Representative Tryon D. Lewis, District 81

03/19/2015

ABBOTT NAMES TRYON LEWIS CHAIR OF TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

Gov. Greg Abbott elevated Tryon Lewis on Wednesday to chair of the Texas Transportation Commission, about a month after appointing him to the board, which oversees the Texas Department of Transportation.

Abbott in February names Lewis, the former District 81 representative, to the commission to replace Commissioner Fred Underwood. The governor also appointed San Antonio businessman J. Bruce Bugg Jr. to replace chairman Ted Houghton.

But the governor did not name a chair until Wednesday.

Lewis was confirmed by the Texas Senate on Tuesday.

The appointment should mean greater influence by an Odessan on the commission at a time when area suffers from a rash of wrecks and strained roadway infrastructure. The term expires at the pleasure of Abbott.

“It’s going to be a great deal of work, but I very much appreciate the governor’s trust in me and in my ability to do this,” Lewis said, according to the Associated Press. “… The other commissioners, the other four people I’ll be serving with, are just world-class people. We are lucky to have their service. Texas is lucky to have their service and I’m very lucky to serve with them.”

Posted: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 10:15 am
Odessa American [email protected]

02/14/2015

GOVERNOR APPOINTS TRYON LEWIS TO TEXAS TRANSPORTION COMMISSION

Republican from Odessa served in Texas House since 2008

Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed former House Rep. Tryon Lewis, R-Odessa, for a spot on the Texas Transportation Commission.

Also appointed was San Antonio businessman J. Bruce Bugg Jr. The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation. The terms expire Feb. 1, 2021.

Lewis, a former state district judge, served in the Texas House from 2008 until his retirement this year. He succeeded the late Buddy West.

The commission has five members. Chair Ted Houghton and Commissioner Fred Underwood are coming off the board.

TxDOT is governed by the five-member Texas Transportation Commission and an executive director selected by the commission, its website said. Commission members serve overlapping six-year terms and are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

“It’s a great honor to be considered for something like that and for the governor to place your name in nomination…,” Lewis said Thursday. “Gov. Abbott has a definite policy to address transportation issues that he is pursuing.”

Lewis noted that transportation needs, not only in the Permian Basin, but elsewhere in Texas are “huge.”

“I know the governor is very conscious of that and wants to do everything he can on that,” he said. “I’m excited to be a part of that, subject to the paperwork going to the Senate and the Senate confirming (me).”

Former transportation commissioner Ray Stoker, an attorney with Shafer, Davis, O'Leary & Stoker, Inc., was on the commission from July 1985 until January 1993, serving under governors Mark White, Bill Clements and Ann Richards.

Commissioners look at the statewide transportation system with an eye toward addressing local problems as they occur, Stoker said.

“It’s very helpful to have someone on the commission who is mindful of the problems in West Texas, and in particular, the problems created by the heavy transport trucks in the oil and gas industry. There will be a lot of resurfacing done in West Texas,” Stoker said.

“I’m proud for Tryon that he’s been nominated,” he added. “He should have no trouble being confirmed by the Senate.”

Stoker said the commission, which had three members when he was on it, meets once a month in various locations around Texas and committee meetings are held regularly. At the time, TxDOT had 15,000 employees; it now has 13,500, he said.

He practiced law in Odessa from 1973-1984, focusing mainly on civil litigation.

In 1985, he took office as 161st State District Court judge, serving in that capacity until February 2006. After that, he returned to practicing law.

While in the legislature, Lewis was chairman of the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee from 2013-15 and was co-chair of the Joint House Senate Committee on Judicial Selection in 2014.

Lewis now is a partner with the Odessa firm of Atkins, Hollman, Jones, Peacock, Lewis and Lyon.

Bugg is the chairman and chief executive officer of Argyle Investment Co., LLC, a private investment firm, and serves as chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Southwest Bancshares Inc., president and CEO of Texas Hill Country Bancshares Inc. and chairman of the Board of The Bank of San Antonio.

In 1984, Bugg founded Southwest Bankers Inc., a bank holding company formed to acquire and own the original Bank of San Antonio, where he served as director, president CEO.

