THE HONORABLE RICHARD L. THORNBURGH TO DELIVER PITT LAW SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

PITTSBURGH, May 8 -- Former Pennsylvania Governor and former Attorney General of the United States Richard L. Thornburgh will deliver the University of Pittsburgh School of Law's 1998 commencement address on Saturday, May 23, at 2 p.m.

The 245 graduates, who will receive their law degrees in Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall Auditorium, Fifth Avenue, Oakland, include 146 males and 99 females.

A University of Pittsburgh School of Law alumnus, Thornburgh's public career has spanned 25 years. He served under five presidents, beginning in 1969 as a United States Attorney in Pittsburgh. Thornburgh then became assistant attorney general in charge of the Criminal Division emphasizing efforts against major drug traffickers, organized crime and corrupt public officials.

The Pittsburgh native was the first Republican ever to serve two successive terms as governor of Pennsylvania. While governor, Thornburgh balanced state budgets for eight consecutive years, reduced both personal and business tax rates, cut the state's record-high indebtedness and left a surplus of $350 million. Pennsylvania's unemployment rate was among the ten highest in the nation when Thornburgh took office and among the ten lowest when he left.

Thornburgh served as attorney general for three years under Presidents Reagan and Bush. During his service he played a leading role in the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act and took vigorous action against racial, religious and ethnic "hate crimes." He is currently counselor at the Washington, D.C. office of the national law firm of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart.

Thornburgh received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and graduated from Pitt's Law School in 1957. During his years at Pitt, Thornburgh was editor of the University of Pittsburgh Law Review. In 1992 he received the Distinguished Service Medal from the American Legion for "outstanding service to the community, state, and nation."

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