San Antonio’s A Conversation With a Living Legend® to honor Dr. Condoleezza Rice

Former CNN CEO Tom Johnson to conduct interview at dinner benefiting MD Anderson

MD Anderson News Release November 15, 2016

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will honor former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the seventh annual San Antonio A Conversation With a Living Legend®, Dec. 5 at the Marriott Rivercenter. Tom Johnson, former CEO of CNN, will interview Dr. Rice at the dinner event, the third in Texas to honor the former Secretary of State – an unprecedented feat for any legend honored by MD Anderson thus far.

A Conversation With a Living Legend® will support MD Anderson’s Moon Shots Program™, an accelerated, comprehensive effort to rapidly and significantly reduce deaths from cancer and transform cancer care. To date, the event already has raised almost $400,000, with San Antonio’s Claire and John Alexander and Marsha and John Shields spearheading fundraising efforts as event chairs.

“San Antonians are making a direct impact in the fight to end cancer through their support of A Conversation With a Living Legend,” said Marsha Shields, event chair and chair-elect of MD Anderson’s Board of Visitors. “We’re excited to lead this effort to advance MD Anderson’s mission to end cancer in Texas, the nation and the world.”

In addition to the Rice-Johnson conversation, the program will include remarks from Ronald A. DePinho, M.D., president of MD Anderson. Honorary chairs include Peggy and Lowry Mays and Charline and Red McCombs. Immediate past chairs are Sonya Medina Williams and Gene Williams. Founding chairs are Kim and Clyde Johnson IV and Paula and Clyde Johnson III.

“We are honored to be joined by Dr. Rice for this unforgettable evening,” said John Alexander. “Her many accomplishments provide inspiration for all involved with MD Anderson and the fight to end cancer. We’re looking forward to a wonderful event.”

Since the event first began in the Alamo City, San Antonio-area business and community leaders have devoted countless hours to A Conversation With a Living Legend®, raising nearly $2 million to date for
lifesaving programs, unique treatments and novel research at MD Anderson. The signature format has been used across the country in cities such as Houston, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas and Atlanta.

Title Sponsors are Lewis Energy Group and The Rod & Kim Lewis Foundation. Presenting sponsor is the Mays Family Foundation. Other major supporters include:

U.S. Secretary of State ($25,000):
Claire and John Alexander
McCombs Foundation

National Security Adviser ($15,000):
Silver Eagle Distributers
Valero Energy Foundation

Professor ($10,000):
Estela Avery
Food Safety Net Services
Leo Daniel Foundation
Quincy and Estine Lee Charitable Foundation
John H. and Marsha Shields
Gary Woods

Dr. Rice served as the 66th U.S. Secretary of State from 2005 to 2009. She was the second woman and first African-American woman to hold the post. Dr. Rice also was the first woman to hold the position of assistant to the president for national security affairs, under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. She is a professor of political economy in the Graduate School of Business and of political science at Stanford University.

Tom Johnson is an active member of MD Anderson’s Board of Visitors. He has advanced the institution’s mission in numerous capacities for many years, including serving as the interviewer for A Conversation With a Living Legend® in San Antonio five times in the past seven years. Johnson began his career as an intern on The Macon Telegraph. His career includes stints as editor and CEO of the Dallas Times Herald, president and publisher of the Los Angeles Times and president, chairman and CEO of the CNN News Group.

For event information, call 866-262-9029 and press 5 to leave a message or email events@mdanderson.org.