DCCCD Foundation Board member and Rising Star Legacy Leader Don A. Buchholz has been appointed as a member of the University of North Texas System Board of Regents.

Governor Rick Perry appointed Buchholz, former Secretary of State Gwyn Shea of Irving and rancher and investor Jack A. Wall of Dallas to serve as regents until May 2013.

Mr. Buchholz is chairman of the Board of Directors of SWS Group, Inc. (SWS), a Dallas-based, financial services company with subsidiaries engaged in providing securities clearing, securities brokerage, investment banking and banking services.

Mr. Buccholz is also a long-time supporter of the DCCCD. From 1978 to 1997, he served as a member of DCCCD Board of Trustees, including two terms as president. Mr. Buchholz also helped launched the DCCCD’s Rising Star Scholarship Program in its early phase by providing a $1 million gift outright.

“Don has been a leader in shaping the quality of education in Dallas and in the State of Texas through the years,” DCCCD Chancellor Wright Lassiter said. “He has been deeply involved in the community and has a profound commitment to providing citizens from all backgrounds with access to quality education and training.

"His appointment is the perfect choice for UNT and well-deserved,” Dr. Lassiter said. “Although he will devote his duties as UNT’s Regent, he will still be deeply connected with the DCCCD and the Foundation.”

Active in community affairs, Mr. Buchholz serves as a member of the UNT Foundation Board and a member of the Board of Advisors for the UNT College of Business Administration. He is also a Director of the National Center for Policy Analysis, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy research organization based in Dallas.

He also served as president of the Board of Trustees of the Garland (Texas) Independent School District. In addition, he served two terms (1990-1996) on the Baylor University Hankamer School of Business Advisory Board, including as Chairman in 1995-96. Most recently, Mr. Buchholz served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and as a Director for the Old Red Courthouse, Inc.

Mr. Buchholz co-founded Southwest Securities, Inc., SWS Group's principal brokerage subsidiary in 1972. He also serves on the Board of Directors of U.S. Home Systems, Inc. (USHS), a leading manufacturer, designer, and marketer of custom quality specialty home improvement products, and Southwest Securities, FSB, SWS Group's subsidiary bank.

Professionally, Mr. Buchholz is an allied member of the New York Stock Exchange and an associate member of the American Stock Exchange. He previously served as a member of the Board of Governors of the New York Stock Exchange. He also served on the Boards of Directors of the Securities Industry Association (SIA) and the National Association of Securities Dealers. In addition, he served on the Executive Committee of the SIA's South Central District and as President of the Texas Stock and Bond Dealers Association.

November 2007