Gov. Abbott Selects Initial Members For Texas Bicentennial Commission

AUSTIN, TX — Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday announced his initial selection of members to serve on the Texas Bicentennial Commission, naming John L. Nau III as chair.

The commission was created during the 89th Texas Legislature to oversee planning for the bicentennial anniversary of Texas Independence.

Nau, of Houston, is a businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the former chairman and CEO of Silver Eagle Distributors. His involvement in American history includes more than four decades of volunteer service with organizations focused on historic preservation. He currently serves as chairman of the Texas Historical Commission and is a member of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors and the National Park Foundation Board of Directors. He also serves on the boards of the American Battlefield Trust, Baylor College of Medicine and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Nau was previously appointed chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation by former President George W. Bush. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia.

James Perry “J.P.” Bryan Jr., of Houston and Galveston, is the founder and CEO of Torch Energy Advisors Inc. He serves as executive director of the Texas State Historical Association, chairman of the Lone Star Coastal Alliance and is a member of the Alamo Church Experience committee. Bryan is also a commissioner for the Board of Galveston Pilots and founder of the Bryan Museum in Galveston. His previous roles include president of the Texas Historical Foundation, director of The Briscoe Museum and the Brazoria County Historical Museum, and service on the Remember the Alamo Foundation Board. He also previously chaired the Institute of Texan Cultures and was appointed to the Texas Historical Commission by Bush. Bryan earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law and is a graduate of the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Ashley Bowes Cash, of Lubbock, is a real estate and oil and gas investor with experience in real estate, land development, banking, ranching and investing. She is serving her second term as a commissioner on the Texas Governor’s Commission for Women and sits on the boards of the Texas Tech Foundation, the National Ranching Heritage Association, the Lubbock Entertainment and Performing Arts Association, the advisory board of the Gordon W. Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University and the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. She also serves as vice president and director of the Cash Family Foundation. Cash earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Southern Methodist University and lives in Lubbock with her husband, Clay, and their four children.

Tilman Fertitta, of Houston, is the United States ambassador to Italy and San Marino. He is the sole owner of Fertitta Entertainment, which owns Landry’s, the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casinos and the NBA’s Houston Rockets. Fertitta served as chairman of the University of Houston System Board of Regents for more than 11 years and currently serves as chairman of the Houston Police Foundation. He supported the creation of the Houston Police Department’s Tactical Training Center, named in honor of his family. In December 2025, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Houston.

Joe Gebbia, of Austin, is chief design officer at the National Design Studio and co-founder of Airbnb. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design and industrial design.

Charlotte Jones, of Dallas, is chief brand officer and co-owner of the Dallas Cowboys Football Club and president of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. She serves as chairman of the NFL Foundation and is a member of the NFL Conduct Committee, Health and Safety Committee and 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, chairman of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation and as a member of the James Madison Council. Jones earned a Bachelor of Science in human biology from Stanford University.

Zachary Levi, of Austin, is an actor, producer, singer and author known for his work across stage and screen. He is known for his title role in the NBC series “Chuck” and as the lead in the “Shazam!” film franchise. Levi has also portrayed Kurt Warner in “American Underdog” and was part of the Screen Actors Guild Award-winning ensemble for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” His credits include voicing Flynn Rider in Disney’s “Tangled” and a Tony Award-nominated performance in the Broadway revival of “She Loves Me.” He is set to appear in upcoming projects including “Hotel Tehran” and “Angel and the Badman.” Levi is also the author of “Radical Love” and co-founded the nonprofit NerdHQ, which focuses on providing free access to therapy. He is currently developing Wyldwood Studios, a creative campus for artists.

Jack Martin, of Dallas, is an entrepreneur, rancher and strategic advisor. He founded Public Strategies Incorporated, which later merged with Hill & Knowlton to form Hill+Knowlton Strategies following its acquisition by WPP Group in 2006. Martin served as global chairman and CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, overseeing a multinational communications firm with 80 offices and clients that included companies in the Fortune Global 500. After stepping down, he formed JPM Advisory LLC as part of a family investment platform involved in ranching, oil and gas and consulting. He currently serves as chairman of Baylor Scott and White Health. In 2004, former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson appointed Martin to the board of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation. He previously chaired the Texas State University System Board of Regents and received an honorary doctorate from Texas State University. His past board service includes the Caesar Kleberg Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Baylor College of Medicine, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Former Texas Rangers Foundation.