Bush names SMU Presidential Library planner

By TODD J. GILLMAN
The Dallas Morning News

WASHINGTON — President Bush has chosen a former next-door neighbor – Dallas hotel developer Mark Langdale, now the ambassador to Costa Rica – to run the foundation planning his presidential library at Southern Methodist University.

A longtime Bush friend and donor, Mr. Langdale, 54, will serve as president of the George W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation starting Jan. 1, overseeing daily operations, hiring staff, managing construction and coordinating with the National Archives.

"Ambassador Langdale brings strong leadership skills to the library effort," Mr. Bush said in a prepared statement announcing the appointment Friday.

In real estate, location is everything. So it was with George and Laura Bush and Mark and Patty Langdale. The men became friends when the future president and his family moved to Northwood Drive, just off Preston Road and Northwest Highway. Mr. Langdale had some extra office space, and Mr. Bush needed a place to work.

They shared a suite throughout Mr. Bush's tenure as managing partner of the Texas Rangers and during his run for governor in 1994.

The president called him a "good friend" and said his experience in business and real estate development will prepare him for the complexity of the project – an archive, museum and policy institute whose price tag could reach $500 million.

Mr. Langdale has served as ambassador since 2005. After a decade practicing law in Houston, he co-founded CapRock Communications Corp., a satellite communications provider. Before Mr. Bush sent him to Costa Rica, he spent 16 years as president of Posadas USA, a subsidiary of Mexico City-based Grupo Posadas, the largest hotel management company in Latin America.

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