Governor Greg Abbott has announced initial members of the Texas Bicentennial Commission, which will focus on preparations for the 200th anniversary of Texas’ independence in 2036. The bicentennial celebration is slated to feature key statewide initiatives including a $52 million transformation of the Washington-on-the-Brazos site, the development of the Texas Bicentennial Trail, and policy planning to address future state growth—with, no doubt, plenty of fireworks to help mark the birthday.

Houston’s John L. Nau III will chair the commission, which was created during the 89th Legislature to oversee the planning of the bicentennial anniversary. Nau, a businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, is the former chairman and CEO of Silver Eagle Distributors. His current appointments include being chairman of the Texas Historical Commission and a member of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors and the board of the National Park Foundation. Nau was appointed chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation during the George W. Bush administration.

3 North Texans selected for commission

Three North Texans were selected by the governor for the Texas Bicentennial Commission:

Weatherford’s Taylor Sheridan—the Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and Emmy-nominated producer behind hit Paramount Network series including Yellowstone, Landman, Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, 1923, 1883, Lioness, The Madison, and more—will bring his historical storytelling POV to the commission. Sheridan owns and operates two Texas ranches, including the legendary Four Sixes (6666) Ranch and Bosque Ranch, the governor’s office noted.

Dallas’ Charlotte Jones, the chief brand officer and co-owner of the Dallas Cowboys and president of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, was also selected for the commission. She serves as chairman on the NFL Foundation, and serves on the NFL Conduct Committee, the Health and Safety Committee, and the NFL’s Legalized Sports Betting Committee. She also serves as president of the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Foundation and the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Arlington Youth Foundation, as chairman of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, and as a member on the James Madison Council. 

Dallas’ Jack Martin of Dallas is an entrepreneur, rancher, and globally recognized strategic thought leader. He founded Public Strategies Incorporated, which grew into one of the world’s leading corporate advisory firms. Under his leadership, PSI helped shape the business climate in Texas, and later globally, as an advisor to CEOs and board members, the governor’s office noted. In 2006, WPP Group acquired Public Strategies and subsequently merged it with Hill & Knowlton, creating Hill+Knowlton Strategies. Currently, Martin serves as board chairman at Baylor Scott and White Health. In 2004, First Lady Lady Bird Johnson asked Martin to serve on the board of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation, which supports the educational missions of the LBJ Presidential Library and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin. He previously chaired Texas State University System’s board of regents. His other board leadership positions have included the Caesar Kleberg Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Baylor College of Medicine and the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the Former Texas Rangers Foundation.

Other members range from actor to rancher to U.S. ambassador

The commission’s other members include:

Houston and Galveston’s James Perry “J.P.” Bryan, Jr., the founder and CEO of Torch Energy Advisors. Bryan currently serves as executive director of the Texas State Historical Association, chairman of Lone Star Coastal Alliance, and on the Alamo Church Experience committee. He is a commissioner for the Board of Galveston Pilots and is the founder of the Bryan Museum in Galveston. Bryan is the former president of the Texas Historical Foundation, a former director of The Briscoe Museum, the Brazoria County Historical Museum, and previously served on the Remember the Alamo Foundation Board. He’s also the former chairman of the Institute of Texan Cultures and was previously appointed to the THC by then-Governor George W. Bush. 

Lubbock’s Ashley Bowes Cash is a real estate and oil & gas investor with decades of experience across real estate, land development, banking, ranching, and investing. Cash is serving her second term as a commissioner on the Texas Governor’s Commission for Women and serves on the boards of the Texas Tech Foundation, the National Ranching Heritage Association, the Lubbock Entertainment & Performing Arts Association, the Advisory Board of the Gordon W. Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources at Texas Tech University, and the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. She is vice president and director of the Cash Family Foundation. 

Houston’s Tilman Fertitta is the United States Ambassador to Italy and San Marino. He’s the sole owner of Fertitta Entertainment, which owns the restaurant giant Landry’s, the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casinos, and the NBA’s Houston Rockets. He served as chairman of the board of regents of the University of Houston System for more than 11 years. He now serves as the Chairman of the Houston Police Foundation and supported the creation of the Houston Police Department’s state-of-the-art Tactical Training Center, named in honor of his family, which provides advanced, life-saving training for law enforcement.

Austin’s Joe Gebbia is a co-founder of Airbnb and Samara. Airbnb’s groundbreaking service began in Gebbia’s living room in 2008, the governor’s office noted. Today, Airbnb has spread to nearly 7 million listings in over 220 countries. Gebbia was recently named the first Chief Design Officer of the United States of America, charged with spearheading the overhaul of government websites, aiming to improve the user experience both online and offline for Americans interfacing with the federal government. Gebbia has spoken globally about entrepreneurship and design at TED, Wired, Fast Company, and more. He contributes to philanthropic causes and serves on the boards of Airbnb and Tesla.

Austin’s Zachary Levi is an actor, producer, singer, and author. Best known for his titular role in the hit NBC series Chuck and as the lead superhero in the Shazam! franchise, Levi has also earned critical acclaim for portraying Kurt Warner in American Underdog and winning a SAG Award for his ensemble work in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. His credits also include voicing Flynn Rider in Disney’s Tangled and his Tony-nominated performance in the Broadway revival of She Loves Me. Levi can next be seen starring in upcoming projects like the thriller Hotel Tehran and the western Angel and the Badman. Beyond entertainment, Levi is the author of Radical Love, which explores his journey with mental health and healing as well as creating the mental health non-profit, NerdHQ, with the primary goal of providing access to free therapy to those who can’t afford it. He is currently building Wyldwood Studios, a creative campus for artists to live, work, and play.

You can learn more about what’s coming in 2036—including plans for Washington-on-the-Brazos, where the Republic of Texas began with the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence and ended 10 years later with the vote for annexation—by going here.

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