News release (https://www.txdot.gov/about/newsroom/statewide/txdot-statement-on-passing-of-transportation-commission-chairman-j-bruce-bugg-jr.html)
This is a big loss for the Commission and TxDOT. Bruce Bugg was a dedicated and effective leader, the best chairman in a very long time. His objective was for TxDOT to achieve maximum possible project delivery, and he succeeded.
I noticed he looked frail or unhealthy in recent photos. Then he missed the Commission meeting on July 31. I did not hear any mention of an ongoing medical condition, and his passing is described as "sudden", which suggests it was unexpected.
Of the other four Commissioners, Alvin New is the only one who has taken initiative to get things done. The other three attend the monthly meetings and vote as expected. New seems to be in line to get the chairmanship, but we shall see what the governor decides.
UPDATE: Houston Chronicle news report (https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/bruce-bugg-san-antonio-banker-wore-many-hats-20805434.php).
(https://www.txdot.gov/content/dam/images/people/leadership/j-bruce-bugg-jr.png)
He was appointed by Greg Abbott.
I'll defer to Max on the degree of loss. Say what you will about TxDOT but at least projects did keep moving forward. RIP.
That Houston article is behind a paywall, so I got this (https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2025/08/06/txdot-announces-sudden-passing-of-bruce-bugg-chairman-of-the-texas-transportation-commission/) from KSAT in San Antonio instead.
RIP Bruce Bugg
Quote from: LilianaUwU on August 06, 2025, 08:43:06 PMHe was appointed by Greg Abbott.
Abbott is the longest-serving governor in Texas history, so it would be kind of surprising if he hadn't been appointed by Abbott. The second-longest-serving governor was Rick Perry, Abbott's predecessor. And then Perry's predecessor was George W. Bush—1999 was the last full calendar year Texas had a governor other than Rick Perry or Greg Abbott.
Quote from: Henry on August 06, 2025, 10:21:32 PMThat Houston article is behind a paywall, so I got this (https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2025/08/06/txdot-announces-sudden-passing-of-bruce-bugg-chairman-of-the-texas-transportation-commission/) from KSAT in San Antonio instead.
RIP Bruce Bugg
I menaged to find an archived copy of the Houston Chronicle article on Archive.today.
https://archive.ph/eGUEq