An American Bison eating grass on the prairies.

Press Releases

Commissioner Buckingham announces funding for the Final Phase of the Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park Shoreline Protection Project

Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. announced the approval of the Coastal Erosion Planning & Response Act (CEPRA) funding for the final phase of the Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park Shoreline Protection project.The fifth and final phase of the project proposes to stabilize 2,940 linear feet of eroding shoreline by the construction of a living shoreline (habitat bench) and a rip rap breakwater that was initially designed and permitted during Phase 3 of the project. Read More


Voices of Veterans: SFC Johnny McNeil Shares His Story of Service in the U.S. Army

Today, Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is proud to introduce the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this episode, we hear the story of SFC Veteran Johnny McNeil of the U.S. Army.Born and raised in Kingville, South Carolina and played sports throughout his youth, earning a football scholarship to Morris College, a private Baptists historically black college in Sumter, South Carolina. Read More


Voices of Veterans: Brig. Gen. Robin Akin Shares Her Story of Service on Women's Veterans Day

Today, Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is proud to introduce the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this episode, we hear the story of Brig. Gen. Veteran Robin Akin of the U.S. Army.Akin was born in Nashville, Tennessee and grew up in a single-parent household with three brothers. Akin said she is proud of how things turned out for her, as the only high school and college graduate in her immediate family. Read More


Mayor John Whitmire's Office and the Office of Veterans and Military Affairs to Host Women Veterans Day Ceremony at Richard A. Anderson Texas State Veterans Home in Houston

Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D. is pleased to invite the media to attend the Women’s Veterans Day Ceremony at Richard A. Anderson Texas State Veterans Home in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at 4 p.m. This special event will be hosted by Mayor John Whitmire's Office and the Office of Veterans and Military Affairs. It will honor four Veterans residing at the Houston home and one Veteran who recently passed:Wanda Dilworth, U.S. ArmyMildred Anderson, U.S. Marine CorpsAvis Sanders, U.S. ArmyRosemary Hunter, U.S. Read More


Commissioner Buckingham Announces VLB Veterans-Only Land Sale is Now Open

Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. is pleased to announce the Texas Veterans Land Board's (VLB) Veterans-only land sale is now open for bidding.Eight tracks, totaling over 250 acres, are available for purchase to Veterans and Military Members with minimum bid amounts listed. Read More


Voices of Veterans: Mess Sgt. Melvin Brown Shares His Story of Service During WWII and D-Day

Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham is proud to introduce the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this special episode, we highlight the service of Veterans who experienced D-Day. Today, we hear the story of U.S. Army Mess Sgt. Veteran Melvin Brown, who served in the 2nd Infantry Division during WWII.Brown was born on November 22, 1921 in Franklin County, Texas and is one of ten children. Read More


Voices of Veterans: Sgt. Robert "Bob" Bearden Shares His Story of Service During WWII and D-Day

Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham is proud to introduce the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this special episode, we highlight the service of Veterans who experienced D-Day. Today, we hear the story of Veteran Sergeant Robert "Bob" Bearden, who served in the U.S. Army 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division in the Normandy invasion, D-Day, June 6, 1944.Bearden, was born in 1922 in Tulsa, Oklahoma and moved to Irving, Texas shortly after The Depression began. Read More


Commissioner Buckingham Announces Success of GLO’s 2024 Texas Coastal Roundup

Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. is pleased to announce that the Texas General Land Office's (GLO) Texas Coastal Roundup was a tremendous success for the Corpus Christi community and the many coastal organizations, including the GLO, who participated in the education and outreach event. Read More


Voices of Veterans: U.S. Army Nurse Josephine Reaves Shares Her Story of Service During World War II and D-Day

Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham is proud to introduce the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this special episode, we highlight the service of Veterans who experienced D-Day. Today, we hear the story of U.S. Army nurse Josephine Reaves and her experience of D-Day.Ms. Reaves lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she attended nurses' training at the Philadelphia General Hospital. She received her degree as a registered nurse just two months after Pearl Harbor was bombed. Mrs. Read More


Voices of Veterans: U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran Willie Green Shares His Story of Service During WWII and D-Day

Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham is proud to introduce the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this special episode, we highlight the service of Veterans who experienced D-Day. Today, we hear the story of U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran Willie Green, a mechanic and copilot in the CG4A combat glider program.To listen to Mr. Green tell his story, visit VoicesofVeterans.org.Born in Hamilton County, Texas, Willie Green was raised on his family farm with three brothers and two sisters. Read More