Texas Heart Institute Elects New Members to Board of Trustees
(News of Note - February 27, 2009) The Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital welcomes Barbara Hurwitz, William Hitchcock, Bruce LaBoon and Steve Miller to its Board of Trustees. The role of the Board of Trustees is to help establish an environment that will allow scientists, physicians and support personnel to work at their highest capacity, and to build informed and steady support for these activities.
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| From left to right: Barbara Hurwitz, William M. Hitchcock, R. Bruce LaBoon,and Steven L. Miller |
Barbara Hurwitz is an Oklahoma native who devotes her life to civic and charitable endeavors, focusing chiefly on children, education, medical research, and the beautification of her adopted home, Houston. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Oklahoma in 1961 and her Masters of Education degree from the University of St. Thomas in 1988. She taught elementary school in Tulsa and San Antonio before moving to Houston in 1968 with her husband, Charles. She has two sons and daughters-in-law and four grandchildren. She serves on the boards of The University of Texas Health Science Center, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the University of St. Thomas School of Education, and she is a former co-chairman of the Board of KIPP Academy. She has worked with several other organizations involved in medical research and education, including Texas Children’s Hospital, the National Center for Learning Disabilities and the International Dyslexia Society. She has also assisted the Holocaust Museum Houston, Hermann Park, the Houston Parks Board, Initiatives for Children, and the School for Young Children. Among her numerous honors are the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of St. Thomas, KIPP Academy Annual Dinner Honoree, and the Woman of Distinction Award from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
William M. Hitchcock is president of Pembroke Capital LLC, a private investment partnership. He was a co-founder of Plains Resources Inc. and Chairman from 1981-1992. Mr. Hitchcock remained on the board until 2004. Over the years, Mr. Hitchcock has served on a number of public company boards, including Thoratec Corporation, the world’s leading provider of mechanical circulatory support devices for the heart. Earlier in his career, he worked for Lazard Bros., London, Delafield and Delafield, and Lehman Bros. in New York. Currently, Mr. Hitchcock serves on a number of charitable boards, the Houston Grand Opera, the Margaret M. Hitchcock Foundation, the International Council of the Salk Institute, and the Hitchcock Woods Foundation.
R. Bruce LaBoon has been practicing in corporate, banking, and public law for over forty years, and has offices in both Houston and Austin. He has extensive experience representing corporate clients in legislative, financing, mergers and acquisition, and regulatory matters. He has also represented clients regarding proposed legislation and public companies in defense of unsolicited tender offers. In December 2005, he was recognized for representing “the very best of the legal profession, exemplified through 30 years of practice in corporate, banking and public law” by the State Bar of Texas. He has served on several corporate boards, and he has held leadership positions with a number of prominent community organizations, including the National American Red Cross Board of Governors, Texas Medical Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, Texas Christian University, the Nimitz Foundation, and the Board of Visitors of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Steven L. Miller is chairman and president of SLM Discovery Ventures, Inc., a company formed in September 2002 pursuing commercial ventures in support of volunteerism, social outreach and higher education academic achievement. Mr. Miller is the retired chairman, president and CEO of Shell Oil Company (1999- 2002). He was a managing director of the Royal Dutch Shell Group of Companies from 1996-1999. Active in both the business and not-for-profit communities, Mr. Miller serves on the boards of a number of local and national organizations. He is the lead director and member of the board of Reliant Energy. He serves on the Board of the University of Illinois Foundation and is a senior member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He serves on the Board of Advisors for Rice University’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, is a member of the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management Council of Overseers, and served on Rice University’s Board of Trustees. He also serves on the boards of St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System and the Greater Houston Community Foundation. Mr. Miller is also on the Board of the Center for Houston’s Future and the Board of the Greater Houston Partnership. He is past chairman of the Greater Houston Partnership, the Center for Houston’s Future, the Points of Light Foundation, United Way of Greater Houston, and the University of Illinois Foundation.
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