David M. Laney (born January 19, 1949, in

Dallas, Texas Dallas () is the third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County w ...

) is an attorney, an administrator of transportation programs, and a Republican supporter and fundraiser.

Early life and education

Laney grew up in

, where he graduated from St. Mark's School of Texas in 1967. He then graduated from

Stanford University Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University, is a private research university in Stanford, California. The campus occupies , among the largest in the United States, and enrolls over 17,000 students. Stanford is consider ...

and the law school at

Southern Methodist University , mottoeng = "The truth will make you free" , established = , type = Private research university , accreditation = SACS , academic_affiliations = , religious_affiliation = United Methodist Church , president = R. Gerald Turner , prov ...

Career

Legal

Laney practiced at the law firm of Jenkens & Gilchrist from 1977 to 2003 and was managing partner of that firm from 1990 to 2002. Between 2003 and 2007, he was a partner with the law firm of Jackson Walker LLP in Dallas, where he practiced in the area of corporate and financial law.

Transportation administration

Laney was chair of Amtrak's board of directors from 2003 to 2007. He was previously the chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission.

Political and public involvement

Laney became a campaign "Pioneer" for

George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...

by raising over $100,000 for his 2000 presidential campaign. He also made significant donations to Republican campaigns in the 2008 elections. Texas Governor William Clements appointed Laney to the Texas Finance Commission from 1989 to 1995. That committee was responsible for regulatory oversight of state chartered banking and thrift institutions. He served as Governor Bush's Texas Commissioner of Transportation (Chair of the Texas Transportation Commission) from 1995 to 2001. In 2002, Mr. Laney was nominated by President George W. Bush to the board of directors of Amtrak and confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a five-year term. In 2007, he completed his term as chairman of Amtrak's board of directors.

Volunteer efforts and honors

In 2010, Laney was inducted into the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor. Laney served on the board of trustees at Stanford University from 1998 to 2003. He currently serves on the board of Matador Resources.

References

1949 births 20th-century American railroad executives Amtrak people Living people Southern Methodist University alumni St. Mark's School (Texas) alumni Stanford University alumni {{US-business-bio-1940s-stub