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Follow TURFPerry appoints banker, toll chair to Transportation Commission
Jeff Austin III appointed to transportation board
Gov. Perry appoints area banker to oversee TxDOT
JEFF AUSTIN III
JEFF AUSTIN III Jeff Austin III, area banker and chairman of the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NETRA), has been appointed a commissioner of the five- member Texas Transportation Commission. Gov. Rick Perry made the announcement Thursday.
TxDOT is among the largest agencies in state government with an operating budget of approximately $6.648 billion. Approximately 12,000 persons are employed by the department.
Mr. Austin spoke with the Cherokeean Herald Thursday afternoon and said, “I have resigned my position on the NETRMA board, and I look forward to serving on the transportation commission. I have confidence in this commission. We have a lot of good things in place. When we look at our system statewide, we see we have needs and opportunities.
“As Texas grows, we must be good stewards of what we have. We will have to set new priorities. Everyone travels our roads and highways. We need more money for sure, and we must continue to preserve these roads. The authority board has good team work among itself, and each county has set its own priorities.”
He added, “Folks in East Texas must remember I am still just a phone call away.”
The appointment drew excitement from elected officials in Austin.
State Sen. Robert Nichols of Jacksonville, a former member of the Transportation Commission, said, “I am pleased with the appointment. Mr. Austin has shown dedication and leadership in transportation issues in this region and will be an excellent advocate for rural Texas.”
“My congratulations go out to Jeff. He deserves this honor,” state Rep. Chuck Hopson of Jacksonville said. “I am excited to be able to continue to work with him. He has done an excellent job on the mobility board. His appointment is good for East Texas. With this appointment East Texas is represented on the commission, and Jeff works hard on all his jobs.
“He will work for the people of East Texas, as well as those for the entire state,” Rep. Hopson continued.
State Sen. Kevin Eltife of Tyler said, “I think this is great. I appreciate Gov. Perry’s appointment of Jeff to the transportation commission. Jeff is a good individual and great for our region and for Northeast Texas.
“This appointment is important as the commission provides funding for transportation across the state. It is great to have a voice on the commission for our area.”
Currently, Mr. Austin serves as vice-chairman of Austin Bank and Texas NA.
He is a board member of First State Bank in Athens and Capital Bank in Houston, and past president of First State Bank Frankston.
He is a board member and past chair of the Texas Bankers Association, a member of the American Bankers Association Government Relations Committee and the Bank CEO Network and an executive committee member and past director of the Texas Lyceum.
He serves as a board member of the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum and past board chair of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce.
He is also a past board member of the Tyler Economic Development Corporation, Better Business Bureau of East Texas, University of Texas at Tyler Business School Advisory Board, UT at Tyler Health Center Development Board and Trinity Mother Frances Hospital Foundation.
Mr. Austin is a native East Texan and grew up in Jacksonville. He is a Jacksonville High School graduate, class of 1980.
He received a bachelor’s degree and Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Tyler.
He is a graduate of the Southern Methodist University Southwestern Graduate and Intermediate schools of Banking and the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.
He is a also a third generation East Texas banker.
His term will expire Feb. 1, 2013.