Patricia Ann Sirvello Younger

Wow, first and foremost, got rid of the Texas hairdo. After graduating from UH, spent 9 years teaching school, then went back to UH as an Assistant Athletic Director for 12 great years - 4 final fours, 4 Cotton Bowls and multiple National Championships in golf; went to work at the Port of Houston (12 years) as the Manager of Government and International Affairs; left there in 2000 to start my own lobby firm which is still going strong. I lobby the federal govt. primarily for public port authorities. In 2000, I was appointed Consul General for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Serving as a diplomat in a city the size of Houston is interesting and challenging. I've been fortunate to have met and visited with 4 Presidents of the US and from one of them received a Presidential appointment to a Coast Guard safety advisory committee. I was also vetted by the Bush Administration (Bush 43) to be considered for the Position of Director of the Federal Maritime Commission. I remain the only woman ever to hold the office of President of the Texas Ports Association and currently serve as the Executive Director of the Gulf Ports Association. I have been really lucky and have enjoyed every minute of my careers. I am married to a man I was engaged to in college 41 years ago - real Oprah story there. Stan Shoemaker and I have worked on a project together and I see Ken Armbrister all the time while lobbying in Austin. He is still a character.

Having had 3 drama classes my senior year, I was convinced that I wanted to be an actress until I discovered that dressing rooms were co-ed...didn't seem to bother Tommy Britton.