Commissioner Bush Visits All of the GLO Offices

Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office (GLO), George P. Bush, is responsible for a multitude of functional areas of state government services including coastal protection, managing Permanent School Fund assets, managing the Alamo, providing veterans services, and leasing state owned mineral rights, said a press release Tuesday. He set as one of his chief priorities visiting all GLO field offices within the first year of his tenure. Friday, Bush visited the GLO Oil Spill Prevention and Response office in Port Lavaca, and has also visited and inspected every GLO state veterans home, state veterans cemetery and field office.

"When I took office, I made a commitment to visit every operational aspect of the General Land Office within my first year of service," Commissioner Bush stated. "The men and women of the GLO serve the people of Texas in a variety of capacities every day. Whether it's maintaining State Veterans Cemeteries, caring for our servicemen and women at our State Veterans Homes, or making sure we're prepared for oil spills, they all deserve our recognition. I wanted to visit every office not just to oversee operational functions at the GLO, but also to let GLO employees know they have my support and gratitude for their commitment to the great state of Texas," he added.

According to the press release,  visiting all GLO facilities required traveling to nearly all corners of the Lone Star State. Several operational functions share office space when in the same area, but some functions require traveling far and wide. Operational functions include the Alamo, Texas State Veterans Cemeteries and Homes, coastal Oil Spill Prevention and Response facilities and asset inspection field offices. In each location, GLO team members are focused on their area of specialization and are dedicated to serving the state.

One of Commissioner Bush's highest priorities is the historic and comprehensive effort he is leading to improve the Alamo experience to make it more engaging and educational. He said, "The members of the Alamo Endowment and the General Land Office are already working together with our partners in the city of San Antonio and all Texans far and wide to transform the Alamo into historic site worthy of its grand history."

He added, "In one year, we have upgraded the state's management of the Alamo complex, re-established the Alamo Endowment  Board with Texas titans, begun work with San Antonio on the master plan, and now with the Texas Legislature's support the state purchased irreplaceable properties adjacent to the plaza. It is an exciting time for all San Antonians, Texans, and all who honor the Alamo."

Commissioner Bush also visited all eight of the Texas State Veterans Homes operated by the Veterans Land Board division of the GLO, and met with the veterans and their caregivers:

Ussery Roan State Veterans Home in Amarillo

Lamon-Lusk Sanchez State Veterans Home in Big Spring

Clyde W. Cosper State Veterans Home in Bonham

Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home in El Paso

Frank M. Tejada Texas State Veterans Home in Floresville

Alfredo Gonzalez State Veterans Home in McAllen

William R. Courtney TX State Veterans Home in Temple

Watkins-Logan State Veterans Home in Tyler

Commissioner Bush also visited Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery in Corpus Christi twice in his first year. He was also honored to pay tribute to the fallen at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission and the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen. ON Veteran's Day, he planted flags with fellow volunteers at the State Veterans Cemetery in Abilene.

The press release stated that in addition to providing services for veterans , two of the primary responsibilities of the Texas General Land Office are coastal protection and managing the state's real estate assets portfolio.

Bush visited each of the six field offices housing a mix of the Energy, Asset Inspection, Professional Services and Oil Spill Prevention and Response operations for the GLO. The offices are located in Alpine, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, La Porte, Nederland, and Port Lavaca.