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Leo is a native Houstonian. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in Civil Engineering and Program of Liberal Studies (Great Books). He then completed his Master’s Degree in structural engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, where he had his first startup company in the software business. He earned his MBA from Stanford. He is the only student in the history of the GSB to both graduate as valedictorian and win the Arbuckle award, the student-awarded prize for contributions to the school.
Over the past 20 years, Leo has been actively involved in education reform, and serves as board chairman of two education non-profits, Families Empowered and Seton Education Partners. He is also Founding Chairman and current Vice Chairman of the Urban Reform Institute and ran the largest non-partisan SuperPAC in the 2012 election cycle, the Campaign for Primary Accountability.
He is the former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations, as well as the Senate Committee on International Relations and Trade. Most recently, he has served as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committees on Finance and Education. On the national stage, he sits as Co-Chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures Hunger Partnership, where he advocates for food and nutrition programs to feed hungry families across the country.
Throughout his legislative career, Senator Lucio has championed equitable funding for education, teachers, public schools, healthcare coverage for children with special needs, mental health programs, affordable housing, infrastructure, economic development, international commerce, numerous Veteran causes, and of course, legislation that safeguards life. Over the last 36 years, his work has led to milestones like the establishment of the UTRGV School of Medicine. Thanks to a historic piece of legislation passed in 1997, he proudly holds the title of “The Father of Medical Education.” In addition, his work has catalyzed enhanced teacher retirement policies, sports programs for students with special needs, breakfast and lunch programs for low-income students, expanded access to quality healthcare, increased trade across the Texas-Mexico border, and much more.
His lifetime of advocacy and achievements has earned him countless, well-deserved awards from agencies and organizations across the state. He is selfless in his leadership and has always worked passionately to promote and represent the interests of the hard-working families of South Texas. Although he plans to soon retire from his position as a public servant, he promises to never retire from his position as a servant of the people.
Upon retirement, Senator Lucio plans to establish a ministry for at-risk children and will continue his work as a pro-life advocate.
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. is happily married to his wife of 54 years, Minnie Lucio. He is the proud father of two children. His son, former State Representative Eddie Lucio III, served 16 years in the Texas Legislature, and his daughter, Lynda Cisneros-Lucio, has served as a public school counselor and teacher for over 25 years. He is grateful to have been blessed with five brilliant grandchildren, Carlos Lucio-Cisneros Jr., Alex Lucio-Cisneros, Annie Lucio-Cisneros, Olivia Lucio, and Eddie Lucio IV.
Doug serves in board or leadership positions for the Dallas County Republican Party, the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), Lone Star Justice Alliance and Texans for Free Enterprise, he has demonstrated leadership in conservative politics, including the issue of criminal justice reform. Mr. Deason is a supporting member of the Texas Smart on Crime Coalition, the largest statewide effort working to make Texas’ criminal justice system smarter, safer, and more cost effective. He is also a signatory to Right on Crime’s Statement of Principles on conservative criminal justice reform. Right on Crime is a project of TPPF in cooperation with Prison Fellowship and the American Conservative Union Foundation. Doug was an advisor to the White House on CJR issues from May of 2017 to January of 2021 and was recently appointed to the Florida Foundation of Correctional Excellence by Governor Ron DeSantis.