Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Dr. Richard B. “Rick” McCaslin as the fifth Texas State Historian. Dr. McCaslin will serve a two-year term through Dec. 17, 2027. His appointment follows recommendations by both the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA).
The State Historian is responsible for increasing the public knowledge about the history of the state, encouraging the teaching of Texas history in public schools, consulting with state leaders to promote Texas history and making presentation on Texas history topics. In accepting the role, Dr. McCaslin said he looks forward to working with various people and groups to promote the study and teaching of Texas history.
Dr. McCaslin currently serves as Director of Publications for TSHA, where he oversees scholarly and public-facing historical content. He is a retired professor of Texas history at the University of North Texas (UNT) and previously chaired UNT’s Department of History. Over the course of his career, McCaslin has authored or edited 21 books, eight of which have received awards. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Delta State University, a Master of Arts in History from Louisiana State University and a Doctor of Philosophy from The University of Texas at Austin.
This story is a part of the weekly Texas Government Insider digital news publication. See more of the latest Texas government news here. For more national government news, check Government Market News daily for new stories, insights and profiles from public sector professionals.