Governor Rick Perry
The only Texas Governor to have actually lived in
Ranger, Texas, admittedly only for about nine months
when he wasn’t more than a toddler. In 1953 his father
was working on an area pipeline and the family lived
in Ranger. His sister, Milla Perry Jones, mainly
remembers the fireflies.
Rick Perry was sworn in as the state's 47th Governor
on Dec. 21, 2000.
Before being elected Lieutenant Governor, Perry served
two terms as Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. From
1985 to 1991, Perry served in the Texas House of
Representatives representing a rural West Texas district.
A fifth generation Texan, Governor Perry hails from
the rolling plains of West Texas, where farming,
ranching and public service run in his family. His
father, Ray Perry, was a long-time Haskell County
Commissioner and school board member. First Lady
Anita Perry served on the Haskell ISD School Board.
Between 1972 and 1977, Governor Perry served in the
United States Air Force flying C-130 tactical airlift
aircraft in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East.
Perry is a 1972 graduate of Texas A&M University
where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, a
junior and senior yell leader, and an animal science
major. Governor Perry grew up in the small community
of Paint Creek, 60 miles north of Abilene, on his
family's farm and ranch. The younger of two children,
Governor Perry was an active Boy Scout and Eagle Scout,
and he helped his father and mother, Amelia, on the
farm. Rick remains active in the Boy Scouts and is a
lifetime member of American Legion Post #75. Rick and
Anita Perry met during their elementary school years
and are the proud parents of two children-Griffin
and Sydney. The Perry's are members of Tarrytown
United Methodist Church.