John D. White, Vice Chairman
John D. White of Houston is a fifth generation Texas rancher and second generation Aggie. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Texas A&M University in 1970. While at Texas A&M, Mr. White was a Distinguished Military Student, a member of the Ross Volunteers and commander of the First Wing, Corps of Cadets. He earned his juris doctor from the University of Texas and began his career in the U.S. Air Force as Judge-Advocate.
Mr. White is the Managing Partner in the Houston office of Jones Walker Law Firm. He is a counselor to businesses and individuals in a broad range of legal areas and business goals. Mr. White is board certified in Civil Trial Law.Mr. White has been a director in the Greater Houston Partnership and a member of several committees in the Greater Houston Partnership since 1996. White is also chairman of the board of the Ed Rachal Foundation, chairman of the board of Texas Institute for Genomic Medicine, director of the Texas Lyceum Association, member of Leadership Houston Class III, fellow of the American Leadership Forum and a member of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo International Committee.
Mr. White has been a director of the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students, the Texas Aggie Bar Association and a member of the Texas A&M Corps Development Council, the Texas A&M College of Education Council, the Texas A&M LegisLeader program and the Texas A&M Vision 2020 project. He also serves as an executive committee member of the University of Texas Law Alumni Association. Mr. White is also a past member of the Board of Visitors, Texas A&M University at Galveston.
Mr. White is a fellow of the American, Texas and Houston Bar Associations and Foundations, and past chairman of the Texas Young Lawyers Association and of the Harris County Grievance Committee for the State Bar of Texas. He is permitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit and U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of Texas.
Mr. White was appointed to the Board of Regents by Governor Rick Perry in 2003. He was elected Chairman of the Board in 2005, and Vice Chairman of the Board in 2007. Mr. White serves as chair of the Public Policy and Planning Committee and as a member of the Presidential Library Committee. He also serves as the Board’s special liaison to the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students, a member of the Hermann F. & Minnie Belle Heep Texas A&M University Foundation and serves as the special liaison to the Board for Lease of University Lands. Mr. White has served as a member of the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Buildings and Physical Plant. He has also served as chair of the Policy Review Committee and as the Board’s special liaison to the Texas Growth Fund Board. His term expires February 1, 2009.
