Pike Powers has played a key role in attracting and retaining several high-tech companies and research centers in Austin over the past few decades. These include the MCC computer research consortium in 1983, 3M research operations in 1984, Sematech chip research consortium in 1991, Applied Materials' largest chip equipment plant in 1996, Samsung's first computer chip plant in 1996, and Sematech rejecting a move to New York and keeping its main site in Austin in 2004. As an economic development leader in Central Texas for 24 years, Powers helped set up an important meeting between Gov. Perry and the head of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to discuss funding for nanotechnology research, which could help establish Texas as a leader

1. R R
11.A.1.Folio
5 15 25 50
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
TEXAS BASKETBALL: Men cruise past Iowa State; women shocked by Kansas at buzzer SPORTS Home, sweet
ready-built home
Grammy watch Culture and cattle Manufactured homes
Austin’s Conspirare, up for two Straddling both worlds, Fort Worth has look custom-made but
awards, is a different type of something for everyone TRAVEL cost much less
nominee LIFE & ARTS STATESMANHOMES
$1.60 Final statesman.com Sunday, February 11, 2007
Pike’s greatest hits
Pike Powers had a key role in landing and keeping
high-tech facilities for Austin:
City’s tech godfather guides new growth
Jeffrey, the head of a key federal leader in an area that is expected to When a friend asked a few days
1983: MCC computer research
consortium
Nanotech push is next up research agency. spawn thousands of companies and later what Powers had been doing
1984: 3M research operations for lawyer who helped Perry had summoned the group to jobs over the next decade. there, he cracked, “I’m the only guy
1988: Sematech chip research demonstrate Texas’ determination Though the meeting was the who is talking to everybody else.”
consortium
lure, keep top companies to move up to the big leagues of governor’s show, Austin lawyer For 24 years, Powers has been
1991: Largest plant of chip equip- By Kirk Ladendorf nanotechnology research. Pike Powers was right in the middle perhaps the leading economic de-
ment maker Applied Materials AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Jeffrey heads the National Insti- of it. He had courted Jeffrey and velopment rainmaker for Central
1996: Samsung computer chip tute of Standards and Technology, helped set up the important gather- Texas, a catalytic force in helping
plant In November, Gov. Rick Perry which will play a central role in ing, which included top executives build the region’s high-tech
2004: Sematech rejects New York brought a roomful of high-tech doling out federal grants for nano- from the state’s three major uni- foundation.
state, keeps main site here power players to the Governor’s technology research. Access to that versity systems and the CEO of
Mansion to pay court to William money can help Texas become a Texas Instruments. See TECH, A15
2006: Second Samsung chip plant
Robert King Wilk-
$65 million
sweet
erson spent dec-
ades in prison. It
was there that he
for jail is
learned how to
make pralines.
FREEDOM
Found innocent after 30 years, one man cooks up a new life
a quick fix
With populations,
costs growing, Travis
Travis County
jail population
is rethinking how it Average daily inmate count
deals with inmates 2,658
2,535
2,262 2,334
By Marty Toohey
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Travis County is about to
approve a $65 million expan-
sion of its jail at Del Valle. But 2003 2004 2005 2006
the project will be, at best, a
short-term fix for prison Source: Travis County
crowding and could actually
reduce the amount of jail space Linda Scott AMERICAN-STATESMAN
available.
And county leaders could great ills for us beyond maybe
have to ask voters to approve a half-dozen years. I think it’s
millions more as soon as five clear at this point, incarcera-
years from now. tion has to be looked at differ-
The county has also begun ently.”
implementing programs that Travis County has two jails:
are seen as alternatives to one at Del Valle and one in
building more jail space. But downtown Austin. The expan-
the ideas are largely untested, sion project will replace sev-
leaving the county with an ex- eral old buildings at Del Valle
pensive proposition. with a large one that can house
“I know we’ll be spending a 1,336 inmates.
lot of money on something” to But when it’s finished, the
deal with crowding at the jail, expansion will actually reduce
County Commissioner Gerald the number of inmates Travis
Daugherty said. “We can’t ex-
pect this facility to cure a lot of See JAIL, A7
Laura Skelding photos AMERICAN-STATESMAN
From his Austin kitchen, Robert King Wilkerson makes his livelihood. Wilkerson was one of the Angola Three,
Louisiana Black Panther prisoners held in solitary confinement. He was declared innocent in 2001 and set free.
