CHEYENNE - Gov. Dave Freudenthal announced today that he has appointed seven community and business leaders to the council charged with developing the University of Wyoming's newly formed School of Energy Resources.

They are:

* Bobby Shackouls, recently retired chairman, president and CEO of Burlington Resources Inc.

* Tom Stroock, a former U.S. ambassador and longtime Wyoming businessman.

* Ron Harper, CEO and general manager of Basin Electric and Basin Cooperative Services.

* Keith Rattie, chairman, president and CEO of Questar Corp.

* Paul Lang, president of Western operations for Arch Coal Inc.

* Mark Davies, general manager of business development for Rio Tinto Energy America.

* Rob Wallace, manager of government relations for GE Energy.

"These gentlemen have spent literally decades in nationally recognized leadership roles in the energy industry," Freudenthal said in a press release. "We are truly fortunate that they will lend their expertise to realizing the state's vision of a School of Energy Resources that will bring the University of Wyoming to the forefront of energy-related science, technology and economics research."

For more details read Thursday's Casper Star-Tribune.