Earl T O Laughlin

Harold C. Simmons named a 15-member rival slate for the Lockheed Corp. board of directors Friday, including a number of former defense officials apparently selected to disarm any potential criticism that Simmons' proxy battle for Lockheed would damage U.S. national security. The nominees include former Texas Sen. John G. Tower, who once was chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee; former Air Force Secretary Hans M. Mark; retired Adm.

Harold C. Simmons named a 15-member rival slate for the Lockheed Corp. board of directors Friday, including a number of former defense officials apparently selected to disarm any potential criticism that Simmons' proxy battle for Lockheed would damage U.S. national security. The nominees include former Texas Sen. John G. Tower, who once was chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee; former Air Force Secretary Hans M. Mark; retired Adm.

Lockheed's directors Friday rejected Texas investor Harold C. Simmons' latest bid for seats on the company's board, a move that ensures a second proxy war between the Simmons camp and Lockheed management for control of the aerospace firm. Lockheed's board voted unanimously to rebuff Simmons, who controls NL Industries, a Houston-based chemical company that owns 19.8% of Lockheed. The board was responding to a letter Tuesday from NL President J.

In rival proxy statements formally launching their campaigns for control of Lockheed Corp., Lockheed management and a competing faction led by Texas investor Harold C. Simmons accused each other of lacking the skills to efficiently lead the giant aerospace firm. The Calabasas-based firm's management, in proxy materials mailed to shareholders Thursday, sought to contrast its performance with that of Simmons-controlled NL Industries, a Houston-based chemical firm that owns 19.8% of Lockheed stock.