AUSTIN – Dozens of notable Texans, many of whom are among the state's most potent GOP political donors, are urging Gov. Greg Abbott to “show strong leadership” and make sure children go back to the classroom this fall.
The Record obtained a letter sent to the governor on July 30. The letter expresses concerns over school districts offering only virtual education and asks Abbott that he, and not local officials, determine which locales are virus hot spots.
Abbott has left the decision of how to open in the hands of local school boards.
“Furthermore, as we learn more about COVID-19, we now know that elementary and middle school-aged children are practically impervious to it; even high schoolers, who bear a slightly higher risk than younger students, are relatively safe when compared to adult cohorts,” the letter states. “The scores of daycares and summer camps that have been operating in Texas are further evidence of this fact.
“We will harm children far worse, therefore, by keeping schools closed than by reopening.”
Although the tone throughout the letter remains respectful, the names listed at the bottom may be sending a louder message.
In all, more than 100 Texans are named, a list that includes a wide-range of influential individuals, such as mega donor Farris Wilks to iconic ballplayer Lance Berkman.
Richard Weekley, chairman and CEO of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, is on list, as is Harlan Crow, another big donor. Two members of the Deason family, Darwin and Doug, are named, so is Tom Hicks, former owner of the Texas Rangers.
A name that really stands out, however, is Ray Washburne, a member of President Trump’s Intelligence Advisory Board.
To curb the spread of COVID-19, Abbott shutdown bars and cut restaurant occupancy -- a decision that has drastically impacted thousands of Texas business owners, including Washburne.
Washburne, a restaurant owner in Dallas, recently appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight.
“Running a restaurant at 50 percent is absolutely ridiculous,” Washburne said during the show. “If you go to a restaurant and every other table is seated and you need to go to the bathroom, you’re walking by every table in the restaurant. It makes zero sense.”
Washburne adamantly stated that: “We have to open up the economy.”
When Carlson asked Washburne what message he would give his governor, Washburne said: “Open up.”
“People need jobs,” he said. “They need to support their families.”
Carlson went on to say Republicans are intimated, “maybe even your governor,” to which Washburne replied: “They are very intimidated, and they need to understand that they don’t need to cower to the liberal left.”
There are several Texans on the list that have given big to Abbott over the years.
Robert Rowling of Dallas, founder of TRT Holdings, which owns Omni Hotels and Gold's Gym, has given $252,100 to Abbott's campaigns.
Darwin Deason, a Dallas-based billionaire computer services investor has given Abbott $100,000.
The letter to Abbott can be viewed here.
Abbott’s office did not return a request for comment.
------
Angry with Abbott?
119 Texans signed a letter imploring Texas' Republican governor to more aggressively re-open the state's schools. Who was on the list?
| Name | Hometown | ||||
| Warren | Ayres | Wichita Falls | |||
| Stephen | Gustafson | Wichita Falls | |||
| Stan | Kimbell | Wichita Falls | |||
| David | Kimbell | Jr. | Wichita Falls | ||
| Robert | Marling | The Woodlands | |||
| Don | Shepard | The Woodlands | |||
| Curtis | Raetz | Spicewood | |||
| Mike | Howard | San Antonio | |||
| Joe | Kercheville | San Antonio | |||
| Anne | Kercheville | San Antonio | |||
| Marshall | Miller | Jr. | San Antonio | ||