Story by Eric Dexheimer y American-Statesman staff
New rules can’t stop
Candy lovers recognize two types of pralines. The one pronounced with the long“a” is a French confection
that’s clear and firm and snaps like peanut brittle. The other, commonly associated with New Orleans and
lobbyists’ cash flow
usually pronounced “PRAH-leen,” is made by beating the sugar mixture while it is warm. The city’s dense
humidity produces a candy of softer consistency: rich, sweet and resilient.
Lawmakers still enjoy lobbyist), martinis and mar-
garitas at Washington restau-
ski trips, concerts, rants (at least $1,000), hunting
R
obert King Wilkerson eases out of of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina, and some and fishing trips (typically
bed. He pulls on a black shirt, a friends here offered to help out. $2,500 kaffeeklatsch $5,000), weekend golf tourna-
watch cap and sandals, and shuffles The duplex is more studio than apartment. Wilk- ments (at least $2,500), a Pres-
into the tiny kitchen of his East erson makes the bed next to the dining room table By David D. Kirkpatrick idents Day weekend at Disney
every morning. Paper clutter is placed into tidy piles THE NEW YORK TIMES
Austin duplex. World ($5,000), parties in
The shirt covers his tattoos, most set at right angles. South Beach in Miami ($5,000),
The room is filled with panther statues. There is a WASHINGTON — The 110th
self-inscribed decades ago using concerts by the Who or Bob
large wooden one on the floor, the old base of a hip Congress opened with the pas-
pencil lead. A long dagger extends Seger ($2,500 for two seats) and
1970s coffee table. Jungle cats stalk across the TV and sage of sweeping rules intend-
down his left forearm; a spider rests on his left hand. Broadway shows such as
a shelf. ed to curb the influence of lob-
The tops of his fingers say “L-O-V-E” and, below that, ‘‘Mary Poppins’’ and ‘‘The
Photographs, lined neatly on shelves or tables and byists by prohibiting them
“H-A-T-E.” The initials of a long-ago girlfriend grace Drowsy Chaperone’’ (also
stuck to the refrigerator, depict Black Panthers of the from treating lawmakers to
his right forearm. $2,500 for two).
human variety. meals, trips, stadium box seats
He assembles his ingredients: butter, milk, sugar, The lobbyists and their em-
Here is Wilkerson next to Geronimo Pratt, a Pan- or the discounted use of private
baking soda, vanilla and salt. He pulls a pot off a high ployers typically pay for the
ther organizer who spent 27 years in prison. jets.
shelf. events, but within the new
Here is Wilkerson standing between two new But it didn’t take long for
“I was arrested in 1961 for armed robbery,” he be- rules.
members of the party last year. Their faces are fierce, lawmakers to find ways to keep
gins. “Did I do it? Nah, not that one. But I wasn’t ready Instead of picking up the tab
masked by dark Malcolm X glasses. Their fists are having fun while lobbyists
to pay no poetic justice. Gee whiz, I was just a young directly, lobbyists pay a polit-
raised. pick up the tab.
man. I’d only been out of the reformatory for a year. ical fundraising committee,
Wilkerson is the one in the middle, smiling. In the past two months, law-
“I got sentenced to 10 years,” he says. “That was the and the committee pays the
makers invited lobbyists to
first time.” lawmaker’s way. The prices
help pay for a catalog of out-
He moved to Austin last year after being chased out See SWEET, A7 listed are for lobbyists with
ings: lavish birthday parties in
a lawmaker’s honor ($1,000 a See MONEY, A11
IN LIFE & ARTS IN THIS SECTION COMING THIS WEEK INDEX W E AT H E R
20 percent chance
‘Secret’ is out And they’re off Right mix Roaring Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H1-8
of rain.
Film teaches viewers Obama launches of hot stuff into town Deaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B6-7
Editorials, Opinion . . . . G2-3 High: 58 Low: 55
to ask for what they campaign on Lin- For Valentine’s ‘The Lion Insight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G1-4 Details, B8 and online at
want in life, but coln’s turf; as Clinton Day, meet King’ crowns Life & Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . J1-16
statesman.com/weather
you’ll hear about the returns to New Metro & State . . . . . . . . . B1-8
Austin chefs Disney’s run
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C1-10
movie only by word Hampshire, some who sizzle. on Broadway. ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
of mouth – and here, wonder about hus- Classifieds .............. Section E
Wednesday Thursday ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
too. J1 band’s role. A10 in Food & Life in XL For home delivery, call 445-4040
R R