WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Richard Simmons has been reappointed by Attorney General Janet Reno as United States Trustee for Region 7, which comprises the Southern and Western Districts of Texas.

      Simmons was first appointed United States Trustee for the region on Aug. 8, 1994. Throughout his legal career, Simmons has specialized in bankruptcy law, representing both debtors and creditors and handling cases under Chapters 7, 11, and 13. Before his first appointment as United States Trustee, he was a partner with the Houston law firm of Nathan, Wood & Sommers, where he worked for 12 years. Prior to that, Simmons worked for E.I. DuPont de Nemours in Delaware, and clerked for Bankruptcy Judge William Schultz in Houston.

      Simmons received both a Bachelors Degree and a Masters in Arts from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He served as public affairs director for the Columbus Metropolitan Area Community Action Organization before earning his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 1977.

      The principal office for Region 7 is located in Houston. Other offices are located in San Antonio, Austin, and Corpus Christi. Simmons' five-year term took effect Aug. 9, 1999.

      The United States Trustee Program is an arm of the Justice Department that supervises the administration of bankruptcy cases nationwide.

Contact:     Richard Simmons
                   United States Trustee, Region 7
                   (713) 718-4650

                   Jane Limprecht, Public Information Officer
                   Executive Office for United States Trustees
                   (202) 305-7411