Gov. Rick Perry appointed Gloria Hicks of Corpus Christi and Robert Schmidt of Fort Worth to the Texas Racing Commission. The commission oversees pari-mutuel wagering on horse and greyhound racing.

Hicks is chief financial officer of Ed Hicks imports. She is a member and past president of the Texas State Aquarium board and the U.S.S. Lexington Museum, and a member of the South Texas Institute of the Arts Board of Governors. Hicks is also a past president of the Art Museum of South Texas and board member of the South Texas Botanical Gardens, South Texas Academic Rising Stars scholarships program, Citizens for Education Excellence, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, and American Institute of Public Accountancy. She received a bachelor's degree from Texas A&I University and replaces David Cabrales of Dallas.

Schmidt is a practicing orthopedic surgeon and a partner of the Texas Hip and Knee Center, L.L.P. He is currently Chief of Staff at Plaza Medical Center in Fort Worth. Schmidt is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, president-elect of the Society for Arthritic Joint Surgery, and past board member of the Arthritis Foundation. He received his bachelor’s degree from Williams College and his medical degree from the University of Virginia. He replaces Dyke Rogers of Dalhart.