George Christian

George Eastland Christian (January 1, 1927 - November 27, 2002) was a U.S. journalist and White House press secretary from 1966 to 1969.

Career

Christian was born in Austin, Texas. After graduating from Austin High School in 1944, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and saw duty in the Pacific theater and in Japan during the occupation.

Upon his discharge from the military, Christian returned to Austin and studied journalism at the The University of Texas at Austin under the G.I. Bill. He subsequently spent seven years covering Texas state government for the International News Service.

He left journalism for politics, serving as press secretary first for Texas Governor Price Daniel and then for John Connally, before moving to Washington, D.C. to join the staff of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Replacing Bill Moyers, Christian held the post of White House press secretary during the turbulent period from 1966 to 1969.

At the close of President Johnson's term of office, Christian returned to Austin and established a public relations, consulting, and lobbying firm, which he continued to operate until his passing.

Christian served as vice chairman of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation, member and chairman of the Texas Historical Commission, member of the Texas State Cemetery Committee, and member of the boards of the Headliners Foundation, McDonald Observatory, Texas A&M College of Medicine, and Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas.

His awards include selection as a Distinguished Alumnus of The University of Texas at Austin and as an Outstanding Alumnus of the UT College of Communication. He also received the Texas Award for Historical Preservation from the Texas Historical Commission and the Harvey Penick Award from Caritas of Austin. Also in 1982, a centennial professorship in journalism was established in his name at UT Austin.

He is interred at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, beside his father and mother and near his great-grandfather, brigadier general Adam Rankin Johnson of the Confederate States Army.

References

* [http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/78R/billtext/html/HR00557F.htm Texas Legislature H.R. No. 557 George Eastland Christian, Jr Resolution]
* [http://cemetery.state.tx.us/pub/user_form.asp?step=2&pers_id=2633&last_name=Christian&first_name=George|George George Eastland Christian] Texas State Cemetery Official Website