Talat M. Othman

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Talat M. Othman (b. April 27, 1936 in Betunia, Palestine) is a prominent Palestinian-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
5 External links

[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.