NAME: Bruce D. Benson.

BORN: July 4, 1938.

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in geology, University of Colorado.

PROFESSIONAL: Owner of Benson Mineral Group Inc., 1965-present; chief executive officer and president of United States Exploration Inc., 1997-2004.

PUBLIC SERVICE: Chairman of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, 1986-1989; chairman of Denver Public Schools Foundation since 2002; chairman of Metropolitan State College of Denver board of trustees 2002-2007.

POLITICAL: Colorado Republican Party chairman, 1987-1993; Bush-Quayle National Finance Committee, 1992; Republican nominee for Colorado governor, 1994; Colorado finance chairman for Bush-Cheney re-election campaign, 2003-2004; campaign chairman for Pete Coors for U.S. Senate, 2004; Romney for President national co-chair.

PERSONAL: Married to Marcy Head Benson; three children, eight grandchildren.

IN HIS WORDS: "I don't think you need to have a Ph.D. in anything to talk to legislators and raise money."