Dawn Buckingham, Commissioner of the General Land Office, provided the program at the meeting last Wednesday. Dawn is a ninth generation Texan, and previously practiced medicine as a plastic surgeon before serving in the Texas Senate. She was elected as the first woman commissioner of the Land Office in 2022.
The General Land Office is the largest land and mineral rights owner in the state. The income from mineral rights, royalties, hunting and grazing help fund education and veterans programs in Texas. The Office also assists Texans recovering from disasters, and administers programs that maintain the health of the coast.
In 2011, the GLO became the custodian of the Alamo, and contracts with Alamo Trust, Inc. to care for the Alamo grounds and historic structures, develop educational programs for visitors, and tell the story of the Battle and its role in Texas history.