The Shivers Imprint on Headliners Foundation

We lost one of our strongest, long-serving leaders, and a dear friend.

Headliners Foundation Governor Emeritus and former Chair Robert Allan “Bud” Shivers Jr. died Jan. 8, 2019. He was 72.

Shivers served as our Chair from 2001 to 2010, longer than anyone in that position.

Bud’s leadership resulted in more effective scholarship and professional awards programs. He modernized governance and imposed financial discipline that positioned the Foundation to expand its positive role supporting Texas journalism for decades to come. The Foundation’s endowment more than doubled to $2.2 million during his tenure; its current value is $4 million.

Bud was a giant in public service and philanthropy. He was founder and chairman of the Seton Fund that provides enormous benefit to healthcare in Central Texas.

Beginning his tenure on its Board of Governors when Headliners Foundation was a considerably smaller undertaking, Bud always demonstrated a tenacious dedication to its success. He took great pride in serving the Foundation that was co-founded by his father, former Texas Gov. Allan Shivers, in 1983. Bud’s father served as the Foundation’s first chairman.

Bud liked to talk about the hundreds of journalists the Foundation has helped educate and the thousands of outstanding journalists it has honored. He was proud that the Headliners Club, whose members established the Foundation and continue their generous support of it, did something so important to distinguish itself from other similar organizations.

“One of Bud’s huge contributions was to put us on solid ground financially,” said Elizabeth Christian, a longtime Foundation Governor whose father, former LBJ Press Secretary George Christian, co-founded the Headliners Foundation with Gov. Shivers. “He led with humor and an iron will. He took his familial connection to the founding of the entity various seriously and he was enormously important to its ongoing success.”

Added Foundation Board Secretary Jane Greig “With Bud at the helm the course was sure and true. His enthusiasm for our mission was infectious. We continue to benefit from the high standards that he set and his foresight.”

Mark Morrison