White, a Texas giant

‘Rock star’

Regarding “Ex-governor championed public education reform” (Page A1, Sunday), Texas has lost a great leader with the passing of former Gov. Mark White. While he was a staunch Democrat, he had admirers across the aisle as well as fellow travelers over many decades. My husband’s Republican father, Al Cross, and brother to Lyndon Johnson’s pilot Underwood “Jim” Cross, was an early fan. He served as one of White’s very first law clients and supported his appointment as secretary of state.

White won an important case for Cross’ business and was forever admired and respected by the entire family. My Republican aunt spoke highly of her family’s interactions regarding their concrete business with the state while White was in office. My sister, an HISD administrator, applauded his leadership of the “no-pass, no-play” legislation as well as mandatory teacher testing.

My very first political campaign endeavor was placing “Mark White for Governor” signs throughout Houston’s East End and south side. Decades later, I was fortunate to get to know White while he served as an advisory board member of the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs. His attention and dedication to our students was awe-inspiring. White spoke to our students whenever he was invited — a talk with former Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby with my Texas Politics students, a discussion with a colleague’s Education Policy class, panel discussions at UH and the University of Houston-Downtown and many more. White also spoke to the Hobby School’s Austin and Washington interns, and he was definitely a rock star among the congressional interns when he visited them on Capitol Hill.

With his death, Texas truly lost one of its favorite sons. Thank you, Governor White. In my book, you are in the elite group of Texas heroes including Sam Houston, Sam Rayburn and Lyndon Johnson.

God bless Texas and Mark White. Renée D. Cross, associate director, University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs