Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales received a standing ovation after giving a flag waving talk to the Murfreesboro Rotary Club on Tuesday (7/29/2014). 

Judge Gonzales told how we must work to keep the American dream alive. Noting that other countries and less fortunate people look to us for leadership. The former Texas Secretary of State as well as Supreme Court Justice in the Lone Star state commented . . .

Gonzales was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as attorney general from 2005 to 2007. He still holds the honor of being the highest ranking Hispanic in the executive branch of the federal government. 

He told the local Rotarians how "dreams come true in America". His father had a second grade education and was both a migrant worker and was in construction. However, as a child, Alberto always studied hard and was an honors student each year of high school. He enlisted in the Air Force and his work was so noticed that he was invited to pre-school at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he made the Dean's List each semester.  

After the Air Force, Gonzales had another dream to come true. As a kid, he sold soft drinks at Rice University football games. He always wanted to go there, and now his credits with the Air Force were accepted by Rice. Not only did Gonzales earn his bachelor's degree in political science from there, but he then was accepted by Harvard where he received a Juris Doctor degree in 1982. 

While living in Washington, his mother came to visit him and surprised him one morning with the breakfast of eggs and beans that she made when he was a youngster. Alberto then surprised her with a tour of the White House, and a visit to the Oval Office where she spoke with the president. 

All of this tied to his comments, "Where else but in America, can someone grow from poverty to success?" 

On June 1, 2014, he was named Dean of Belmont University's College of Law.