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59th MDW commander commissioned in Texas Navy

  • Published
  • By Linda Frost
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Maj. Gen. Tom Travis, commander of the 59th Medical Wing, and soon to be deputy surgeon general of the Air Force, was commissioned as an admiral in the Texas Navy Nov. 12 during a farewell party in his honor.

Commissions in the Texas Navy are granted by the Governor of the State of Texas after a nomination and review process. General Travis was nominated because of his exemplary accomplishments in merging Air Force and Army medical resources in San Antonio, a historic achievement in military health care in Texas.

The presentation came as a surprise during the gathering at the Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio to honor General Travis for his three-year tenure as commander of the Air Force's largest medical wing. Mrs. Janice Ricks, the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce liaison for the 59th MDW, presented the award along with her husband, Les Paulick.

"He is a perfect example of what we, as community citizens, think of our Air Force," Mrs. Ricks commented. "His training, his education and his personal characteristics contribute to being an outstanding leader."

One of the criteria for the Navy Admiral commission is that the individual must be a native Texan. But even though General Travis is not a native born Texan, one would never suspect it, Mrs. Ricks said.

"He walks like a Texan, talks like a Texan, believes in fair play and his word is true. He stands tall in defending his beliefs," she exclaimed. He has Texas courage and wears jeans and boots like a Texan. Therefore, he has all the attributes of a Texan and we are proud to call him a Texan. "And we do hope this Texan will return to Texas soil when the time is right.

Texas has had three navies. Two were for military might to protect the state and the latest being to preserve the memory of the past navies.

The First Texas Navy was established in 1835, and the second in 1837. In 1958, Texas Governor Price Daniel re-activated the Second Texas Navy, thus establishing the Third Texas Navy to assure the survival of Texas Naval history, boundaries, water resources, and for the civil defense of Texas. In 1973, the Texas Legislature authorized the charter of the Texas Navy Association, Inc., a non-profit corporation, headquartered in Galveston. The Governor of Texas is the Commander-in-Chief and may grant a commission to a selected Texan as Admiral of the Texas Navy, in recognition of exemplary service to Texas, the United States of America, or mankind in general.

Texas Navy Admirals are eligible to join the association and may serve on any Texas Navy committee or hold any office within the organization.