Bush library hopefuls have stacked up

0 Comments | USA TODAY, August, 2005 | by Judy Keen

WACO, Texas -- Baylor University has proximity to President Bush's beloved ranch. Southern Methodist University has a garden dedicated to alumna Laura Bush. Midland College is in the town where they married. Texas A&M has the prospect of a father-son pairing. Arlington has the Texas Rangers, the baseball team Bush once ran.

In the competition to be the home of the George W. Bush presidential library and museum, communities and colleges across Texas are working every angle they've got. The prizes they're competing for are considerable: prestige, tourist dollars and jobs.

Seven colleges or universities and the city of Arlington have until Sept. 15 to submit proposals for the library. They were asked to spell out how they'd raise $200 million to build it and what sorts...