[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[May 15, 1992]
[Pages 780-781]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at a Benefit for the United Negro College Fund in Houston, Texas

May 15, 1992
    Thank you all, and please be seated. Bill, thank you very much. Bill 
Gray, as you may know, was in the leadership in the House of 
Representatives, one of the most popular and one of the most important 
and one of the most effective Members of Congress. He left that to head 
the United Negro College Fund. We have great respect for him, and I am 
delighted to have been introduced by him. And I just wanted all my 
fellow Houstonians to know how highly we regard him and what he is doing 
for this commitment to the UNCF.
    I want to thank, too, Sandy McCormick, an old friend, and Warren 
Moon, an admired friend who everyone in Houston respects for their 
leadership on this drive. I want to single out, of course, Lee Trevino 
and Arnold Palmer. I had the pleasure of flying down here today from 
Pittsburgh with Winnie Palmer, and she said, ``Well, I'm glad Arnold is 
not with us. He'd be trying to fly Air Force One.'' [Laughter] But it is 
really a pleasure to be here. And, of course, Doug Sanders is an old 
friend; he and Scotty do so much for others. And I'm just proud once 
again to be at his side, and grateful to him.
    I won't keep you, but let me just add a little to what Bill said 
about the United Negro College Fund. A mind is a terrible thing to 
waste. This organization is doing an outstanding job for higher 
education in this country, offering kids opportunity that might not have 
had another shot at the American dream.
    Bill didn't give you the details, but let me just say that I think 
it was in 1947, maybe '8, that a man named Bill Trent came to New Haven 
when I was in school there. He got me interested in the United Negro 
College Fund, and I have remained interested in that. My brother John is 
now, what, chairman of the board nationally. And we know that it is 
worthwhile. And so we are very grateful to all of you who have pitched 
in and made this great expansion of their program possible. It's an 
outstanding outfit.

[[Page 781]]

    Now in conclusion, let me just say to Doug, I'm glad to be back at 
his side, proud to have seen a little bit of the activities here this 
evening, and only sorry that I didn't get a chance to tee it up and show 
the new Mr. Smooth form. I'm back. [Laughter] They can criticize me for 
hitting a golf ball, but I'm not going to stop, believe me. I love it.
    So, good luck to each and every one of you participants.

                    Note: The President spoke at 7:35 p.m. at the Doug 
                        Sanders Celebrity Dinner, a benefit for the 
                        United Negro College Fund (UNCF) at the 
                        Greenspoint Club. In his remarks, he referred to 
                        William H. Gray, UNCF president; Sandy 
                        McCormick, cochair of the UNCF campaign in 
                        Houston; Warren Moon, quarterback for the 
                        Houston Oilers; golfers Doug Sanders, Lee 
                        Trevino, and Arnold Palmer; Mr. Sanders' wife, 
                        Scotty, and Mr. Palmer's wife, Winnie.