Governor Abbott Appoints Payton to Texas Poet Laureate, State Musician and State Artists Committee
Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Sean Payton to the Texas Poet Laureate, State Musician and State Artists Committee for a term set to expire on October 1, 2023. The committee selects the state poet laureate, the state musician, the state artist representing 2-dimensional media, and the state artist representing 3-dimensional media from candidates submitted by the Texas Commission on the Arts.
Sean Payton of Killeen is a pastor and serves as the Chaplain (CPT) for the 6 BDE 1 BN of the Texas State Guard. He was trained in classical piano performance and plays percussion with The Gospel Travelers and Light House Ministries. He previously served on the board of the Arts Committee for the City of Killeen and is a member of the Military Order of Foreign Wars. He was previously appointed by Governor Abbott to serve on the Governor’s Committee to Support the Military and on the Texas Commission on the Arts. Payton was honorably discharged from the United States Army and received a degree in theology from the American Bible Institute and Seminary.