Mike Moses Elected to SWS Group, Inc. Board of Directors; Higher Ed Holdings Education Official Selected to Fill Vacancy

DALLAS, March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dr. Mike Moses, vice chairman of Higher Ed Holdings, LLC, has been elected to the Board of Directors of SWS Group, Inc. , a Dallas-based investment and financial services holding company.

"Mike Moses is an accomplished businessman who has a great deal to offer as a board member," said SWS Group Chairman of the Board Don Buchholz. "We are pleased that he has agreed to serve and look forward to working with him as we continue to build the leading securities clearing, brokerage and banking organization in this region."

Dr. Moses has served in his current position since October 2004. Higher Ed Holdings develops education programs for teachers and administrators and is focused on improving teacher training and redesigning high schools throughout the nation. Prior to joining Higher Ed Holdings, Dr. Moses had served in Texas public education for more than 30 years. He was general superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) immediately prior to assuming his current position.

From 1999 to 2000, Dr. Moses was deputy chancellor of the Texas Tech University System with responsibilities that included government relations, development and institutional advancement, among others. From 1995 to 1999, he served as Texas Commissioner of Education, appointed twice by then Governor George W. Bush and confirmed by the Texas Senate.

As superintendent of DISD from 2000 to 2004, Dr. Moses spearheaded the successful January 2002 school bond election, a $1.37 billion capital improvement program to renovate existing schools and build 20 new schools. He also oversaw the conclusion of a 33-year-old desegregation lawsuit and directed district initiatives that led to significant gains and improvements in student achievement.

A native of Nacogdoches, Texas, Dr. Moses earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University and his doctorate from Texas A&M University at Commerce. He also studied at the Superintendents' Work Conference at Columbia University in New York.

Author and co-author of numerous articles on student performance, accountability and teacher preparation, Dr. Moses has appeared before legislative committees on more than 30 occasions and was invited to address the United States Congress freshman class concerning issues in public education.

Among the awards Dr. Moses has received are the Texas Business and Education Coalition's Distinguished Service Award and Texas A&M University's Golden Deeds Award in Education. He has also been named Distinguished Alumnus at both Texas A&M University at Commerce and at Stephen F. Austin State University.

SWS Group, Inc. is a Dallas-based holding company that offers a broad range of investment and financial services through its subsidiaries. The company's common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWS. Subsidiaries include Southwest Securities, Inc., SWS Financial Services, Inc., Southwest Securities, FSB, and Southwest Insurance Agency.