Ron Kirk
| Ron Kirk | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 16th United States Trade Representative | |
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In office March 18, 2009 – March 15, 2013 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Demetrios Marantis |
| Preceded by | Susan Schwab |
| Succeeded by | Demetrios Marantis (Acting) |
| 57th Mayor of Dallas | |
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In office June 5, 1995 – February 20, 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Steve Bartlett |
| Succeeded by | Laura Miller |
| 97th Secretary of State of Texas | |
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In office April 4, 1994 – January 17, 1995 |
|
| Governor | Ann Richards |
| Preceded by | John Hannah |
| Succeeded by | Tony Garza |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
June 27, 1954 Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Matrice Ellis |
| Children | 2 daughters |
| Alma mater |
Austin College (BA) University of Texas, Austin (JD) |
Ronald "Ron" Kirk (born June 27, 1954) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party.
Born in Austin, Texas, Kirk is a graduate of Austin's John H. Reagan High School (where General Mark Welsh, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force in the Obama Administration, was one year ahead of him), Austin College and the University of Texas School of Law. From 1994 to 1995, Kirk worked as the Secretary of State of Texas, until he was elected as the Mayor of Dallas, where he served from 1995 to 2002 and was the first African-American to hold either of those positions. He ran for the United States Senate in 2002, but was defeated by Republican opponent John Cornyn. After his defeat, Kirk worked as a partner at the Houston-based law firm Vinson & Elkins and worked as a lobbyist for Energy Future Holdings and Merrill Lynch.
Kirk was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as U.S. Trade Rep and on March 18, 2009, and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 92–5 confirmation vote. On January 22, 2013, Kirk announced that he would be stepping down as U.S. Trade Rep.
Born in Austin, Texas, Kirk is the youngest of four children; his father was a U.S. postal worker and the family was politically active. He grew up in a predominantly black community, and attended Austin's public schools. He was a leader in high school, and was elected student council president in his senior year at John H. Reagan High School (Austin, Texas).
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