| Danny | Seale | San Antonio | |||
| Dr. | Jim | W. | Speights | MD | San Antonio |
| Cliff | Vrielink | Richmond | |||
| John | Urban | Plano | |||
| Bubba | Saulsbury | Odessa | |||
| Dick | Saulsbury | Odessa | |||
| Ernest | Angelo | Midland | |||
| Miles | Boldrick | Midland | |||
| D.K. | Boyd | Midland | |||
| Mike | Canon | Midland | |||
| Judy | Canon | Midland | |||
| Jim | Henry | Midland | |||
| Bill | Holmes | Midland | |||
| Mary Jane | Holmes | Midland | |||
| Dennis | Johnson | Midland | |||
| Bill | Kent | Midland | |||
| Julie | Kent | Midland | |||
| Jerry | Morales | Midland | |||
| Patrick | Payton | Midland | |||
| Jack | Rathbone | Midland | |||
| Randee | Rathbone | Midland | |||
| Mel | G. | Riggs | Midland | ||
| Doug | Scharbauer | Midland | |||
| Dr. | Scott | Sheward | Midland | ||
| Kyle | Stallings | Midland | |||
| Jamie | Stallings | Midland | |||
| W. | Brett | Smith | Midland | ||
| Denny | Snelson | Midland | |||
| Mona | Snelson | Midland | |||
| Kevin | D | Sparks | Midland | ||
| Jill | Sparks | Midland | |||
| Don | Sparks | Midland | |||
| Modesta | Williams | Midland | |||
| Betty | Cardenas | Lubbock | |||
| Tim | Lambert | Lubbock | |||
| Vim | Head | Katy | |||
| Sarah | Head | Katy | |||
| Willie | Alexander | Houston | |||
| Lance | Berkman | Houston | |||
| Anne | Low | Brigham | Houston | ||
| Scott | Caven | Houston | |||
| John | B. | Connally | III | Houston | |
| Alex | Cranberg | Houston | |||
| Mano | DeAyala | Houston | |||
| Windi | Grimes | Houston | |||
| Emerson | K. | Hankamer | Houston | ||
| Monzer | Haurani | Houston | |||
| J.J. | Isbell | Houston | |||
| Lori | Isbell | Houston | |||
| Greg | Pipkin | Houston | |||
| Liz | Pipkin | Houston | |||
| Brent | Southwell | Houston | |||
| Dr. | Jon | Spiers | Houston | ||
| Trey | Strake | Houston | |||
| Rusty | Tamlyn | Houston | |||
| Richard | Tauber | Houston | |||
| David | Tauber | Houston | |||
| Massey | Villarreal | Houston | |||
| J.C. (Rusty) | Walter | III | Houston | ||
| Richard | Weekley | Houston | |||
| Becky | B. | Johnson | Henrietta | ||
| Ryan | Morfin | Frisco | |||
| Larry | Berkman | Fredericksburg | |||
| Cody | Campbell | Fort Worth | |||
| Grant | Coates | Fort Worth | |||
| Jeff | Dillard | Fort Worth | |||
| Robert | Beecherl | Dallas | |||
| Bruce | Blakemore | Dallas | |||
| Dick | Collins | Dallas | |||
| Harlan | Crow | Dallas | |||
| Doug | Deason | Dallas | |||
| Tom | Hicks | Dallas | |||
| Ron | Lazof | Dallas | |||
| Dan | Patterson | Dallas | |||
| Fred | Perpall | Dallas | |||
| Bob | Rowling | Dallas | |||
| Orlando | Salazar | Dallas | |||
| Scott | Sheffield | Dallas | |||
| Ray | Washburne | Dallas | |||
| Bob | McNutt | Corsicana | |||
| Amber | McNutt | Corsicana | |||
| Ted | Oakley | Corpus Christi | |||
| Farris | Wilks | Cisco | |||
| Dougal | Cameron | Chappel Hill | |||
| Dr. | Ryan | Jouett | DDS | Bryan | |
| Amanda | Jouett | Bryan | |||
| George | Clay | Bowie | |||
| Dana | Clay | Bowie | |||
| Alan | Hassenflu | Bellaire | |||
| Evan | Baehr | Austin | |||
| Don | Bennett | Austin | |||
| Bud | Brigham | Austin | |||
| Carlos | M. | Carvalho | Austin | ||
| Don | Dyer | Austin | |||
| Margaret | Dyer | Austin | |||
| Jim | Edsel | Austin | |||
| Matt | Gallagher | Austin | |||
| Allen | Gilmer | Austin | |||
| Stacy | Hock | Austin | |||
| Scott | Ingraham | Austin | |||
| Cliff | Maloney | Austin | |||
| Parker | Reese | Austin | |||
| Jeff | Sandefer | Austin | |||
| Bryan | Sheffield | Austin | |||
| Tim | Timmerman | Austin | |||
| Leslie | Timmerman | Austin | |||
| Oscar | A. | Torres | Austin | ||
| Ralph | D. | Ellis | Amarillo | ||
| Victor | Leal | Amarillo | |||
| Marian | Seale | Freeland | Alpine | ||