Hugh D. Shine is a businessman who has lived and worked in Bell County for nearly 45 years. He has built a successful business in downtown Temple. He first got his start in politics as a Temple City Councilman. Since then, Hugh Shine has twice been called up to serve his community in the Texas Legislature. He also is a retired Army colonel, commanding an aviation brigade flying life-saving missions during national disasters, as well as along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Through his service to his country and his community, he developed the proven leadership qualities we need in Austin. As the current state representative for Texas House District 55, Hugh Shine has fought for the issues that are important to his constituents, including:
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Securing the Border — Hugh Shine passed the largest border security funding plan in Texas that added more law enforcement on the border. He also passed a bill to crack down on human trafficking.
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Improving the Economy — As a small business owner, Hugh Shine will fight to protect Texans against Joe Biden’s disastrous economic policies. He understands the negative impact of inflation and a recession on families and their livelihood.
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Supporting Law Enforcement — Hugh Shine is a fierce supporter of law enforcement and passed a bill to prevent large cities from defunding the police.
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Cutting Property Taxes — Hugh Shine passed a bill that cut property taxes by five billion dollars and is committed to permanently lowering property taxes.
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Improving Schools and Supporting Teachers — Hugh Shine passed a bill that increased funding for public schools and fully funded the teacher retirement system.
Since returning to the Texas Legislature in 2017, Hugh Shine has earned accolades as one of the most effective lawmakers in Austin. More importantly, he has heard his constituents and taken action to address their concerns. This includes working with TxDOT to ease the burdens on businesses affected by the I-35 construction. It also includes working with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to ensure an illegal immigrant, who was convicted of killing a young woman from Bell County, was deported immediately after completing his prison sentence.
Hugh Shine has taken on many tough challenges and shown the people of Bell County that he is committed to service. When he’s not in his office in downtown Temple, or in Austin working with lawmakers, you can find him at his ranch working cattle and tending to the land.
MILITARY
SERVICE
Public service is something Hugh Shine has always revered. He was born in Houston and grew up in Navasota, Texas, on his family’s farm in the community of Lynn Grove. He attended Sam Houston State University on a US Army ROTC scholarship, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.
Upon completing his officer basic training at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, he was selected and graduated from the U.S. Army Aviation School in Ft. Rucker, Alabama, becoming a rotary-wing aviator. Shine served an overseas tour in South Korea and returned to Texas serving at Ft. Hood to complete six years of active duty before joining the Texas Army National Guard. Shine completed 30 years of military service, received a Master's Degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College, was a Master Army Aviator, and retired at the rank of Colonel after commanding the 49th Armored Division’s Aviation Brigade.
Units of the Brigade during his command were deployed to Bosnia, Iraq, and other parts of the world theater. Aviation units under Colonel Shine’s command responded to State Active Duty assignments on the Texas border, across the State of Texas performing drug interdiction missions with state and local law enforcement, providing helicopter support during floods, and assisting with firefighting.
BUSINESS
BACKGROUND
Upon completing his active-duty service in the U.S. Army, Hugh Shine officially moved to Temple where he began is career in the financial services industry. He opened his downtown office and has built a successful business helping families and individuals in the community plan for their futures.
Shine continued building his financial services career, completing a Master's in Business Administration from Baylor University and a graduate of the Executive Education Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. All the while, he continued his career in the Texas Army National Guard.
Today, Shine works with his son, David, and a dedicated team of financial experts in helping folks in Central Texas save for their children's college funds, build retirement or secure a nest egg to be better prepared for the future.
