George W. Strake, Jr., a third generation Texan, was born in Houston, June 10, 1935. He attended St. Thomas High School, in Houston, and the University of Notre Dame, where he was elected Senior Class President. He majored in Economics, and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1957.
Commissioned a United States Naval officer at graduation, he served two years with the Pacific Fleet aboard the USS RICE COUNTY, resigning from active duty in July 1959. He entered Harvard University’s Graduate School of Business and received a Masters Degree in Business Administration in 1961. In 1982, he was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Houston Baptist University.
Returning to his native Texas in 1961 he joined his father in the independent oil operating business, managing the G.W. Strake Company’s oil operations. Since his father’s death in 1969, he has carried on the business as an independent oil and gas operator. He is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Strake Energy, Inc.
He was appointed Secretary of State by Governor William Clements on January 22, 1979, and served until his resignation on October 5, 1981, prior to running for the office of Lieutenant Governor for the State of Texas.
Mr. Strake has served as a member of the Boards of Directors of numerous civic and charitable organizations. Currently he is Chairman of the Board of the Free Enterprise Institute, Board Member of the Boy Scouts of America, Sam Houston Area Council, the University of Notre Dame Arts & Letters Advisory Council, the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum and the Texas Public Policy Foundation. He is also a Board Member of the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Foundation, a Board Member of the John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation and he is President of Strake Foundation, all charitable foundations.
He is married to Annette DeWalch Strake. Mr. and Mrs. Strake have six children and seventeen grandchildren.