“King” George Strait named The 2018 Texan of the Year.

The Texas Legislative Conference has been handing out the Texan of the Year award since 1974. This year, because of Strait's efforts that resulted in raising over $50 million in relief money for victims of Hurricane Harvey, he has been named The 2018 Texan of the Year.

“No one has done more than George Strait to raise awareness and funds for the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts,” conference chair Doug Miller said. “He put his well-earned reputation on the line and asked not only his fellow Texans to step up, but all Americans. And they have.”

The award traditionally goes to political or business leaders, with Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson being the only musician to previously receive the honor.

Past TEXANS OF THE YEAR:

2018 – George Strait
2017 – Pike Powers
2016 – John Cornyn
2015 – Joe Straus
2014 – Wallace Jefferson
2013 – John Sharp
2012 – Ray Perryman
2011 – Ray Benson
2010 – Peter Holt
2009 – T. Boone Pickens
2008 – David Dewhurst
2007 – Rick Perry
2006 – Ed Whitacre, Jr.
2005 – Laura Bush
2004 – David Robinson
2003 – Karl Rove
2002 – George W. Bush
2001 – Red McCombs
2000 – Bill Archer
1999 – Max Sherman
1998 – George Christian
1997 – Kay Bailey Hutchison
1996 – Pete Laney
1995 – Bob Bullock
1994 – Herb Kelleher
1993 – Barbara Jordan
1992 – Robert S. Strauss
1991 – E (Kika) De la Garza
1990 – Barbara Bush
1989 – William P. Hobby
1988 – Phil Gramm
1987 – James A. Baker, III
1986 – John Traeger
1985 – John Tower
1984 – John Ben Shepperd
1983 – Lloyd Bentsen
1982 – George H.W. Bush
1981 – Anne Armstrong
1980 – Abner McCall
1979 – John B. Connally
1978 – George H. Mahon
1977 – Dolph Briscoe
1976 – Lady Bird Johnson
1975 – Leon Jaworski
1974 – Robert W. Calvert

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