Governor Rick Perry has announced the appointment of Comer Cottrell of Plano to the Texas Racing Commission for a term to expire February 1, 2007. Mr. Cottrell will replace former Racing Commission Vice Chairman Dr. Jim Schultz, who was appointed to the Commission in 1996.

Cottrell is the founder of Pro-Line Hair Products. He is a trustee of Northwood University in Cedar Hill as well as a member of the Dallas Citizens Council, Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and the North Texas Commission.

Cottrell is the former chairman of the Texas Cosmetology Commission and former vice chairman of the Texas Youth Commission. He is the former chairman of the American Health and Beauty Aids Institute and a former board member of the NAACP, YMCA, and the Baylor University Foundation. Cottrell is also a former vice president of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce and previously served as a trustee of the National Urban League, Compton College Foundation and Paul Quinn College.

Cottrell is former partner and co-owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team, owner of FCC Investment Corporation, former chairman of Dallas Family Hospital, and director of the Better Business Bureau.

Cottrell received a bachelor's degree from the University of Detroit. He is also the brother of Jim Cottrell, who is a former board member of the Texas Thoroughbred Association.

Mr. Cottrell is expected to make his first appearance at a Texas Racing Commission meeting at the agency's next regular meeting on May 9. Although those meetings are typically held in Austin, the May 9 meeting is scheduled to take place in College Station, Texas.

Mr. Cottrell's appointment is subject to Senate confirmation, which should occur in the 2003 legislative session.