George Bush to give lecture on campus

Former U.S. President and former Texas Governor George W. Bush is coming to the University. Bush, who served as President from 2001 to 2009, also served as governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000.

He is scheduled to appear at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 at the Cowan Performing Arts Center as a guest speaker.

"With all the great talent we bring to Tyler, bringing a former president from our home state gets the whole community excited in a completely different way," Susan Thomae-Morphew, Cowan Center executive director said. "Our 29th season of the Distinguished Lecture Series is highlighted by this special event. We are honored to provide the honorable George W. Bush lecture."

The Cowan Center provided 100 free tickets to students, which were issued within an hour of the box office opening, Beverley Golden, news and information director, said. Still available for purchase are 201 seats, priced from $41 to $76.

Golden said she believes Bush's speech to be a precursor to his upcoming book, titled "Decision Points," about his time in office, set for release in November.

After serving two terms as governor, Bush ran for the presidency defeating Dem. Al Gore. During his first year in office, terrorists flew two airplanes into the World Trade Center Towers killing nearly 3,000 people on Sept. 11, 2001.

In 2005, he ran against Democrat John Kerry and won, serving four more years.

During his presidency Bush focused on the No Child Left Behind Act, tax cuts and the War on Terror in Iraq.