Psychologist/Humorist Wendell Cox Set Spices Up Annual Banquet His job is “to put a smile on faces, informa- tion in minds, motivation in hearts, inspira- To Make A Special Address tion in spirits and to make the program planner look good,” said Dr. Charles Petty, Wendell Cox, a senior fellow with The Los Angeles Transportation Commission, who will be the featured speaker at this Heartland Institute and principal of where he authored the tax amendment that year’s annual RTA banquet. Wendell Cox Consultancy, an internation- provided the initial funding for building Petty will inform attendees about the al public policy firm, is set to make a spe- light rail and the subway. He was elected importance of family, based on his experi- ence from “the school of cial address at the Annual RTA chairman of the American Public Transit hard knocks.” His parents Convention. Association Planning and Policy divorced when he was Cox has provided consulting assistance Committee and Governing Boards six; his mother died three years later; he lived in a to the U.S. Department of Transportation Committee. blended family; his father andW was certified by the Urban Mass More recently, Cox served three years and younger brother were Transportation Administration as an as the director of public policy for the killed in a car accident expert for the duration of its Public- American Legislative Exchange Council, when he was 16; and he ended up in foster care Dr. Charles Petty Private Transportation Network Program where he oversaw the development of before he began an exciting career that (1986-1993). He has consulted for public state model legislation and policy reports. included serving for seven years as a senior transit authorities in the United States, In 1999, he was appointed to the Amtrak staff member in the North Carolina gover- Canada, Australia and New Zealand and Reform Council by the U.S. Speaker of nor’s office. He is founder and president of Family Success Unlimited and is known as a for many public policy organizations. the House of Representatives to fill the family humorist. As a Certified Speaking Cox was appointed by Los Angeles unexpired term of New Jersey Gov. Professional, Petty is sure to have attendees Mayor Tom Bradley to three terms on the Christine Todd Whitman. § laughing as well as learning. § Trus Joist 7 1/4 x 4 3/4 Bw coming camera ready@blue- lines 24 CROSSTIES • JULY/AUGUST 2003.