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Nov 8, 2022 · An oak tree had snapped and fallen on Abbott's back, resulting in paralysis from the waist down. Abbott suffered from damaged organs and broken ribs in addition to having crushed vertebrae splintering into his spinal cord. As a result of the accident, he has two steel rods permanently inserted near his spine.
- Caitlin Hornik
Oct 13, 2022 · A life-threatening accident put Greg Abbott in a wheelchair while still in his 20s. It's become a key part of his political story in the Texas governor's race. Houston Chronicle Logo Hearst...
- Reporter
Jul 15, 2019 · AUSTIN (KXAN) — Thirty-five years ago Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott’s life changed forever. He was jogging in a west Houston neighborhood when a large oak tree cracked and fell on him. He was ...
- Kate Winkle
- Overview
- Early life and education
- Accident and attorney general
- Governor of Texas
- Personal life
Greg Abbott (born November 13, 1957, Wichita Falls, Texas, U.S.) American Republican politician who serves as governor of Texas (2015– ). He previously was the state’s attorney general (2002–15). A prominent figure in conservative politics, he notably opposes abortion and supports lenient gun laws and tough immigration policies.
Abbott is the younger of two sons born to Doris and Calvin Abbott. The family moved several times before settling in Duncanville, Texas. A serious runner, Greg Abbott was a member of the track team during high school, and he became known for his tenacity. When he was 16 years old, his father died from a heart attack. His mother became a real estate...
Abbott subsequently began working at a law firm in Houston. Shortly thereafter, in July 1984, he was seriously injured by a falling tree while jogging. The accident left him paralyzed below the waist and confined to a wheelchair. A practicing Roman Catholic, Abbott cited his faith for helping him endure a lengthy recovery. He later stated that the “accident broke my back, but not my spirit.”
Abbott eventually returned to work and later left the firm in 1992 to become a state trial judge. Four years later he was appointed to a vacant seat on the Texas Supreme Court by Gov. George W. Bush. Abbott was subsequently elected to the post twice. In 2001 he stepped down to run for lieutenant governor but soon dropped that bid in order to enter the race for Texas attorney general. He won the election in 2002 and took office that year.
In 2013 Abbott entered the gubernatorial race, looking to succeed Rick Perry. During his campaign, Abbott supported traditional conservative policies in the Republican-leaning state. He called for low taxes and budget cuts and continued to criticize Obama’s administration. He maintained a lead throughout, and in the general election he easily defeated his Democratic opponent, Wendy Davis, a state senator.
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After taking office in 2015, Abbott began to pursue an agenda that moved increasingly to the right. In 2017 he notably signed one of the most restrictive immigration bills passed by a state. Known to detractors as the “show me your papers” law, it authorizes law enforcement to check the immigration status of anyone they lawfully detain. The legislation also banned “sanctuary cities,” which shelter undocumented immigrants. To combat illegal crossings at the Texas-Mexico border, Abbott in 2021 announced a plan to construct a wall. Later that year some 900 feet (274 metres) of border wall was unveiled, though subsequent construction was limited. Amid a dramatic rise in illegal immigration in 2022, Abbott began busing migrants to various sanctuary cities, including Washington, D.C. While Democratic Pres. Joe Biden called it “un-American,” the governor accused the federal government of being “reckless” about border security.
Another key objective for Abbott was easing gun laws. In 2021 he signed a “constitutional carry” bill, which allows almost all Texans age 21 and over to carry handguns in public places without a permit. Abbott had earlier touted it as “the strongest Second Amendment legislation in Texas history.” The legislation came after several high-profile mass shootings in the state, including the 2019 incident at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, which left 22 dead (including the gunman).
Citing his religious faith, Abbott also focused on limiting access to abortion. He supported a 2021 state law that banned the procedure as early as six weeks and made no exceptions for rape or incest, though it did permit abortions in cases of medical emergencies. The bill was unique in that it shifted enforcement from the government to private citizens, who were allowed to sue anyone who facilitated the procedure, including medical providers and individuals who provided transportation. The legislation received national attention and was challenged in the courts. However, in June 2022 the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which triggered a Texas law that banned most abortions, making the 2021 legislation moot.
While attending the University of Texas, Abbott met Cecilia Phalen, who later became a teacher and education official. The couple married in 1981 and later adopted a daughter. When Abbott was sworn in as governor, his wife became the state’s first Hispanic first lady.
On a summer day in July 1984, Governor Greg Abbott, a 26-year-old recent law school graduate, decided to take a break from studying for the bar exam by going for a jog in a west Houston neighborhood as he’d done many times before.
May 18, 2018 · Surgeons found that Abbott had bone fragments lodged in his broken spine. He also had fractured ribs and damaged kidneys. After the accident, Abbott was forced to lie flat for a month before...
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Oct 13, 2022 · How Greg Abbott overcame a life-threatening accident to become leader of Texas. By Jeremy Wallace, Austin Bureau Oct 13, 2022. Texas Gov.-elect Greg Abbott, center, arrives for his...
