Cities Vie For Presidential Library

Baylor has purchased more than 100 acres on the banks of the Brazos River near downtown Waco and Interstate 35 as a potential site for the library. The spot also is close to the president's ranch in Crawford, and is centrally located between Dallas and Austin.

"We've got a chance on location alone," said Kelly, who teaches economics at Baylor.

But location may not be enough. No doubt money, politics and prestige also will come into play as cities and universities across Texas scramble to complete bids for the library before Thursday's deadline.

In addition to Baylor, institutions competing for the library may include Midland College, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, the University of Dallas and the University of Texas System.

The city of Arlington also is offering land beside the home of the Texas Rangers baseball team, for which Bush served as managing partner in the early 1990s.

Not since the demise of the Southwest Conference have so many Texas universities vied for the same prize.

Note from edgarblythe: "Speaking as a resident of the Houston area, I would like very much to see it located in El Paso, or Amarillo."