who Made a Difference 1985
International Women’s Forum
Outstanding Civilian Service Medal 1981
United States Army
Meritorious Civilian Service Medal 1981
Department of the Air Force
Spence Vanderlinden Award for Public Service
American Public Power Association
Thomas Bradley Award for Public Service
National Association for Regional Councils
State Level:
San Antonio Business Hall of Fame 2004
Girl Scout Trefoil Award Recipient 2004
The Legends of Texas Award 2000
Sun City Texas by Del Webb
Public Service Award 1985
Texas Public Power Association
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Texas Women’s Hall of Fame 1984
(One of the first 12 inductees along with
Lady Bird Johnson and Barbara Jordan)
Local Level:
Robert H. H. Hugman Hospitality Award 2002
San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau
Joe Frost Play Advocate 2002
The University of the Incarnate Word
Lifetime Achievement Award 2001
Alamo Area Council of Governments
Distinguished Sales and Marketing Award 1999
Sales and Marketing Executives
Humanitarian Award 1996
National Conference of Christians and Jews
San Antonio’s Women’s Hall of Fame 1984
(One of the first group of inductees)
Senior Citizen Housing Development renamed 1981
Lila Cockrell Apartments by the San Antonio
Housing Authority.
Theater of Performing Arts in HemisFair Plaza 1981
Renamed Lila Cockrell Theater.
Officially named Mayor Emeritus by City Council 1981
after retirement as Mayor.
Politician of the Decade 1980
San Antonio Light
Politician of the Year 1980
San Antonio Express-News
*In addition to these, over 100 local awards, plaques, and certificates of
appreciation have been received.
International Travel and Special Delegations:
As City Councilwoman:
Represented City of San Antonio in the State of 1974
Texas Bicentennial Commission official trip to Guatemala
led by Mark White, Secretary of State.
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As Mayor:
Delegate and speaker, International Conference on 1990
“Acropolipses” hosted by Mayor of Osaka, Japan
Participant in anniversary celebrations in San Antonio’s 1989
Sister City of Kumamoto, Japan as guest of Mayor Ti Jiri.
Numerous trips to Mexico; received by President 1975-1981;
Luis Echeverria at Los Pinos March 1976; by 1989-1991
President Carlos Salinas in 1990. Sister City visits
to Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mazatlan
Member, U.S. Conference of Mayors first official 1979
delegation to visit the People’s Republic of China
Member, U.S. Conference of Mayors first official 1978
mayoral delegation to visit the People’s Republic
of China (Taiwan).
Member, National League of Cities official delegation, 1977
Bi-National Conference on Culture and Urban
Development. Munich, Nuremberg and Berlin, West
Germany; extension trip to Warsaw, Poland and
Budapest, Hungary.
Official City of San Antonio representative at the 500th 1976
Anniversary of the founding of Las Palmas, Canary
Islands, Spain – one of San Antonio’s Sister Cities.
Visit to Israel, accompanying Winnie and Alton Newell 1975
of San Antonio, on the occasion of a park being named
in their honor in Jerusalem by Mayor Teddy Kollak.
As Mayor Emeritus:
Participated in cultural delegation to Kumamoto, Japan 1993
in connection with Hinokuni Festa Kumamoto 1993.
Education:
B.A., Southern Methodist University
Dallas, Texas
Speech and English
Honorary Degrees
Doctor of Science, Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, Texas
Doctor of Human Letters, Southern Methodist University
Dallas, Texas
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Military Service:
Served as Ensign in Waves; received an award 1943-1944
of recognition as Commanding Officer of the
company of Waves judged “Best Commanded
and Performed in the Bureau of Ships Regiment of Waves”.
Personal:
Widow of Sidney Earl Cockrell, Jr.
Children:
Carol Ann (Mrs. Robert Lee Gulley)
Alexandria, Virginia
Cathy Lynn (Mrs. John Newton)
San Antonio, Texas
Grandchildren:
Annalee Gulley – Alexandria, Virginia
Dodge Garman – San Antonio, Texas"