Laura Bush

2018 Inductee
Public Service

One of the most admired First Ladies of the United States and of Texas, Mrs. Laura Bush is celebrated for her lifetime of distinguished public service. Actively involved in issues of national and global concern with an emphasis on education, health care, human rights and the preservation of our nation’s heritage, she has traveled to more than 76 countries, including two historic solo trips to Afghanistan, and has launched groundbreaking education and healthcare programs in the U.S. and abroad. Author of the bestselling memoir, Spoken from the Heart, and co-author of children’s book Our Great Big Backyard, Laura Bush also founded the Texas Book Festival and the National Book Festival.

Today as chair of the Woman’s Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, Mrs. Bush continues her work on global healthcare innovations, empowering women in emerging democracies, education reform, and supporting the men and women who have served in the U.S. military. And as founder of Texan by Nature, Mrs. Bush is committed to native prairie restoration efforts and to teaching Texans the importance of conserving the state’s natural resources. A former teacher and librarian born in Midland, she holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Southern Methodist University and a master’s in library science from The University of Texas at Austin.