The Honorable George William Strake, Jr.
Class of 1953

George William Strake, Jr. has distinguished himself in both business and politics. While attending St. Thomas High School from 1949 through graduation in 1953, he participated in numerous activities including sports, music, the school newspaper, and the student council. He was on the honor roll and a member of the Letterman's Club.

Prior to his graduating from Notre Dame, with a B.A. in economics he was elected Senior Class President. He was commissioned a U.S. Naval Officer and served two years with the Pacific Fleet aboard the USS Rice County. He entered Harvard University;s Graduate School of Business in 1959, receiving an M.B.A. in 1961.

Mr. Strake joined his father in managing the G.W. Strake Company's oil operations in 1969 and became an active political worker. After his father's death in 1969, he continued as an independent oil and gas operator and subsequently formed related businesses including the Strake Trading Group and Strake Comsortium (Yemen) Limited.

In 1979 Texas Governor William Clements appointed him to Secretary of State. He served as Chairman of the Republican Party for the State of Texas and was a member of the National Republican Committee. More recently he served as Co-Chairman of the Houston Economic Summit Host Committee for the 1990 Economic Summit of Industrialized Nations held in Houston.

Many local and national boards have been fortunate to have Mr. Strake as a member. He is currently President of Strake Foundation. He has been awarded and recognized by numerous organizations such as the University of Notre Dame, Marine Military Academy, Boy Scouts of America, and St. Joseph Hospital Foundation.

He is married to Annette DeWalch Strake, the couple have six chidren and six grandchildren.