Texas Senator A.R. “Babe” Schwartz dedicates public trust library collection to Texas A&M University at Galveston    

Texas Senator A.R. “Babe” Schwartz (1960 to 1981) was recently honored at the dedication of the A.R. “Babe” Schwartz Coastal Public Trust Doctrine Collection to the Jack K. Williams library at Texas A&M Galveston.

I care about Texas A&M at Galveston, and it was important to me to help create legislation that would help establish this intuition,” Schwartz said. “A great part of my legislative career had to do with creation of a public trust doctrine, where Texans are aware of their rights to clean water, clean air and a decent environment. I want to provide professors who teach coastal and environmental courses with the best historical and most current literature available to help inform all of the public trust doctrine.”

Senator Schwartz’s research collection is centered on his ongoing passion of coastal and environmental stewardship. It will include his legislative papers, coastal management lesson plans and historical records about his role in establishing the Texas A&M University at Galveston and the Texas Maritime Academy in Galveston.

Dr. David Baca, director of the Jack Williams Library at Texas A&M University at Galveston

“We’re honored to receive this collection from Senator Schwartz,” said David Baca, director of the Jack Williams Library. “This is an important research collection reflecting Senator Schwartz’s contribution to coastal management policy in Texas.”

Schwartz is providing $5,000 of seed money towards the collection in recognition of several individuals. This includes George Mitchell, Texas A&M University former student and Galveston campus benefactor; Bob Eckhardt, Texas state legislator, U.S. congressman and proponent for the Texas Open Beaches Act; Dr. Tom Linton, Texas A&M Galveston marine sciences professor; Marilyn Schwartz, the senator’s wife and former chairman of the Texas A&M at Galveston Board of Visitors (an advisory board to the CEO of Texas A&M Galveston)  and Phyllis Milstein, Schwartz’s sister as well as member and former chairman of the Board of Visitors.

During the 21 years he served in the Texas legislature representing Galveston and Brazoria counties, Schwartz specialized in legislation to protect and manage the resources of coastal areas. Schwartz’s coastal legislation included disclosure on coastal property transactions, the windstorm insurance program, the Galveston Park Board of Trustees and the Galveston Island Beach Patrol. After his legislative career, Schwartz taught coastal zone management law. Today, he continues to work on behalf of coastal Texas.

Schwartz attended Texas A&M University and the University of Texas School of Law.

Media Contact: Cathy Cashio Bertrand, (409) 740-4830, cashioc@tamug.edu