Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: October 26, 1999

Contact: John Wright 202/208-6416

Secretary Babbitt Lauds President Clinton's
Selection of Tom Fry to be BLM Director

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt announced today that he is pleased with President Clinton's intention to nominate Thomas A. Fry III to serve as Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Mr. Fry has been Acting Director of BLM since November 1998.

"Tom Fry is an outstanding professional and a dedicated public servant, and I have the greatest respect for him," Babbitt said. "He brings a wealth of experience to this position and will work hard to honor our longstanding commitment to leaving the land in better condition for future generations to enjoy."

Before taking on the responsibilities of Acting Director, Tom Fry was appointed Deputy Director for BLM in January 1997. He joined the Interior Department July 1993, as Director of the Minerals Management Service, where he was responsible for exploration, development, the production of oil and gas, and other mineral deposits on the nation's Outer Continental Shelf, and for the collection of revenues for minerals development on federal and Indian lands.

He subsequently served as Chief of Staff for then Interior Deputy Secretary John Garamendi, responsible for managing the internal operations of the office and policy oversight for special Departmental initiatives. Prior to joining the Interior Department, Mr. Fry was Vice President of a Dallas natural gas process and transmission company.

Mr. Fry's government experience includes serving as Regional Counsel for the U.S. Department of Energy in Dallas. Before that he was Director of the Houston Field Office of the Economic Regulatory Administration. Fry also served for more than two years as Assistant Attorney General of the State of Texas, where he was Assistant Chief of the state's Anti-Trust Consumer Protection Program. After a two-year stint in private law practice, Fry joined American National Resources, Inc. of Dallas as Vice President (1984-93). He was also a part-time Professor at the University of Texas in Dallas, where he taught business law.

A native of Dallas, Texas, Mr. Fry earned a law degree from Southern Methodist University Law School in Dallas (1969), and a bachelor's degree from Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas (1966). He served as an officer in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of Captain, and a recipient of the Army Commendation Medal. He has also been recognized for special achievements by the U.S. Department of Energy.

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