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March 15, 2001
NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Nicor announced today that Charlie Thurston, vice president governmental affairs will retire effective April 1. Russ Strobel, senior vice president and general counsel, will assume the legislative and regulatory affairs responsibilities.
Thurston's career at Nicor has spanned 39 years, during which he has had assignments in engineering, sales, division operations, community relations and regulatory/legislative affairs. He has served in his current position since 1996.
"Charlie has contributed to Nicor through many roles over the years," said Tom Fisher, chairman, president and CEO. "While his career spanned all aspects of company operations, Charlie leaves a proud legacy of the relationships he built with the many external constituencies that shaped public policies affecting our business. He is a respected voice in the public arena, and we wish Charlie many years of happiness in retirement."
Russ Strobel takes on his new responsibilities after joining Nicor in December 2000. Prior to that, he was a partner in the Chicago law firms of Jenner & Block and Altheimer & Grey, where he concentrated his practice in complex and emergency litigation. Over the last 23 years he has represented a wide variety of clients in both the public and private sectors, including Nicor, El Paso Energy, Ameritech, the City of Chicago, and various Illinois State agencies.
"I am delighted and honored to undertake this role for Nicor," said Strobel. "Charlie Thurston has been an outstanding representative for Nicor, and leaves behind a record of professionalism, integrity and achievement. I look forward to building on Charlie's legacy in the years to come."
A Winnetka resident, Strobel, 48, earned his bachelor of arts degree from Northwestern University and his juris doctor magna cum laude from the University of Illinois. He is a member of the American, Illinois and Chicago Bar Associations and serves on the Judicial Evaluation Committee of the Chicago Bar Association. In civic and charitable activities, he is director and secretary of the U.S.O. of Illinois, Inc., and a director of the Film Center at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
(NYSE: GAS) is a holding company. Its principal businesses are Nicor Gas, one of the nation's largest gas distribution companies, and Tropical Shipping, a containerized shipping business that operates between Florida and the Caribbean. Nicor also owns several unregulated energy-related businesses and is a partner in Nicor Energy, a provider of retail energy products and services. For more information, visit the Nicor website at www.nicor.com. |
