Watching the movers remove the furniture from her office at 1908 N. Laurent St. in 足交视频, it finally began to sink in for Geanie Morrison. After 25 years of service to the citizens of Texas House District 30, Morrison would no longer take on that responsibility.
Morrison鈥檚 last day in the state capital of Austin in an official capacity is Monday, Jan. 13. Although she says she will still be visible within the community, Morrison will return to ordinary citizenship status when her successor, A.J. Louderback, takes the oath of office and assumes her former position in the coming week.
鈥淚t was really weird at first, especially at the capitol office that I鈥檝e had for 25 years,鈥 the 足交视频 native said in a recent exclusive interview with The 足交视频 Advocate. 鈥淣ot being at the capitol anymore, I mean 鈥 it was really weird. It goes by seniority and I had a really nice office, so I enjoyed my time there. Then, when we started working on the district office here 鈥 it鈥檚 going to be strange not to see my assistant, Susan, every day or to be interacting with constituents. You kinda get used to things like that, and it鈥檚 going to take some time getting used to not doing it.鈥
But after 25 years and 13 terms of public service, Morrison has earned the right to begin enjoying things she couldn鈥檛 do during her time as a Texas state representative, like playing bridge or going out to dinner in a local supper club with good friends. She鈥檚 simply going to take it easy after a quarter century of a life constantly on the go.
But Morrison insists she will still be visible within the community.
鈥淚鈥檒l still have people stop me at the grocery store to chat,鈥 Morrison said. 鈥淚鈥檓 always willing to do that.鈥
During the interview, Morrison reflected on her life of public service since 1999, one she never fully intended to embark upon in the first place.
鈥淥h no, I never planned on running back then,鈥 Morrison said. 鈥淚 was recruited to run. I was involved in political stuff and loved to help with campaigns and be active in the community, but I never had any vision at all to run for elected office although I had been asked to do so previously.鈥
Prior to her election as a state representative, Morrison worked as chairperson for Texas Gov. George W. Bush on his Governor鈥檚 Commission for Women. The two considered each other good friends, and she later worked with Bush during his campaign for President of the United States in 2000.
While she never considered moving to Washington, D.C. or to work with Bush in an official capacity with the White House, she鈥檚 always grateful for the relationship she had with Bush and his wife, Laura.
鈥淲hen I worked on the Commission for Women, Laura鈥檚 office was right next to mine,鈥 Morrison said. 鈥淚 actually traveled with her, sometimes to DC, and spent a lot of time with her. I was privileged to do a lot of things there. It was wonderful to see how she emerged from a shy person to be the First Lady. The reason I didn鈥檛 go to DC was that I knew there would be a lot of traveling involved, and I really wasn鈥檛 interested in that. I was very happy to stay in Texas.鈥
Republican or Democrat, Morrison always strived to achieve bi-partisan relationships among her constituents and among members of the Texas State Legislature.
鈥淪he made a point to listen and communicate with everyone, regardless of their political leanings,鈥 said Jeff Lyon, President and CEO of the Greater Area 足交视频 Chamber of Commerce. 鈥淎fter all, she knew she was our representative and she took that responsibility seriously.鈥
Duties
In the 88th session for the Texas Legislature, which began in 2023, Morrison was appointed to serve on House Committees on Redistricting, Appropriations and Culture, Recreation and Tourism. For the 87th Legislative session from 2021 to the end of 2022, Morrison was appointed to serve on the House Committees on Redistricting, Appropriations, and Environmental Regulation.
For the 86th Legislative Session, Morrison was appointed to chair the House Committee on Local and Consent Calendar and served as a member of the House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism and the House Committee on Environmental Regulation, which she chaired during the 84th Legislative Session.
During her tenure, she also served as chairperson of the House Committee on Transportation; the Joint Interim Committee on Higher Education Formula Funding; and the Select Committee on Ports, Innovation and Infrastructure; as the chairperson of the House Committee on Elections, as a member of the House Committee on Insurance; and on the House Committee on Appropriations, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, and as vice-chair of the House Committee on Human Services.
Two of her biggest challenges during her 25 years, she said, came when Hurricane Harvey hit in 2017 and when COVID struck the nation in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
鈥淐OVID was very destructive for the nation and for Texas,鈥 Morrison said. 鈥淭he way we thought we needed to do things and the way we see now that we probably shouldn鈥檛 have done things, it鈥檚 crazy. So many businesses had issues and we lost so much education. Kids lost a lot of learning and social skills, it was a very difficult time.鈥
鈥淗urricane Harvey brought such devastation. It was a horrible experience. We had not had a big disaster like that in so many years,鈥 Morrison continued. 鈥淭he good thing that came about it was all of the people that came in and worked to help people. We had a great emergency management team here, with long-term recovery, especially here in VIctoria. It was really a model for the state. The good thing that happened with Harvey was that we learned from it; and if we missed anything, we were able to address those things for the next time. We said let鈥檚 get bills drafted, we made them into legislation and we got it done. So, now we鈥檙e a little better prepared.鈥
鈥淧et鈥 Issue
During her 25 years of service, Morrison tackled many important issues concerning the state and her district. During her tenure, however, education for the state鈥檚 higher institutions of learning as well as education at the local level continued to top the list of her priorities.
Morrison served as the chair of the House Committee on Higher Education for the 78th, 79th and 80th legislative sessions.
Once considered a lower-ranking state when it came to higher learning, Texas is now among the best in that category. A total of 29 schools from the Lone Star State made The Wall Street Journal鈥檚 list of the 500 Best Colleges in the U.S. The Dallas Observer reported that鈥檚 up from 23 on the 2024 list.
