Gov. Perry Appoints Underwood and Holmes to Texas Transportation Commission

Jan. 08, 2007

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Fred A. Underwood of Lubbock and Ned S. Holmes of Houston to the Transportation Commission. The five-member commission oversees statewide activities of the Texas Department of Transportation.

Underwood is president and CEO of the Trinity Company, a cotton bale storage facility. He is a vice president and past director of the National Cotton Council, and is a director of Plains Capital Corporation. He also serves as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the Cotton Warehouse Association, where he previously served as president. Underwood also previously served as chairman of Lubbock International Airport Board, as a board member of Covenant Medical Center and as a board member of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce. Underwood received a bachelor’s degree in management from Texas Tech University. His term will expire Feb. 1, 2009.

Holmes is chairman and CEO of Parkway Investments, a company that develops and manages real estate nationwide. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute, previously served on the City of Houston’s planning commission and was appointed commissioner of the Port of Houston Authority. In April 2003, Holmes was appointed by Gov. Perry to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. He will resign that position to serve on the Texas Transportation Commission. He also served as chairman, board member and as an executive committee member of the Greater Houston Partnership, and as chairman of Commercial Bancshares, Inc. from 1986 to 2000, when the company merged with Prosperity Bancshares. He was chairman of Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. from 2001 to 2006. Holmes received his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Texas at Austin. His term will expire Feb. 1, 2011.

This appointment is subject to senate confirmation.