Betty Bixby Betty Bixby graduated from California State University at Hayward with a degree in history. She later returned to college for a second round and completed a bachelor of nursing degree from Texan Woman s University. Betty came to Houston in 1984 when her husband, Bob, became a professor in the Computational and Applied Mathematics department at Rice. Bob and Betty are both avid sports fans and are especially fond of Rice athletics. Their three children grew up attending college sporting events, first at Northwestern University and then at Rice. Their son, David, is a Rice graduate, class of 1991. He later received his MBA from the Jones School at Rice. Their daughter, Ann, is also a Rice graduate, class of 1993. She later received her PhD from Northwestern University. Their other son, Geoff, attended the Air Force Academy and then completed his bachelor s degree in aeronautical engineering at Purdue University. Betty loves Rice football, and men s and women s basketball, but her first love is Rice baseball. Besides attending as many athletic events as possible, Betty is a member and past president of the Rice Faculty Women s Club, a member of the Charity Guild of Catholic Women and of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Her hobbies include quilting, reading and spoiling her four grandchildren.
Paul Hlavinka Paul has over 25 years of experience in real estate and business transactions, estate planning and international law in Houston. He was educated at Rice University (BA 1973), and holds an MA in Journalism (1977) and law degree (1977) from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Houston and American Bar Associations, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. His personal interests, family history and business associations have led him to take a particular interest in volunteer activities concerning his undergraduate university, Rice, and in support of new-found freedoms in the land of his forebears, the Czech Republic. Recent involvements and offices held in such regard include stints as Director, Association of Rice University Alumni, 1988-91; Director and Secretary, Rice University Friends of Fondren Library, 1990-1993; Director and Secretary, Czech Educational Foundation of Texas, 1996-present; Rice Associates and activity in American Friends of the Czech Republic. Other posts have included: State Bar of Texas and Association of Rice Alumni committees as well as church associate vestry and service with the Jabboury Foundation for Cancer Research. He is a member of Who's Who in the South and Southwest (Marquis), 1989-present. He and his wife, Kimberly, maintain a (too-infrequently visited) summer home in Camden, Maine. They have a daughter, Megan, a university student in Florida. Out of nostalgia for his original career in journalism (Houston Post staff, 1971-73) and due to what his wife, Kim, considers an unfathomable fanaticism for his alma mater s college football team, he edits and publishes The Rice Football Webletter, where readers are able to find out more than they might ever wish to know about Rice Owl football.
Sarah Longpré Sarah is a dual graduate of Rice University, holding a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (1989) and an M.B.A. (1991). Since her graduation she has remained involved with Rice and supported the institution through her participation in her class gifts as well as attending many events on campus. Sarah's passion for Rice Athletics became stronger when she was involved in setting up an endowed scholarship to honor her late husband, Mike, who was a golf letter winner at Rice. Over the last few years Sarah has been an avid supporter at most Rice sporting events, and has become involved with the Women's Athletics Advisory Board and the Owl Club Advisory Board. Sarah has lived in Houston for 22 years, and recently moved to a neighborhood near the Rice campus, which makes her commute to games easy. She works for PricewaterhouseCoopers where she is a Director on the Human Resources team, focusing on strategy and operations for the firm. In addition to her support of Rice Athletics, Sarah gives of her time as a member of the Board of Trustees of Chatham Hall, an all-girls college preparatory school in Virginia, and on the Board of Directors for Golfers Against Cancer, a Houston-based charity that since its inception in 1997 has raised over $10 million for cancer research.
Edmund Segner Edmund P. Segner, III is President and Chief of Staff of EOG Resources, Inc., (EOG) one of the leading independent oil and gas exploration and production companies. EOG Resources, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as EOG and is a member of the S&P 500. Ed graduated cum laude from Rice University with a B.S. degree in civil engineering and received an M.A. degree in economics from the University of Houston. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. He was elected Vice Chairman and Chief of Staff for EOG in September 1997. In August 1999 Ed was named President and Chief of Staff and elected to the Board of Directors. Ed serves as EOG s principal financial officer. Ed is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. He is a member of the Natural Gas Council representing the Independent Petroleum Association of America and is a member of the executive committee of the Texas Oil & Gas Association. He is a part-time member of the Rice University Civil and Environmental Engineering faculty. He is an active trustee of River Oaks Baptist School and is chair of the Center for Education at Rice. He is past Chairman of the Board of Community Partners, a healthcare social service agency serving Houston children, past Chair of The Nature Conservancy of Texas, and a former Trustee of the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Alley Theatre.
John Sylvester Born and raised in Baytown, Texas. Graduated Robert E. Lee High School in 1960. Entered Rice in fall of 1960. Walked on to football team in spring of 1961 and earned scholarship for sophomore year. Mid-season 1961 moved to second string end and started at left end the 1962 and 1963 seasons. Earned All SWC Academic team recognition and second team All SWC as well as Rice's Bob Quin Award. Majored in economics and served as Baker College President my senior year. Graduated from Stanford Business School with an MBA in 1966 and joined Exxon Corporation. Worked for Exxon from 1966 to 1978, Tenneco Exploration and Production from 1978 to 1988, Commonwealth Savings and Loan from 1988 to 1989 and finally Linbeck Group LP from 1989 to present, primarily in human resource and administrative roles. I currently serve as Chief Administrative Officer of Linbeck Group LP as well as Sr. VP Division Manager for Xavier Structures I Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Linbeck. I am married to Jessica Darling, former UT cheerleader, Sweetheart of the University and Cotton Bowl Queen. We have two sons, John III who graduated from the University of Houston and the Houston Art Institute and lives in Houston and Dirk who graduated with a business degree from SMU and lives in Austin.