Mike Huckabee
Former Governor of Arkansas, former candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States and host of the Fox News Channel program “Huckabee”
WHEN: Thursday, May 12, 2011
12:00PM – 1:15PM
WHERE: San Antonio Ballroom – 4th Floor
Westin Galleria Dallas
13340 Dallas Parkway
Dallas, Texas 75240
On May 12, join the NCPA as we welcome Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas, former candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States, and host of the Fox News Channel program “Huckabee,” as a part of the Hatton W. Sumners Distinguished Lecture Series. Huckabee is also an author of several books, including A Simple Government and Do The Right Thing.
About Mike Huckabee
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee is the host of the number one rated weekend hit “Huckabee” on the Fox News Channel and is heard three times daily on ABC Radio Network’s “Huckabee Report,” one of the nation’s fastest growing radio programs. An author of nine books including the recent A Simple Government, his previous book, Do the Right Thing, spent its first seven weeks of release in the top ten of the New York Times bestseller list.
Spanning a decade (1996-2007), Governor Huckabee served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas and was recognized as a national leader by many leading publications and organizations. Governing Magazine named him as one of its “Public Officials of the Year” for 2005, Time Magazine honored him as one of the five best governors in America, and in the same year, Huckabee received the American Association of Retired Person’s Impact Award. In 2007, he was presented with the Music for Life Award by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) in recognition of his commitment to music education. He served as the Chairman of the prestigious National Governors Association as well as the Education Commission of the States and the Interstate Oil and Gas Commission.
Huckabee was sworn into the governor’s office in July of 1996 and became one of the country’s youngest governors. He was later elected to two full terms in 1998 and 2002 attracting the largest percentage of the vote ever received by a Republican gubernatorial nominee in Arkansas. Prior to his service as governor, he had been elected lieutenant governor in a 1993 special election and was elected to a full four-year term in 1994.
Governor Huckabee’s surprising campaign for the Republican nomination for President in 2008 resulted in a second place finish to Senator John McCain and established a national following for his conservative principles. Upon the conclusion of the race, Huckabee formed HuckPac to assist like-minded Republicans in their quests for public office. Since its formation, HuckPac has amassed an army of volunteers mobilized in all 50 states.
Huckabee’s career before politics was spent as a denominational leader and pastor. He became the Arkansas Baptist State Convention’s youngest president and led rapidly growing congregations in Pine Bluff and Texarkana. In multiple interviews, he has cited these early experiences as guides to the deep problems facing individuals and families.
The year of 2003 proved a pivotal year in the life of Governor Huckabee. Diagnosed with Type II diabetes, he undertook a nationally recognized effort to improve his weight and ultimately shed 110 pounds. Within two years, he completed four marathons: The 2005 and 2006 Little Rock Marathons, the Marine Corps Marathon and the ING New York City Marathon. As a result of his accomplishments, The Road Runners Club of America named him its ‘Southern Region Runner of the Year’ and USA Track & Field has named him their ‘Athlete of the Week’ for the country. As a result of his personal experiences and interactions with thousands of individuals, Huckabee began a national emphasis on healthy and improved lifestyles. During this time, he completed his fourth book, Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork, providing a 12-stop program to manage health through lifestyle change rather than simple diet and exercise.
Huckabee is an avid musician and plays bass guitar in his rock-n-roll band, Capitol Offense. The band has opened for artists such as Willie Nelson and the Charlie Daniels Band, and has played the House of Blues in New Orleans and for two presidential inauguration balls. He and house band, “The Little Rockers,” are featured each week in the musical segment of his Fox News Channel program. His hobbies also include hunting and fishing. He was named one of the 25 most influential people for conservation by Outdoor Life magazine and was previously American Sportfishing Association’s Man of the Year.
He and wife, Janet, live in North Little Rock. They have three grown children: John Mark, David and Sarah.