Governor names Rice M. Tilley Jr. new regent, reappoints Strange and Nickell

One new member joins the UNT System Board of Regents and two current regents begin new six-year terms with the system's governing body as a result of Gov. Rick Perry's recent appointments.

The governor named Rice M. Tilley Jr. of Fort Worth as UNT's newest regent and reappointed Gayle W. Strange of Denton and Robert A. Nickell of Irving, both UNT alumni, to new terms on the board. All three will serve until May 2009.

Tilley is a senior attorney and head of the taxation and estate planning section of the law firm of Law, Snakard and Gambill in Fort Worth. He replaces George W. Pepper of Fort Worth, who left the board after his term expired at the end of the 2002-03 academic year.

In recent years, Tilley has been named in The Best Lawyers in America in the field of estate planning. He is currently listed in Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World.

Tilley is a former chair of the board of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Fort Worth. He also has served as a member of the board of directors of the North Texas Commission. In addition, he has served as president of the Exchange Club of Fort Worth, the Lena Pope Home and the Fort Worth Opera Association. He holds current memberships on a number of boards, including the Van Cliburn Foundation and the Fort Worth Symphony Association.

Tilley earned his bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University in Virginia, his law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law and a master of laws degree in taxation from New York University School of Law.

Strange joined the board in 1997 as an appointee of Gov. George W. Bush. She is president of Axiom Commercial Co. Ltd. of Denton, a small commercial construction company. In addition, she is a rancher, land developer, writer and researcher.

Her association with the university also includes membership on the President's Council. Her civic affiliations include the Denton Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Denton Arts Council. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in English from UNT and a bachelor of science degree in journalism from Texas Woman's University.

Nickell, an independent investor with a background as a commercial airline pilot and a history of outstanding entrepreneurial success in wholesale distribution, became a UNT regent in 2000 when Bush appointed him to fill a vacated seat on the board.

In addition, he has served on the UNT President's Council and the College of Business Administration Advisory Board. He earned both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in business administration at the university.

The Texas Senate must confirm the appointments.

BY RODDY WOLPER rwolper@unt.edu

Other web references

• UNT Board of Regents

Other featured articles in this issue

• UNT celebrates 50th anniversary of desegregation with gala, online scrapbook
• UNT raises almost $6,000 in heart walk
• Awards presented at Staff Sack Lunch
• Faculty Senate hears from new engineering dean
• Willis Library offers appraisals at Roadshow
• UNT implementing new Enterprise Information System
• UNT professor creates new curriculum for WIC parents

homepage