Austin, Texas – Over three hundred people packed the atrium of the Omni
Downtown Hotel in Austin Monday night for the Deep East Texas Reception.
The event, honoring State Officials and Legislators representing the Deep
East Texas region, was held the night before the convening of the 84rd
Session of the Texas Legislature.

State officials and state agency administrators met and got acquainted with representatives of the event’s sponsors.   Members of the Deep East Texas legislative delegation attended as guest of honor.

Congressman Louie Gohmert was recognized as the “Deep East Texas Legislator of the Year 2015”.  The award is given bi-annually to a legislator that has shown outstanding efforts on behalf of the people of Deep East Texas. Gohmert has served five terms representing the people of the First District in East Texas. The Congressman was most recently named Vice Chair of the U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. His assistance of veterans and support of the Veterans Administration Clinic in Lufkin were noted during the ceremony.  State Senator, Robert Nichols, a past recipient of the award, made the Presentation.

The sponsors for the 2015 reception include the Deep East Texas County
Commissioners and Judges Association; the Deep East Texas Council of
Governments; the Burke Center; the Texas Forestry Association; East Texas
Support Services; Polk County; Jasper County; Tyler County; Houston County; Nacogdoches County; Angelina County; Shelby County; San Augustine County; Newton County; Trinity County; the City of Lufkin; the City of Nacogdoches; the City of Jasper; the City of San Augustine; Stephen F. Austin State University; the Lower Neches Valley Authority;  First Bank & Trust East Texas; Deep East Texas Foundation; David J. Waxman, Inc.; Ray Van & Associates; McGuireWoods Consulting, LLC; Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLC  and the Acadian Ambulance Service.

 Congressman Louie Gohmert (left) accepts the “Deep East Texas Legislator of the year 2015” recognition from Texas State Senator Robert Nichols.  The presentation was made at the Deep East Texas Reception Monday night in Austin.