Austin — A large donor sent a check. Many came personally.
Even wealthy campaign donors and businesses took a rare opportunity to donate directly to state politicians to vote in favor of Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Dan Patrick’s inauguration on Tuesday.
The 81 donors listed in the first program alone contributed nearly $3.73 million to the costs of Tuesday’s gala.
They included a swearing-in ceremony, a “Taste of Texas” food show on the grounds of the Capitol, and a three-band combination dance and concert at the Moody Theater.
The Dallas Morning News asked the Texas 2023 inaugural committee for a list of contributors, but nothing was announced.
According to the program, “Diamond Sponsors” who donated $100,000 will include six tickets to Monday night’s Inauguration Appreciation Dinner and eight tickets to Music Shindig.
- Kelcy Warren, CEO of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, is one of Abbott’s mega donors.
- Dallas-based AT&T.
- Dallas-based Ryan LLC is a global tax services firm led by G. Brint Ryan.
- Three interests in gambling – Suns, Laundries and slot machine company IGT.
- San Antonio-based grocery chain HEB is opening stores in North Texas.
- It was attended by four road construction affiliates: Cintra, Colorado Materials Ltd., Williams Brothers Construction, TGS, and Associated General Contractors of Texas.
- Carol Walter Rook, co-owner of Walter Oil and Gas Co. in Houston and other energy moguls and companies such as Oklahoma City-based Devon Energy and the Texas Oil and Gas Association.
“Gold Sponsors” ($50,000) and “Silver Sponsors” ($25,000) include healthcare providers and insurance companies, banks, utilities such as Vistra and Oncor, defense contractors, technology companies, and wine and beer producers. It included profits, car dealers and title companies. owner and doctor.
North Texas residents in the Gold category were Tara and Cody Campbell of Fort Worth. Last year, he and co-founder John Sellers sold Midland’s DoublePoint Energy to Pioneer Natural Resources (which also put in his $50,000) for his $6.4 billion, according to Forbes.
The silver cohort includes Fallon and Robbie Vaughan of Dallas (Robbie Vaughan ran a private equity firm and ran an oil royalty company) and the president of the Dallas Parks and Recreation Commission, a textile manufacturer and cotton trader. Arun Agarwal, who is
