Gov. Greg Abbott reappointed local businessman and philanthropist J. Bruce Bugg Jr. to the Texas Transportation Commission for a second six-year term.
Bugg’s reappointment was announced in a Tuesday news release. Bugg also will continue to serve as the chair of the commission, which governs the Texas Department of Transportation.
Bugg said he was proud of the progress the commission has made so far but that there was still more to do.
“I deeply appreciate Governor Abbott’s trust and confidence by reappointing me to serve on the Texas Transportation Commission for a six-year term and continue to serve as chairman,” Bugg said in a prepared statement. “This new six-year appointment will allow me to continue working on the road projects we are developing and building in San Antonio and around the state of Texas.”
Bugg, 66, currently serves as the chairman and CEO of private investment firm Argyle Investment Co. LLC; the chairman, president, and CEO of Southwest Bancshares Inc.; and the chairman of The Bank of San Antonio and The Bank of Austin. Bugg sits on the Tobin Endowment’s board of trustees, which he chairs. He co-founded and chairs the Bexar County Performing Arts Center Foundation, which owns and operates the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Bugg also co-founded testing nonprofit Community Labs with fellow philanthropists and businessmen Graham Weston and Tullos Wells. Community Labs has expanded its reach since it started testing people for the novel coronavirus in September.
Bugg said he looks forward to continuing to work with his fellow commissioners and TxDOT as Texas grows.
“It is critical for us to continue to build out and maintain our vital transportation system to support the tremendous population growth and economic expansion in Texas,” he said in a statement.
Bugg was originally appointed to the Texas Transportation Commission in 2015 and started in the role of chairman in 2017. His new term will expire on Feb. 1, 2027.
Abbott’s office did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday.
Abbott also reappointed former CEO of Town & Country Food Stores and former San Angelo Mayor Alvin New to serve on the commission. New owns 4N Ranches in San Angelo. Like Bugg, his term is set to expire on Feb. 1, 2027.
Disclosure: The Tobin Endowment and the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts are financial supporters of the San Antonio Report. For a full list of business members, click here.
