Gary Grief was appointed Executive Director of the Texas Lottery Commission in March 2010. As Executive Director, Grief oversees a $3.7 billion enterprise whose mission is to generate revenue for public education and other good causes in the State of Texas.
Grief is an 18-year lottery veteran. He has been an integral part of the success of the Texas Lottery Commission since its inception. Grief was appointed in 1991 by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to the original eight-member Lottery Task Force assigned to research and launch the Texas Lottery. After lottery start-up in 1992, Grief assumed the role of Statewide Manager of Claim Centers, overseeing 24 field offices statewide. Grief served in this role until 1997, when he accepted the position of Director of Lottery Operations. While serving as Director of Lottery Operations, Grief was the recipient of the 2002 "Powers Award" for Performance Excellence in Lottery Operations by the National Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL). This award is presented annually to the outstanding performers in the North American lottery industry.
In 2002, Grief was appointed by the Commission to serve the first of what would be three separate terms as Acting Executive Director. He served in this capacity from September 2002 to February 2003, again from July 2005 to January 2006, and finally from October 2008 to February 2010. Between and after each stint as Acting Executive Director, Grief served as Deputy Executive Director until his official appointment as Executive Director in 2010.
Under Grief’s leadership, the Texas Lottery has contributed more than $1 billion annually since 2004 to the Texas Foundation School Fund, which supports public education in Texas.
A native Texan, Grief is a graduate of the University of Texas at the Permian Basin where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Other key staff:
Gary Grief, Executive Director
Kimberly L. Kiplin, General Counsel
Bobby Heith, Media Relations Director
Michael Anger, Lottery Operations Division Director
James Carney, Enforcement Director
Kathy Pyka, Controller
Michael Fernandez, Administration Division Director
Phil Sanderson, Charitable Bingo Operations Director
Nelda Trevino, Governmental Affairs Director
Catherine Melvin, Internal Audit Director
Janine Mays, Human Resources Director
Year established: 1991
Products offered: Instant games, 3-digit game (Pick 3), 4-digit game (Daily 4), Lotto Texas (Matrix: 6/54), Cash 5 (Matrix: 5/37), Texas Two Step (Matrix: 4/35 + Bonus Ball 1/35), Mega Millions (Matrix: 5/56 + Bonus Ball 1/46), Powerball (Matrix: 5/59 and Bouns Ball 1/39).
Total FY09 Sales: $3.720 billion
Total FY08 Sales: $3.671 billion
Total FY07 Sales: $3.774 billion
Total FY09 Total Cash Basis Transfers to the State: $1.043 billion
Total FY08 Total Cash Basis Transfers to the State: $1.037 billion
Total FY07 Total Cash Basis Transfers to the State: $1.091 billion
Fiscal year ends: August 31
Beneficiaries:
Since 1997, proceeds from lottery sales have been dedicated to the Foundation School Fund. Unclaimed lottery prize funds revert to the state to be appropriated for health care, medical education, and other programs authorized by the state legislature.
Public referendums involving lottery: November 5, 1991 - Constitutional Amendment authorizing State Lottery. Approved by a two-to-one margin (68%).
Board members:
Mary Ann Williamson, Chairman
David J. Schenck, Commissioner
J. Winston Krause, Commissioner
