July 17, 2006

Gov. Riley to be speaker at Troy University commencement on Aug. 4

TROY – Gov. Bob Riley will deliver the address at Troy University’s summer commencement ceremony scheduled for Friday, Aug. 4, beginning at 10:30 a.m. in Sartain Hall.

Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., chancellor, will award degrees to approximately 220 graduates from 16 U.S. states and 11 nations. More than 130 students will receive baccalaureate degrees and approximately 90 students will earn master’s degrees.

Chancellor Hawkins will also recognize 23 students from the People’s Republic of China who are participants in the University’s 1-2-1 program. These students spend their freshman years at a university in China, study at Troy University for their sophomore and junior years and then return to their partner university to complete their degrees. The students will earn a dual degree from both TROY and their home universities.

Governor Bob Riley was sworn into office as Alabama's 52nd chief executive on Jan. 20, 2003, after representing the state for six years in the United States Congress.

He was born and reared in Ashland, where his family has lived on ranches and farms for six generations.

For more than 30 years, Governor Riley ran a number of successful businesses including a trucking company, a car dealership, a real estate company, a grocery store and a small pharmacy. He's also been a cattleman for the last 25 years. Gov. Riley is married to the former Patsy Adams, also from Ashland. The couple has four children and four grandchildren.

Gov. Riley serves as president of the Troy University Board of Trustees

###