Texas businessman Joe Batson is involved in diverse charitable
activities that reflect nearly half a century of involvement in oil and gas
development, ranching, media production, and politics. One of his longstanding affiliations
is with the Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation,
which he helped found in the 1960s. The foundation established the Pioneer
Amphitheater in Palo Duro Canyon as the annual
venue for TEXAS, the Official Play of the State of Texas. Batson’s
volunteer involvement also extends to politics and nonprofit endeavors
associated with the family of former President Lyndon B. Johnson.
In
1967, while an undergraduate student at The University of Texas at Austin, Mr.
Batson became closely involved with President Lyndon B. Johnson and the White
House in coordinating reelection activities in Texas. He undertook campaign
advisory and youth advisory roles, attending the Democratic National Convention
as 31st District Committeeman for the State of Texas. While his responsibilities
as Advance Field Director ended in 1968 when President Johnson decided not to
pursue reelection, Joe Batson’s involvement with the charitable activities of
the Johnson family continued.
Mr.
Batson assisted in the design and production of a major fundraising initiative
benefitting the Diocese of Austin in association with Luci Baines Johnson. He
is also a founding member and board member of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower
Center. Established by the former First Lady and actress Helen Hayes in 1982,
the Center has operated as an Organizational Research Unit of The University of
Texas at Austin since 2006. The mission of the nonprofit is to research the
sustainable use of wildflowers and native plants in horticulture. Joe Batson also
maintains affiliation with his alma mater through membership in the University
of Texas College of Fine Arts Advisory Council.