THE ABILENE REPORTER-NEWS Abilene,Texas,Sun. Morn.,Feb. 4,197) 4-A Gov. Clements Has Started Well In Organization and Good Aides It is, of course, too early to pass definitive judg- ment on Governor Bill Clements but he earns high marks early on in at least two respects. One is on the organization of his office and staff. and the other is the quality of people he has been able to attract to appointive jobs. Sterling examples of the latter are George Strake Jr., of Houston, and Tobin Armstrong, South Texas rancher, one appointed to a salaried job and the other an unpaid volunteer. Strake yielded to persuasion to become Secretary of State, a key official and the top appointive execu- tive office the governor fills. An oilman, Strake had plenty to occupy him in his business. With his per- sonal wealth, the job's $39,900 salary was no attrac- tion. But he came aboard for Clements. Armstrong is one of those unusual fellows who is identified as a husband of a more famous spouse. His wife is Anne Armstrong who formerly was the United States ambassador to Great Britain. Armstrong will be special assistant for govern- ment appointments. He will sift through and seek out people to fill the scores of state boards and com- missions by Clements' appointment. He will serve without pay. Allen B. Clark Jr., a Dallas bank investments manager, is special assistant for administration. Jim 'Caster, 45, former El Paso state representa- tive will handle legislative liaison with the aide of two other former lawmakers. One is Ray Hutchison of Dallas, whom Clements defeated for the GOP gu- bernatorial nomination. He will serve as a volunteer Ed Wisheamper Editor of The Reporter-News coordinator between the governor's office and the legislature for the first 90 days. The third legislative liaison assistant is former Rep. Hilary Doran Jr., of Del Rio. Another unpaid volunteer is Douglas Owen Brown. 53, a Dallas businessman who is special assistant for intergovernmental relations, a liaison job with state departments. Clements named as his press secretary Jon Ford. 58, long time San Antonio and Austin newspaperman and a real pro in the business. He will be assisted by Mark Heckmann, a former Houston Chronicle re- porter and Clements' campaign press man. (An aside: Clements has thus far conducted a very open governorship, making himself frequently available to the press and thus keeping the public in- formed of his views and actions). Clements' personal assistant is a young Dallas man, George Bayoud, his traveling aide and the man responsible for making sure the governor's time is used to best advantage. Tom B. Rhodes, 61, retired general counsel of Cle- ments' own firm, Seth-xi, is serving temporarily as the governor's unpaid fiscal director. Appointment of Brig. Gen. Willie Scott, formerly of Abilene and H-SU, as state adjutant general, was a popular choice with Scott's many friends in this area. David A. Dean, a former Dallas attorney, is Cle- ments' legal counsel. He heads a team of a dozen lawyers and aides who examine pardons, analyze legislative bills and generally provide the governor with legal advice. G.G. Garcia, 41, Harlingen public relations man. was named administrative assistant handling special projects. He was in charge of Clements' Mexico City trip. The latest appointee last week was Joe W. Kirven. 46, a black businessman of Dallas who was named an administrative assistant. Clements said Kirven will be responsible for his equal opportunities pro- gram and for recruiting other appointees. A gauge of the man is that he was named one of five out- standing young Texans by the Texas Junior Cham- ber of Commerce in 1968. Clements' organization plan uses the classic chain of command. He will have eight senior aides report- ing directly to him in the areas for which the gover- nor is responsible. Even those political — government observers who did not support Clements must concede him a good start in the areas of appointments and organization.