The top-ranked Texas school is Texas A&M University in College Station at No. 28, up 10 spots from its perch in 2024. Rice University ranks No. 29, up from No. 65, while the University of Texas at Austin came in at No. 41.
In Morrison鈥檚 time in the House, the University of Houston-足交视频 evolved from a two-year school into a four-year school (2009), among other accomplishments.
鈥淓ducation has always been a major thing for me,鈥 Morrison said. 鈥淵ou look at universities like A&M and UT and they鈥檙e doing so well now, along with a lot of other emerging universities. But at the time when I took over, we were literally starving them to death and things weren鈥檛 going well. I thought it was important for our state and our area to turn that around.鈥
鈥淲e worked on downward expansion for UHV during my term, when Glenn Hager was in the Senate.鈥 Morrison continued. 鈥淲e put together legislation to make UHV a four-year institution. We worked bi-partisanly鈥搒omething that is not happening much these days. I鈥檝e always had a great relationship with the representatives on the other side of the aisle (Democrats) in the House, and we worked hard for the people of Texas to make education better.鈥
Her efforts to help improve education in Texas did stop at the college or university level. Morrison worked tirelessly to help to try to improve the status of education in local schools.
Morrison鈥檚 17-year commitment to the Junior League of 足交视频 allowed her to participate in worthwhile causes like 鈥淢aking the Grade鈥 and 鈥淕reat Expectations.鈥 According to her website, she worked closely with community youth to ensure students 鈥渦nderstood their importance as an individual and that education is essential to open the doors of opportunity.鈥 As Chair of the 鈥淕reat Expectations鈥 program, she worked with pregnant teens, helping them to finish high school and pursue a college education that would provide them with the training necessary to support their family.
鈥淲e strived to work with girls that were pregnant in high school and they couldn鈥檛 go to school because there was no help,鈥 Morrison said. 鈥淲e worked on that diligently and, although there鈥檚 still a long way to go, we鈥檙e proud of the work we鈥檝e done to try to make things better.鈥 .
Morrison has been recognized by the Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Adminstrators as Legislator of the Year and she has received the Texas Higher Education Leadership Star Award from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Morrison also has been recognized for her commitment to education with the Distinguished Service Award, presented by the Texas Regional Collaboratives. She received the Educational Testing Services Legislative Excellence in Education Award, the Texas
Community College Teachers Association Legislator of the Year Award and was recognized as one of South Texas鈥 Women of the Year.
On November 18, 2008, the Boy Scouts of America South Texas Council honored Morrison with their Distinguished Citizen Award. She also received the 足交视频 Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen of the Year award in 2009.
Moving Forward
While her record and her legislative efforts for education in Texas speak for themselves, Morrison says she continues to have concerns for the state when it comes to many issues, especially education and especially for schools in her district, which includes DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca, Matagorda, and 足交视频 counties.
鈥淧ublic education and higher education constitute well over 50% of our entire budget for the state,鈥 Morrison said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e always asking for more and more money. Each district does things their own way. The major thing is, we have so many institutions that may need a new direction because, for some reason, many of the students are still failing.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we have to work out. How do we make the students better where more can graduate and have knowledge?鈥 Morrison continued. 鈥淲hen you look at the numbers in 足交视频, there鈥檚 just something that鈥檚 not working well, right? Instead of just more money, let鈥檚 figure out what鈥檚 wrong and what we can do to make the students learn more and be more successful. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 important to me.鈥
Accolades
Some area officials say they have immensely enjoyed working with Rep. Morrison the past 25 years and will miss her in an official capacity.
鈥淭hroughout her tenure in the legislature, Rep. Morrison has been a steadfast advocate for our community, representing her constituents with integrity, vision, and compassion,鈥 足交视频 Mayor Duane Crocker said. 鈥淎s she steps away from her legislative duties, it鈥檚 fitting to recognize her legacy as an inspiration for us all.鈥
鈥淚 have known Geanie Morrison since the late 1990s when she was early in her state representative position,鈥 Lyon said. 鈥淪oon after being appointed to the Chamber board of directors in 2004 and subsequently becoming chairman of the board, I became more aware of Geanie Morrison鈥檚 compassion and concern for the constituents of her district.鈥
鈥淕eanie has been a partner in community growth for every community and county in her district,鈥 Lyon continued. 鈥淗er accessibility to me as president of the Chamber has been incredible and valuable. Geanie Morrison performed her duties of office admirably and her absence from the Texas House of Representatives will be felt by her district and the State of Texas.鈥
Gary Moses, the 鈥渦nofficial mayor鈥 of 足交视频, has known Morrison since their childhood.
鈥淲e go back to the days of 足交视频 High School, and she鈥檚 been great at everything she does,鈥 Moses said. 鈥淲e were very fortunate to add her to the state legislature years ago, and she鈥檚 done a lot for 足交视频 and the surrounding areas. We wish her the very best, and she鈥檒l be around and available, I can guarantee you that.鈥
Indeed Morrison will be missed as a public servant. She will go on without her husband, Jack, who passed away in 2022; but moves forward with great expectations.
鈥淚鈥檒l still be around, I just won鈥檛 have much of anything to vote on,鈥 Morrison said. 鈥淚鈥檒l still be active and we鈥檒l see what comes up. I want thank everyone who has had anything to do with my career as a state representative and I think the citizens for their unwavering support. It鈥檚 been a great ride.鈥
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