Standing tall in his signature cowboy hat and tailored blazer, Gregory A. Thomas took the podium at the Texas State Capitol with a presence that silenced the chamber before he ever spoke. With the State Seal behind him and a full gallery of lawmakers before him, Thomas delivered a passionate, razor-sharp address on the urgency of investing in literacy across Texas schools.

“Literacy,” he began, “is not just a classroom concern—it’s a statewide economic, social, and moral imperative.”

He cited staggering statistics showing that third-grade reading levels directly correlate with incarceration rates, poverty cycles, and workforce readiness. But Thomas didn’t just present problems—he offered bold, actionable solutions. From funding community reading programs to expanding early childhood literacy access, he challenged legislators to stop treating reading as a side issue and start funding it like the future of Texas depends on it—because it does.

“I’m not here to beg for books,” he concluded. “I’m here to demand equity, dignity, and a real shot at success for every child born under this big Texas sky.”

The room responded with a rare bipartisan standing ovation.

That day, Gregory A. Thomas reminded the Texas Legislature—and the nation—that the pen is still mightier than the politics.