Mauro, Garry

Garry Mauro

Biography

Garry Mauro (1948–), four-term commissioner of the Texas General Land Office (1983-1999) was born in Bryan, Texas. He attended college at Texas A&M University before earning his JD at The University of Texas at Austin. After graduating from law school, Mauro worked for U.S. Senator Ralph Yarborough and became executive director of the Texas Democratic Party.

Mauro was first elected to the Texas Land Commissioner office in 1982 when he was thirty-four years old. He is the second longest-serving Land Commissioner in Texas history and successfully pushed the Texas Legislature to adopt significant initiatives dedicated to protecting the environment, such as reducing air pollution, recycling plastics, and cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico.

In 1992 and 1996, Mauro served as Texas State Chairman for Bill Clinton's presidential campaigns. He held the same role for other Democratic candidates in the subsequent 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2016 presidential races. In 1999, President Bill Clinton appointed Mauro to the Fannie Mae Board of Directors. 

Mauro currently practices private law in Austin, Texas, and serves as chairman of the board for LifeVantage Corporation.

Texas 150 Oral History

Mauro talks primarily about current issues he encountered while serving as Texas Land Commissioner, including issues with landowners and ranches, as well as pipeline disputes. He also talks briefly about his time in college at Texas A&M University and his time working for Bob Bullock.