This is historical material, "frozen in time." The web site is no longer updated and links to external web sites and some internal pages will not work.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release January 21, 1999

                          PRESIDENT CLINTON 
              NAMES TRAVIS JOHNSON AND LEO VICTOR VALDEZ 
                       TO THE ADVISORY COUNCIL 
           OF THE BORDER ENVIRONMENT COOPERATION COMMISSION

The President today announced his intent to appoint Travis C. Johnson and Leo Victor Valdez to serve as Members of the Advisory Council of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission.

Mr. Travis Johnson, of El Paso, Texas, is currently a partner in the firm of Johnson & Bowen in El Paso. Mr. Johnson also serves as a Member on the Board of Directors of both the Texas Commerce Bank in El Paso and Southwest Airlines. From 1991 through 1995, he served on the Governor's Leadership Council in Texas. He founded the Texas Commerce Bank-Border City, and served as its Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1971 to 1987. From 1984 to 1987, Mr. Johnson served as a Member of the Legislative Task Force on Cancer. Mr. Johnson also served on the Governor's Committee on Water for Texas, as well as the El Paso Chamber of Commerce. In 1982 he received the Honor Award from the National Water Resources Association. Mr. Johnson received his B.B.A. from Texas A&M University, and a J.D. from the University of Houston.

Mr. Leo Victor Valdez, of Phoenix, Arizona, is currently Senior Vice President with the investment banking firm of Hutchinson, Shockey, Erley, & Co. Mr. Valdez was also a Senior Vice President with the firm of Boettcher & Co. From 1970 to 1981, Mr. Valdez worked for the United States Department of Agriculture Farmers Home Administration as a County Supervisor and Chief of the Business and Guaranteed Loan Program for the State of Arizona. Mr. Valdez has experience in providing public finance, investment banking, and advisory services to cities, states, non-profit corporations and developers for the purpose of financing water systems, sewer systems, streets, administration buildings, schools, hospitals, apartments and transportation facilities. Mr. Valdez received a B.A. from New Mexico State University and an M.A. from American University.

The Advisory Council of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) was created to advise the Board of Directors of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission in its mission to preserve, protect and enhance the environment along the border region in order to advance the well-being of the people of the U.S. and Mexico.

30-30-30