Out of 26 million Texans, you may have an idea to change the world. You may have had several ideas to change the world. But only a tiny minority of you pushed through the U.S. Patent office from application to successful patent. We've seen Texans change the world many times over. Jack Kilby did it with Texas Instruments in 1958 with the integrated circuit, causing the start of the digital revolution, which, in part, is why you can read these words over your electronic device.
Over the last few years, Texas Business has brought its feature: Texas Business Patent of the Day. This list is of the ones that were either extremely clever, odd or strange. One thing becomes apparent from these patents and the patent that runs daily in Texas Business—Texans have a unique mind set.
Though the history of the Corn Dog is disputed, the State Fair of Texas claims to have introduced the Corny Dog sometime between 1938 and 1942. As a paean to that invention that now sits in the freezer section of every grocery store in the southwest, here are the fried foods the State Fair of Texas has introduced, or tried to introduce, in the last seven years.
Dead Texas musicians live on every time you hear their songs. Their songs play everywhere, so the dead Texas musicians appear to be immortal. Here's the short list.
Don't get caught up with John Wayne religion. For one thing, he's not Texan. He's in some fine movies involving Texas, most notably The Searchers, but none of his movies can make the best cut of Texas movies. Here's the short list.
Unsung Texas Business Journalists Mention that one is a reporter, and there's a spark of interest. Mention that one is a business news reporter, and watch the eyes glaze over. Except to the players, business and economic journalists are unappreciated. While many wish to become sports reporters when they grow up, most do not realize that business journalists cover the Real Game. Mention that reporter covers business, and watch the eyes glaze over. A toast to these below on the short list and the numerous unnamed ones slogging away. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Best Texas Mexican Food: The Short List No, we're not going to debate the difference between Tex-Mex, Mex-Tex, Mexican and Texican food. Just know these establishments are the pinnacle of Texas Mexican fare. No brag, just fact. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Best Texas Burgers Texas Burgers. . While a hamburger is merely sustenance and gratification for a meal, the memory a good Texas burger can give rise to Homeric odes. The short list. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Texas Business reports: DALLAS—LHP Hospital Group Inc., a privately held healthcare entity established to provide capital and expertise to not-for-profit hospitals and hospital systems, announced three key additions to its executive team, including Jason Whitehair as vice president human resources, Andrew (Monty) Montgomery as vice president supply chain, and Kandis Thompson as vice president and corporate controller.
Whitehair and Montgomery will report to Tom Frazier, executive vice president of administration.
Thompson will report to Bill Hibbitt, LHP's chief financial officer.
All appointments are effective immediately.
“We are delighted that Jason and Monty are joining the LHP team,” Frazier said in a prepared statement. “We expect that Jason will play a key role recruiting and retaining excellent talent to LHP, and he brings a strong track record of doing so throughout his career. Similarly, we are confident that Monty will contribute to LHP's healthcare leadership through new, quality-based initiatives that ensure LHP derives the greatest value from our supply expenditures and resource utilization.”
“Kandis' career underscores unique effectiveness in accounting, corporate finance, and strategy – particularly during periods of business expansion,” said Hibbitt in a statement. “Her experience across industries and functions as well as her IPO and public company experience will be assets to LHP as we continue to grow our business and we welcome her to the LHP team.”
Whitehair joins LHP from St. Jude Medical, where he served as vice president, human resources. As the top human resource executive for the 1,600-person neuromodulation division at St. Jude, Whitehair oversaw extensive division growth and implemented beta division programming for St. Jude's corporate-wide shared-service launch.
Previously, Whitehair was senior vice president human Resources and administration at NEC Corporation of America.
Montgomery joins LHP from Parkland Health and Hospital System, where he served as vice president for supply chain. While there, he executed a successful restructuring of the company's supply chain and reduced costs through strategic vendor and capital expenditure initiatives.
Prior to his time with Parkland, Montgomery served as vice president for materials management with Abrazo Healthcare in Phoenix, Arizona.
Thompson brings more than 20 years of financial leadership to LHP, including senior roles at technology leaders McAfee and Intel. Thompson previously served as McAfee's chief accounting officer where she was responsible for all aspects of accounting and drove strategic transformation of the accounting organization.
In cooperation with local hospitals, LHP forms joint ventures to acquire, own, operate and manage acute care facilities in small cities and select urban markets throughout the United States. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, LHP is owned by affiliates of the private equity firm CCMP Capital Advisors LLC and the CPP Investment Board as well as certain members of management and the board of directors.
The Texas News Scrawl is a handy reference to stories Texas Business recommends from other news sources. Some of the stories that Texas Business currently suggests include: America’s greatest threat: Unsafe work conditions; The West News proves the value of a great weekly newspaper in a community torn up with grief and chaos; Chinese investors checking out Texas, Austin; Texas makes bounce house operators carry liability coverage, but not plants like West Fertilizer; bSpaceX’s Grasshopper leaping to NM spaceport;American Airlines, US Airways to name post-merger leadership within weeks; Texas power cushion seen at lowest level in a decade; Media outlets reflect Houston's diversity; and more.