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Cliff Redd Retires as Executive Director of The Long Center

Cliff Redd, who has served as Executive Director of the Long Center for the Performing Arts since 2004, announced last week that he will retire. The Long Center's board of directors accepted Redd's retirement request in a meeting Monday night, July 19th.

In recognition of his many years of service, the board named Redd "Executive Director Emeritus - a title he will hold in perpetuity.

"The Long Center for the Performing Arts would not have been built without Cliff Redd at the helm as Eexecutive Director, and the entire board is extraordinarily grateful for his achievements, his loyalty, his creativity and his passion," said Craig Hester, chair of the board.

Hester said the board would immediately launch a search for his replacement. Paul Beutel, currently the managing director of The Long Center, will serve as the Interim Executive Director until a replacement can be found.

"It has been extraordinarily gratifying work to successfully complete the capital campaign and to raise over $83 million in this community, build our beautiful new Long Center on budget and on time, and to so successfully launch it into the daily lives of our community," said Redd. "I have made friendships that I will treasure and keep with me for the balance of my life."

For more information on The Long Center and the 2010-11 season of performances, visit www.TheLongCenter.org.

(Paul Beutel [left] and Cliff Redd; photo by Michael Barnes, courtesy Austin360.com)