Governor Abbott Appoints Three to the University of Houston System Board of Regents
Governor Greg Abbott has reappointed Tilman Fertitta and Beth Madison and appointed Ricky Raven to the University of Houston System Board of Regents for terms set to expire August 31, 2027.
Tilman Fertitta of Houston is the sole owner of Fertitta Entertainment which owns the restaurant giant Landry’s, the Golden Nugget Casinos and Hotels, and the NBA’s Houston Rockets. He is considered one of the foremost authorities in the restaurant, gaming, entertainment, and hospitality industries and is a New York Times Best Selling Author of the business book, "Shut up and Listen." He serves as Chairman of the Houston Police Foundation, the Houston Children’s Charity, and for the past seven years as Chairman of the University of Houston Board of Regents. He currently serves on the boards of the Greater Houston Partnership, Central Houston, Inc., and The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston, Inc. Additionally, he serves as a lifetime executive committee member and board member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Beth Madison of Houston is a Shareholder and Managing Director of Higginbotham and Associates and co-founder of Madison Benefits Group. She is a member of the Society of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists and the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Society and she is a life member of the University of Houston Alumni Association and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Additionally, she is a board member of the Foundation for Teen Health, board secretary of the Rice University Shepherd School of Music Society, and a trustee of the Madison Charitable Foundation. She is senior board chairman of the Houston Grand Opera, board secretary of the Alley Theatre, and a board member and past president of the World Affairs Council of Houston. Madison received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Houston.
Rickey Raven of Sugar Land is Senior Vice President – Deputy General Counsel for Allstate Insurance. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, International Association of Defense Counsel, International Association of Trial Lawyers, and the State Bar of Texas. He is an appointee to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and a board member of the University of Houston Foundation. Raven received a Bachelor of Science and Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston.