No driver’s tests, state business Wednesday: Abbott declares day of mourning
Texas government offices will close Wednesday to mourn President George H.W. Bush, according to a proclamation Monday by Gov. Greg Abbott.
State “agencies, offices and departments” will close Wednesday, Abbott declared.
The statement did not list specifics, but that would seem to include state drivers’ license offices, the Texas Lottery Commission, welfare offices and workforce commission offices, along with the state highway department.
“Skeletal work crews” will perform essential operations and services, the statement read.
“The people of Texas are encouraged to gather, assemble and pay their respects to the memory of George Herbert Walker Bush through ceremonies in homes, businesses, public buildings, schools, places of worship , or other appropriate places,” the governor proclaimed.
Abbott also ordered all U.S. and Texas flags flown at half-staff at state buildings through Dec. 30, and encouraged counties, cities and other agencies to follow.
Bush, born in Massachusetts, first came to Texas in 1943 as a Navy aviator training in Corpus Christi.
He and his wife, the late First Lady Barbara Bush, moved to Midland in 1948 and then to Houston in 1958.
Two U.S. presidents were born in Texas: Dwight Eisenhower (Denison) and Lyndon Johnson (Stonewall). Bush’s son, President George W. Bush, was born in Connecticut.
This story was originally published December 3, 2018 at 6:08 PM.
