Talat M. Othman

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Talat M. Othman (b. April 27, 1936 in Betunia, Palestine) is a prominent Palistenian-American businessman, investor and Republican fundraiser. Among other things he is notable for having opened the July 31 session of the 2000 Republican National Convention with a dua'a, or Muslim benediction, marking the first time a Muslim had addressed a major US political gathering.

1 Career synopsis
2 Other affiliations
3 Footnotes
4 References

[edit] Career synopsis

1947 – emigrated to the United States with his family.
early-mid 1970s – executive in the International Banking Department of Harris Trust and Savings Bank in Chicago.
1987 – joined the board of Harken Energy to represent the interests of Abdullah Taha Bakhsh. Served as chair of the three member Audit Committee of which George W. Bush was a member.
1990 – among 15 Arab-Americans invited to the White House after Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait.^[1]
1995 – formed Grove Financial, Inc. of Chicago and currently serves as its Chairman and CEO.
2000 – opened the July 31, 2000 session of the RNC with a Muslim benediction.^[2]
April 4, 2002 – Othman joins Islamic Institute head Khaled Saffuri in a meeting with Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill (arranged by Grover Norquist) as representatives of the Muslim-American community, to voice complaints about the March 20 raid on the International Institute of Islamic Thought and 19 related entities.

[edit] Other affiliations

former board member of the Illinois Finance Authority.
member of the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations Independent Task Force.
Middle East Policy Council, boardmember.
American Task Force on Palestine, Secretary / Treasurer.
American Muslim Council, founding chairman.
chairman, Islamic Institute, founded by Grover Norquist and Yaqub Mirza.
boardmember, Amana Mutual Funds Trust, along with Jamal Barzinji and Yaqub Mirza.
trustee for the Amana Growth Fund and the Amana Income Fund managed by Saturna Capital.
others: Bank One Wisconsin Corp, Dansk International Design, Hartmarx Corp, Tejas Power Corp and PathoGenesis Corp.