MCALLEN, Texas - Ed Emmett, the former Harris County Judge, was honored as he retired as longtime chairman of the Texas Freight Advisory Committee.
Emmett is currently a Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University.
“I have never worked with someone that is so dedicated, so committed to public service,” said Caroline Mays, senior director of planning and modal programs for the Texas Department of Transportation.
Mays pointed out that she has worked with Emmett since 2012, when he chaired the Panama Canal Stakeholders Working Group. She said when this group was being sunsetted by the Texas Legislature it morphed into the Texas Freight Advisory Committee. She said Emmett chaired the committee from the beginning.
Texas Transportation Commissioner Alejandro ‘Alex’ Meade said Emmett was “a true public servant.’ Meade said: “One of the things I've learned since I've been on the commission and just being a public servant myself is, we talk a lot about funding. It's one of these things that we're constantly talking about. But I've learned that funding is not the issue. Finding consensus is the issue. And what you have done in leading this organization, leading this committee, is that you have brought that consensus to TxDOT on why freight and transportation is important to the entire state of Texas. So for that, we thank you so much, Judge. I appreciate all your service.”
IBC Bank Executive Vice President Gerry Schwebel was elected Emmett’s successor as chair of the Texas Freight Advisory Committee.
Editor's Note: Here is a video recording of the proceedings as Judge Ed Emmett "passed the gavel" to Gerry Schwebel:
