Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Richard B. “Rick” McCaslin, Ph.D., as the Texas State Historian for a term ending on December 17, 2027. The position is tasked with increasing public knowledge about Texas history, encouraging its teaching in public schools, consulting with state leaders to promote Texas history, and making presentations on related topics.
McCaslin currently serves as Director of Publications for the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) following his retirement as Professor of Texas History at the University of North Texas. He is recognized as a Fellow of TSHA and has authored or edited twenty-one books, eight of which have received awards. His academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Delta State University, a Master of Arts in History from Louisiana State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy from The University of Texas at Austin.
The Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott operates as part of the executive branch of state government and maintains its primary offices in Austin at the State Insurance Building according to information available on its official website. Since his election in 2014, Governor Abbott has led initiatives focused on job creation, education enhancement, individual liberties protection, parental empowerment in schooling, and border security (source). Under his leadership, the office has also advanced efforts such as Operation Lone Star for border security and programs addressing child sex trafficking prevention (source).