Bugg was then vice chairman of First Southwest Co. and chairman of the Investment Banking Group of First Southwest Company in Dallas until he formed Argyle Investment in 1997.

From 1998-2006, Bugg sat on the board of directors of Consolidated Water Co., Ltd. on the audit, nominating and strategic planning committees, the release said.

He currently is chairman and trustee of The Tobin Endowment, a private charitable foundation in San Antonio, chairman of the Bexar County Performing Arts Center Foundation, member of the board of trustees of the McNay Art Museum, board member of Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, trustee of St. Mary’s Hall and former trustee of the Texas Research and Technology Foundation. He is former chairman of the Board of Governors of Cancer Therapy & Research Center.

Courtesy of the Odessa American. Posted February 14, 2015.

11/11/2014

Let us all try and thank a Veteran today. We are the "Land of the Free" because of all these men and women, living or deceased, fought hard to give us our liberty.

10/26/2014

Hindu Association of West Texas Diwali Festival of Lights

07/04/2014

Freedom is the most valuable gift our forefathers and God bestowed on us. Let us all celebrate today, our Independence Day.

Heritage Collectors Society, Declaration of Independence, Constitution Facts, History of the Declaration of Independence, True Copy of the American Declaration of Indepenedence

06/09/2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2014 Contact: Michael D. Lozano 512.463.0546

REPRESENTATIVE TRYON LEWIS AS PART OF HOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS COMMITTEE TO REVIEW PROPOSED EPA REGULATIONS

Austin, Texas- On June 6, 2014, the House Committee on Environmental Regulation, of which State Representative Tryon Lewis is a Member, was directed by House Speaker Joe Straus to review the impact of recently proposed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on carbon emissions and their effects on the Texas economy.

The sweeping new federal regulations, which have been proposed by EPA despite the lack of congressional authority, will require the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions at power plants across the country. Under the proposed rules, power plants in Texas would have to decrease carbon dioxide emissions 39% by 2030. Published reports have wide-ranging estimations of the cost of the program to Texas consumers and to our state’s economy.
Representative Lewis stated “These proposed federal mandates are another example of the federal government’s overreach in issues involving the energy sector. These rules must be reviewed to determine their impact on our state’s economy and our state’s future power needs. I appreciate Attorney General Greg Abbott’s willingness to challenge the EPA’s unwarranted action and I fully support the determination by Speaker Straus to include this charge for the House Committee on Environmental Regulation to evaluate.”

Representative Lewis has proudly served House District 81 since 2008 and currently serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence and a member of the House Committee on Environmental Regulation. Prior to his service in the legislature, Representative Lewis served as a State District Judge for 21 years. He also currently serves as a member on the board of directors for the Texas Conservative Coalition, a member of the steering committee for the House Research

Organization, a member of the Texas Judicial Council, and a member of the Texas House Energy Caucus.
# # #

05/26/2014

Let us remember and pray for all the men and women and their families that made the ultimate sacrifice on this Memorial Day.

03/05/2014

PRESS RELEASE

March 4, 2014

REPRESENTATIVE TRYON LEWIS CONGRATULATES BROOKS LANDGRAF FOR WINNING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION TO HOUSE DISTRICT 81

Austin, Texas- Today, Representative Tryon Lewis sent his personal congratulations to Brooks Landgraf for winning the Republican nomination to succeed him in Austin, representing House District 81, beginning in January of 2015.

“This evening, I would like to thank the candidates, their families, and their supporters, for their willingness to serve our community and for working so hard in this campaign. I want to send my congratulations to Brooks for his election as the Republican nominee for House District 81 and I look forward to working with him on issues important to our area.”

Contact: Michael D. Lozano 512.463.0546

01/17/2014

The Ector County Republican Women’s group will have a candidate forum at 11 a.m. Monday at Odessa Regional Medical Center that will include 18 candidates — the largest in the group’s history.

12/20/2013

Representative Tryon Lewis and his wife Trudy in front of the State Capitol Christmas Tree. The District 81 ornament was designed by Mrs. Tonia Tidwell, Kermit High School teacher.

11/29/2013

Warm wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

09/20/2013

AUSTIN Rep. Tryon Lewis (R-Odessa) announced he would not seek re-election to the Texas House of Representatives and will retire at the end of his current term.